Technology: Regulation news in Portugal

The European Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas Europeu or ECA) is the independent external auditor of the European Union. Based in Luxembourg, it monitors the collection and spending of EU funds to ensure they are used correctly and effectively, reporting its findings to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.

The Ministério Público (Public Prosecution Service) is Portugal's independent state prosecution body, responsible for leading criminal investigations, bringing charges, and representing the public interest in court.

The MP operates autonomously from the government and the police, though it directs criminal investigations carried out by the Polícia Judiciária, PSP, and GNR. It is led by the Procurador-Geral da República (Attorney General), who is appointed by the President on the government's proposal.

The MP gets involved in high-profile cases including corruption, financial crime, and incidents of potential institutional negligence. It also defends the legality of government actions and protects citizens' fundamental rights through the courts.

The National Cybersecurity Center (Centro Nacional de Cibersegurança or CNCS) is the government agency responsible for promoting and coordinating cybersecurity across Portugal. It monitors digital threats, provides guidance to citizens and businesses on protecting data, and manages the national response to significant cyber incidents.

The National Data Centre Plan (Plano Nacional de Centros de Dados or PNDC) is a government strategy introduced in March 2024 to attract investment in digital infrastructure. It establishes guidelines for developing data centers to strengthen Portugal's position as a hub for technology and cloud services in Europe.