# Reco CEO Ofer Klein says European firms often miss AI access in many tools

Digest AI · Policy & Regulation · published 2026-10-20T05:30:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/reco-ceo-ofer-klein-says-european-firms-often-miss-ai-access-in-many-t

## Summary

European AI adoption has accelerated, rising from 8.1% of EU firms with ten or more employees in 2023 to 20% two years later, and reaching 55% of large businesses by 2025, according to Eurostat.  Ofer Klein, CEO and co‑founder of the agentic security firm Reco, warns that many companies discover AI features embedded in meeting apps, browsers, CRM systems and workflow tools far beyond the few tools they formally approved.  He notes that these AI components can inherit the user’s permissions, giving them access to shared folders, contracts, customer records and other sensitive data.

A July 2026 IAPP investigation of 2,400 business software providers found 63.6% failed to disclose all AI sub‑processing activities, and nearly a third admitted involvement in sensitive‑data processing or automated decision‑making.  Recent guidance from Spain’s data‑protection authority and the UK’s ICO stresses the need for clear reasons why an AI agent can access personal information, and calls for strict permission controls, monitoring and human oversight.  Klein recommends firms maintain a live inventory of AI agents, map their permissions and data sources, and regularly audit access to stay compliant with GDPR and the EU AI Act.

For entrepreneurs selling AI‑enabled solutions, buyers are increasingly demanding evidence of data‑access controls, turning AI governance into a sales differentiator rather than just a compliance checkbox.

## Key points

- EU AI adoption rose from 8.1% in 2023 to 20% in 2025, with 55% of large firms using AI by 2025
- IAPP study of 2,400 software providers found 63.6% did not fully disclose AI sub‑processing activities
- Spanish and UK regulators now require clear justification and strict controls for AI agents accessing personal data

## Why it matters

Unchecked AI permissions can expose sensitive European data, risking GDPR violations and EU AI Act penalties, while transparent governance becomes a competitive sales advantage.

## Sources

1. [The AI Access Problem Most European Businesses Have Not Checked For](https://eu.entrepreneur.com/technology/the-ai-access-problem-most-european-businesses-have-not-checked-for) (eu.entrepreneur.com, 2026-10-20)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Reco CEO Ofer Klein says European firms often miss AI access in many tools", 20 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/reco-ceo-ofer-klein-says-european-firms-often-miss-ai-access-in-many-t

---

Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record. Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse
JSON: https://digestai.news/story/reco-ceo-ofer-klein-says-european-firms-often-miss-ai-access-in-many-t.json