Digital Single Market
The Brief, powered by ENTSO-E — Who fears the European Commission?
This week saw significant progress in Brussels’ attempt to regulate the internet economy, as the landmark proposals for the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) advanced in their legislative processes. Surprisingly, with very little noise from the 'Big Tech'.
EU Parliament’s key committee adopts Digital Markets Act
The Digital Markets Act legislative proposal has been endorsed with an overwhelming majority by a key European Parliament committee and will now be voted on in the December plenary session.
Denmark, Italy, Portugal, Spain issue warning on DMA ahead of ministerial meeting
The Danish, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish embassies to the EU circulated a warning statement on Monday (22 November) ahead of the Competitiveness Council that is set to adopt the EU’s Digital Markets Act, a key piece of digital legislation, on...
DSA: MEPs near agreement on targeted ads, recommender system, marketplace liability
The main political groups of the European Parliament could soon agree on key points of the proposal to regulate online services, according to the latest compromise amendments seen by EURACTIV. Still, discussions may not meet the December deadline.
Firms must be exposed to competition, says Vestager in blow to ‘EU champions’
EU Competition chief, Margrethe Vestager argued on Thursday (18 November) that strong businesses would not emerge by shielding them from competition, but by exposing them to it, as she presented the bloc's competition policy review.
DSA: EU ambassadors reach agreement to start interinstitutional negotiations
Representatives of EU countries endorsed a key piece of digital legislation, the Digital Services Act, on Wednesday, confirming proposals for a 24-hour deadline for removal of illegal content, liability provisions for online marketplaces and centralised enforcement for very large online platforms.
Warning: Big Tech may use extended regulatory dialogues to undermine the Digital Markets Act
To limit the power of internet platforms, the EU is working on the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The Commission’s draft for the DMA looks promising and shows credible ambition to address digital gatekeepers like Google or Facebook and tackle monopoly power in Europe.
EU ambassadors approve ‘general approach’ to Digital Markets Act
Ambassadors from the 27-member European Union unanimously adopted their "general approach" to the DMA on Wednesday (10 November), bringing several modifications to the European Commission's proposal to rein in the dominance of big players on the EU's digital market.
Online marketplaces warn EU ‘gatekeeper’ definition does not mirror their business model
The criteria for designing e-commerce platforms as gatekeepers do not reflect their business model, according to a letter signed by eight European technology companies including Booking, Allegro and Zalando.
DMA : EU lawmakers want to impose minimum 4% fine on ‘gatekeepers’
Digital giants could be fined at least 4% of their annual turnover if they fail to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) if the opinion of MEPs in the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee are heeded. EURACTIV France reports.
European providers want DMA to address ‘unfair practices’ in cloud market
Service providers are arguing that for the European cloud market to develop, the new EU antitrust law should prevent anti-competitive practices by large software providers.
Facebook and French publishers reach deal on remuneration of news content
Facebook and the French publishers' lobby known as Alliance de la Presse d'Information Générale (APIG) have reached an agreement on the remuneration of journalistic content posted on the US giant's platform, the two announced on Thursday. EURACTIV France reports.
Slovenian Presidency pitches provisions to ‘avoid enforcement deadlocks’ in DSA
The Slovenian Presidency has advanced an enforcement structure that would give stronger intervention powers to the European Commission in the context of the proposed Digital Services Act (DSA) package. The European Commission presented the package in December 2020. It contains...
Search engines push for opening default positions
DuckDuckGo, Qwant, Ecosia, and Lilo sent an open letter to EU lawmakers on Thursday (7 October), urging them to take action against their dominant rival Google in the upcoming legislative proposal on the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
‘Too big to crash’ and ‘too big to care’, Facebook faces fallout from EU policymakers
Facebook’s service outage on Monday (4 October), combined with a series of revelations about the social network's management, have prompted policymakers to ask for regulation of online platforms with a shared sense of urgency.
Ireland draws a red line on country of origin principle in DSA
Following a French initiative against the country of origin principle, Ireland is leading a counter-offensive of ten countries that consider the move would disrupt the digital single market.
No excuse to let illegal content flourish
Thriving digital markets have made our lives easier and supported our economies, but it is about time that we put an end to illegal content that both harms our consumers and businesses. Simon Kollerup is Denmark’s Minister for Industry, Business...
MEPs push to shape working conditions of the gig economy
The European Parliament adopted by an overwhelming majority a resolution on social protection for platform workers, anticipating key parts of an upcoming EU legislative proposal expected to come out before the end of the year.
Digital Brief powered by Facebook: Nvidia seeks clearance, Germany’s conflicting views, DMA & DSA Council updates
Welcome to EURACTIV’s Digital Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here. “We are working through the regulatory process and we look forward to engaging with the European Commission to address...
Digital Brief: Big Tech, Big Lobbying, Ireland’s fine, politics-free Facebook
Welcome to EURACTIV’s Digital Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here. “The Commission is open to meeting anyone who wishes to speak to us. The Commission does not, and will...
Digital Brief powered by Facebook: US national (cyber)security, UK tech superpower bid
Welcome to EURACTIV’s Digital Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here. “I’ve invited you all here today because you have the power, the capacity, and the responsibility, I believe, to...
EU bolsters probe into Facebook buyout of Kustomer
The EU on Monday (2 August) deepened its probe into Facebook's acquisition of Kustomer over concerns the social network giant could restrict the US start-ups' rivals' use of its WhatsApp and Instagram platforms.
How to make Digital Services Act future-proof?
It’s time to set a clear, fair and universal base law for the internet, writes Dita Charanzová. Balance is key, or we risk harming our economy. Fixing an issue for one sector in the DSA may tilt the playing field for everyone else. We need a horizontal framework, she argues.