e-Commerce
French investigation shines light on Amazon mass destruction of goods
The global e-commerce giant Amazon has been hit with claims that it has destroyed up to three million unsold products from French warehouses over the past year. The news comes a week after Amazon became the world's most valuable public company in terms of market value.
Updating copyright rules for news: There’s a better way
The EU Copyright directive should avoid making reforms that takes away publishers’ choices about how to distribute and make money with their content online, writes Richard Gingras.
Cryptoasset investors exposed to substantial risks, two EU reports find
Cryptoassets are dangerously unregulated and may give rise to criminal activities, according to two recent assessments published by the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).
MEPs back fair-play rules for platforms and operating systems
MEPs backed rules to force online platforms to be more transparent and fair to business clients on Thursday (6 December), with some members voicing frustration at the fact that operating systems are to be included in the scope of the regulation.
Ministers adopt position on P2B draft regulation as MEPs tussle over common approach
EU ministers adopted a common approach on the platform-to-business regulation on Thursday (29 November), with progress in the Council contrasting with internal divisions amongst MEPs in the European Parliament.
Visa, Mastercard offer tourist card fee cut in EU antitrust probe
Visa and Mastercard have offered to trim the fees merchants pay on card payments by tourists in the European Union in an attempt to stave off possible fines after a long-running antitrust investigation, people familiar with the matter said.
‘Operating systems’ debate hinders progress on P2B file, MEPs say
Platforms should not be allowed to use their operating systems to "avoid rules" when it comes to the platform-to-business (P2B) regulation, MEPs in European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee said on Wednesday (21 October).
Packaging in e-commerce: Roles, responsibilities, best practice
E-commerce has given shoppers the ability to purchase products on demand and at competitive prices. Educating consumers to reduce, reuse, dispose and recycle packaging from e-commerce goods they receive is a growing priority.
UK takes lead in digital tax standoff but diverts from EU plans
The UK is to roll out a digital services tax (DST) for tech giants from April 2020 in a move that breaks an international stalemate on the subject. The rates, however, differ substantially from the EU’s own DST plans.
EU regulators want to know if merchants hurt by Amazon copies
EU antitrust regulators are asking retailers and manufacturers whether Amazon’s sales of own brand products similar to theirs have harmed their business, a move which could lead to a formal case and possibly fines against the U.S. tech giant.
After attacking Google, Vestager now turns to Amazon
The European Commission suspects the e-commerce giant of using the data it collects from third-party vendors on its marketplace to gain a commercial advantage. An article by our partner, La Tribune.
Chancellor Merkel’s digital gurus
In Germany, a ten-member committee takes up its work to speed up the country's digitization efforts and ask uncomfortable questions. EURACTIV Germany's media partner "Der Tagesspiegel" reports.
GDPR: EU’s new data protection rules come into effect
The European Union's new data protection laws came into effect on Friday (25 May), with Brussels saying the changes will protect consumers from being like "people naked in an aquarium".
Online platforms under fire as EU pushes for transparency on search results
Online platforms ranging from ecommerce retailers like Amazon to search engines including Google will be forced to reveal the criteria they use to display search results, under a new European Commission proposal.
Gabriel: Facebook users ‘need to know what happened with their data’
Facebook users “need to know what happened with their data” following reports over a week ago that millions of profiles on the social media platform were secretly used to help political campaigns, EU Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said.
EU plans to pull ‘free’ digital services under consumer protection rules
EXCLUSIVE / Digital services that collect users’ data, like Facebook and Gmail, will be pulled under EU consumer protection rules as part of a European Commission overhaul due next month. Possible sanctions will be raised to up to 4% of a company's turnover.
OECD report stokes last-minute criticism of EU digital tax plan
The OECD warned on Friday (16 March) against the European Commission’s plan to propose a new tax next week targeting digital companies, arguing that it may cause economic distortion and raise business costs.
European Parliament bans geo-blocking for e-commerce
The new legislation approved by European Parliament requires websites to sell their goods throughout the EU regardless of the country the buyer resides in. It could apply to online cultural content like music streaming and ebooks within two years. EURACTIV.fr reports
Moscovici: ‘The credibility of the EU tax haven black list is at stake’
The EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici is determined to table a digital tax proposal at EU level, despite warnings from the OECD. In an exclusive interview with EURACTIV, he also warns EU countries for failing to publish the commitments made by tax havens to exit the EU’s ‘black list’.
OECD’s Gurría: ‘Don’t jump the gun’ on digital tax
The OECD will unveil in April its first conclusions on how to tax internet companies. In an exclusive interview with EURACTIV, its secretary general Ángel Gurría expressed concern about the fragmentation of the EU's response, expected in March.
Negotiators agree to end geoblocking in move ahead on EU ecommerce files
MEPs, member states and the European Commission agreed on a compromise deal to end geoblocking restrictions, a move that will force e-commerce businesses to sell to shoppers around the EU regardless of what country they live in.
Taxing the digital economy could slow progress on tax harmonisation
The issue of taxing the digital economy could undermine efforts for harmonising fiscal rules in Europe. Unless member states kill two birds with one stone. EURACTIV France reports.
Notaries turn blockchain into ally for digital transactions
Once feared as a technology that would make legal practitioners redundant, blockchain has now actually strengthened the role of notaries as interpreters of complex transactions, best illustrated by the convoluted issue of land registries.