Internet governance
French and German SMEs oppose tracking-based ads, survey finds
Ahead of a crucial EU parliamentary vote on the Digital Services Act, a survey has found that a majority of small businesses in France and Germany want alternatives to tracking-based advertisements by Google and Facebook, which they perceive as being too invasive.
Google under market abuse control rules after German competition decision
Google has been dubbed a platform of 'paramount significance across markets' and will be subject to extended abuse control rules to combat uncompetitive practices, according to Germany's Federal Cartel Office on Wednesday (5 January).
Pornhub says French warnings over age limits ‘encroaches upon privacy of adults’
Pornhub has criticised France's broadcasting regulator for sending warnings on Monday (13 December) to five porn-hosting websites over easy accessibility for minors. According to the pornography giant, the decision "encroaches upon the privacy of adults" and ignores most of the industry that remains uncontrolled. EURACTIV France reports.
Internet guardians want to break web’s language barriers
When website addresses using writing systems like Chinese and Arabic were introduced back in 2009, it was hailed as a step that would transform the internet.
France ‘very confident’ Brussels will not oppose new parental control bill
The French government notified the European Commission last week of a new bill aimed at ensuring electronic devices like computers, phones, gaming consoles and tablets sold in the country have parental controls pre-installed. One of the bill's authors is "very confident" Brussels would not oppose the proposed law. EURACTIV France reports.
US democratic alliance on internet governance ‘not yet clear’ for EU Commission
A United States initiative to put forth a proposal on the future governance of the internet is still too undefined for the European Commission, according to an internal communication seen by EURACTIV.
136 countries agree on international tax reform
More than 100 countries agreed on Friday (8 October) a reform of the international tax regime intended to make it fit for the digital age and respond to longstanding concerns about corporate tax evasion.
Facebook’s plan to cut back on political content sets up Orbán for re-election
By cutting back on political content, Facebook is taking the responsibility to further distort political competition in countries like Hungary, where media pluralism has been severely hit by the ruling parties. Such a move could help Prime Minister Viktor Orbán secure another term in power, argues Anna Donath.
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny’s website blocked by regulator before election
Russian authorities blocked access to jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's website on Monday (26 July) in the run-up to a parliamentary election, their latest attempt to sideline his allies cast by the Kremlin as US-backed trouble-makers.
Germany’s push for tighter tech regulation
German lawmakers are making the case for tighter obligations for online platforms in the upcoming EU legislation, as they fear that it could produce weaker rules than their current national framework, EURACTIV Germany reports.
French law on content moderation risks ‘fragmenting’ EU digital market, says Commission
A French bill with several obligations for online platforms similar to a draft EU law poses a "risk to the single market in digital services and to Europe's prosperity", the European Commission has warned. EURACTIV France reports.
Germany’s online hate speech law slammed by opposition, Commission
Civil rights activists and opposition politicians have slammed a recently approved amendment to Germany's law regulating online communications, saying it encroaches on freedom of expression and fragments the European legal space. EURACTIV Germany reports.
French government launches platform to help parents protect kids from online porn
French authorities have launched a new platform to help parents protect their children from exposure to online pornography. EURACTIV France reports.
Portugal vies to push ahead with new EU digital regulation
Portugal's minister for economic affairs said on Thursday (7 January( that Portugal intends to take forward negotiations on the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Law during the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU).
Thousands of EU domains registered to UK users ‘suspended’ after Brexit
Over 80,000 internet domain names assigned to UK registrants have been suspended by the EU registry, EURid, following the end of the Brexit transition period at the close of 2020.
Commission vies to ‘put order into chaos’ with new digital crackdown
Online platform giants will be forced to abide by a broad range of obligations as part of ambitious new plans laid out by the European Commission in its Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) on Tuesday (15 December).
Revealed: Commission ushers in new era of digital regulation
The European Commission will today (15 December) unveil a broad set of regulatory measures clamping down on global digital giants, as part of two landmark texts that will overhaul the operation of the platform economy in the EU.
New cross-border online terrorist content rules sparks rights concerns
EU lawmakers from the European Parliament and the Council signed off on new rules to police online terrorist content Thursday (10 December), in a move that will see pan-European removal orders issued from competent authorities of any EU member state.
Make Big Tech accountable, Austria says in Digital Services Act recommendations
Austria has called on the European Commission to make online platforms more accountable for the hosting of illegal content in a series of recommendations for the EU's Digital Services Act, citing the country's Communication Platforms Act as an example for the EU to follow.
Breton reveals details on gatekeeper criteria in Digital Markets Act
The EU's Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has disclosed details on the forthcoming criteria for the definition of so-called 'gatekeeper platforms' as part of the hotly-anticipated Digital Markets Act, set to be proposed by the EU executive in early December.
Tech groups’ services could face bans if they breach rules, EU industry chief says
Technology companies’ services could be banned from the European market if they do not heed EU regulation, Europe’s industry chief Thierry Breton told German weekly Welt am Sonntag, as the European Commission finalizes rules on internet companies.
In protecting Europe’s data, can EU regulation keep up with Chinese tech?
Europe's strategic autonomy and its ability to protect its citizens’ data privacy could depend on whether the Digital Services Act can keep up with China's influence over the technologies that shape our daily lives, writes Nicolas Tenzer.
Vestager distances Commission from option of ‘Big Tech Breakups’
The EU has the power to execute a potential breakup of global Big Tech giants, but it is not currently the "right thing to do," the EU's Vice-President for Digital Affairs, Margrethe Vestager, has said.