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Cyprus Sees a Surge In Tourism Revenue: February’s Significant Gains And What It Means

In February 2025, Cyprus reported a notable €79.7 million in tourism revenue, reflecting a remarkable 22.4% increase from the same period last year when earnings stood at €65.1 million, according to the latest release by the statistical service.

Year-to-Date Performance

Taking a broader view, the combined revenue for the first two months of 2025 reached €148.9 million, soaring by 35% compared to €110.3 million during the same months in 2024.

Spending Patterns of Tourists

The per capita expenditure for February rose by 14.3%, amounting to €595.71 compared to €521.01 in February 2024. Among the tourists, British visitors, accounting for 24.8% of the arrivals, spent an average of €73.42 per day. Polish tourists made up 15.1% of the total arrivals and spent €71.07 daily. Intriguingly, visitors from Israel had the highest daily spending at €203.06.

Future Prospects

Looking ahead, Harris Papacharalambous, President of Cyprus Travel and Tourism Agents Association, anticipates that a total of 4.25 million tourists will visit Cyprus by the end of the year. The vision for 2026 is to enhance the island’s tourism offerings with innovative changes, turning it into a regional hub for tourism activities, thanks to Cyprus’ strategic geographical position.

For further exploration of Cyprus’s rapid growth and economic potential, read about Cyprus’s fastest-growing tech companies and their global impact.

Meta’s $18 Billion Settlement Limits State Claims Over Children’s Data

Meta’s $18 billion settlement with attorneys general from 29 U.S. states includes a provision limiting future state claims over the company’s use of children’s data for age-assurance systems.

Under the agreement, Meta must develop, train and begin testing a system to identify users under 13 within a year of the settlement taking effect. The company already uses AI-based age-detection tools, although the agreement does not require the new system to use AI.

States Agree To Limits On Future Claims

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) generally restricts the collection and retention of personal data from children under 13. Under the settlement, the 29 state attorneys general agreed not to bring past, present or future claims under COPPA or similar state laws over the specified use of children’s data.

Meta will not be permitted to use information from users under 13 for advertising, marketing or algorithmic optimisation.

Federal Enforcement Remains Unclear

COPPA is primarily enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, which is not a party to the agreement. That leaves open the possibility of separate federal action over how Meta collects or uses children’s data.

Another issue is whether Meta can keep age-assurance data isolated from its other systems. An independent auditor will monitor compliance, but the settlement does not fully specify what data Meta can retain for training, how long it can be stored or whether derived insights can be used elsewhere.

Legal Risks Remain

Joshua Wurtzel, a partner at Schlam Stone & Dolan, said states could still pursue claims if Meta uses the data outside the settlement’s limits. Such cases could depend on how those limits are interpreted.

Peter Jackson, a data and intellectual property attorney at Greenberg Glusker, said the provision could “disincentivize future enforcement actions.”

The agreement gives Meta greater legal certainty around using children’s data for age assurance, but questions remain over federal enforcement, data retention and secondary use.

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