Digital Single Market

Facebook whistleblower calls on MEPs to make sure DSA won’t be ‘dead letter’
While revisiting the recently-agreed digital regulations, European Parliament lawmakers were joined by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen who called on them to do everything necessary to ensure that the DSA will be a "success story".
DSA: The European Commission’s new strategy to cover search engines
The EU executive has put forth a non-paper on how to best include search engines in the obligations of the Digital Services Act (DSA), addressing concerns that Google and the likes might slip the regulation’s scope. The Commission’s non-paper on...
DSA: France seeks compromise on targeted advertising, marketplaces, systemic risks
In light of receiving a new mandate for a meeting with EU ambassadors, the French Presidency of the European Council proposed a compromise on some critical issues of the Digital Services Act (DSA) to the other member states.
Breaking digital dominance
Today’s expected agreement on the Digital Markets Act is essential to crack market dominance in digital markets. However, if negotiators fail to agree on effective tools to get under the skin of the underlying business model of advertising, we risk not only stifling of innovation and poor data protection but on top of that also societal harms, such as disinformation and hate speech, write René Repasi and Paul Tang.
Key EU lawmaker aims for April deal on Digital Markets Act
Landmark EU rules aimed at curbing the power of US tech giants could be agreed between lawmakers and EU countries as soon as April, with sticking points expected to be thrashed out in coming weeks, a key lawmaker leading the talks said on Tuesday (15 February).
EU legislators seek a way out of the impasse in DMA negotiations
Little progress was made in the second political trilogue on the Digital Markets Act on Thursday (4 February), but a breakthrough might soon be found by linking the negotiations with the Digital Services Act.
DSA: MEPs gear up for negotiations ahead of kick-off trilogue
The lawmakers representing the different political groups met on Wednesday (26 January) to iron down the political priorities in view of the first political trilogue of the Digital Services Act (DSA) that will take place on 31 January.
MEPs adopt Digital Services Act with significant last-minute changes
A large majority of MEPs voted in favour of the Digital Services Act on Thursday (20 January), after plenary amendments introduced important changes to the text.
Washington proposes ban on targeted ads
Three US lawmakers on Tuesday tabled the Banning Surveillance Advertising Act, a proposal aimed at banning the use of personal data for targeted advertising.
DSA cramped with amendments ahead of key vote in the European Parliament
Over a hundred alternative amendments were tabled on the DSA ahead of the plenary vote, with some critical comebacks and reformulations of existing proposals. The amendments are a mixed bag of new bids, bring-backs of measures discarded in the consumer...
EU parliament adopts regulation targeting internet giants
EU lawmakers adopted their version of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in a plenary vote on Wednesday (15 December), formalizing their mandate to enter interinstitutional negotiations on this key piece of digital legislation with the European Council and Commission.
MEPs adopt Digital Services Act in a key committee vote
EU lawmakers reached an agreement on the EU rulebook for digital content and services, formalised by the adoption in the leading parliamentary committee.
Amendments crowd DMA’s plenary vote, and it’s not over yet
Despite a ‘gentlemen's agreement’ between the main political groups in the European Parliament, a number of alternative amendments to the proposed Digital Markets Act (DMA) have been tabled ahead of the plenary vote due on 14-15 December, and more surprises might come later in the week.
Connectivity providers eye redistribution of responsibilities with the DSA
For 20 years, internet service providers have been tasked by relevant authorities with taking down illegal content. With the Digital Services Act (DSA), obligations are largely moving to online platforms.
The last-minute amendments that could change the DMA
The European Parliament’s economic committee (ECON) could table up to six amendments introducing significant changes to the law to regulate internet giants. The leading negotiator for the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Andreas Schwab, requested no separate amendments be tabled during...
SMEs keep a close eye on upcoming digital regulations
Small and medium enterprises (SME) have been closely following progress on the upcoming European digital regulations, as EU policymakers are trying to find the right balance between protecting consumers, supporting innovation, and ensuring a level playing field. “Sometimes good intentions...
EU countries embrace platform regulations, but divisions remain
EU ministers gathered in Brussels on Thursday (25 November) to rubber-stamp the new ambitious rules for the digital space. However, significant divisions remain.
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'.
Media exemption ruled out in DSA negotiations, but could return
An attempt to exempt the media from new content moderation rules has been ruled out following opposition from all major political groups, but the battle is not over.
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.