Internet governance
TikTok accused of allowing Kremlin propaganda
Kremlin propaganda is being shared on TikTok by a "network of coordinated accounts" despite the platform's ban on new Russian content, according to a study. EURACTIV France reports.
French regulator calls on court to block five pornographic websites
The French audiovisual regulator has filed a suit demanding the blocking of five pornographic websites, which have been on notice since mid-December for failing to ensure that their content is not accessible to minors. EURACTIV France reports.
Russia reportedly seeks tighter control over the internet
Russia appears to be preparing measures to tighten control over the internet, under the guise of seeking to be more resilient against cyberattacks, according to an internal document circulated on social media and comments by Russian officials.
Europe’s most used consent system deemed incompatible with EU privacy rules
Belgium's data watchdog found that a popular mechanism for managing user preferences in Europe violates several General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provisions, and it requested advertisers to delete the collected data.
Big tech opposes Germany’s enhanced hate speech law
The amendment to Germany's Network Enforcement Act known as NetzDG on combatting hate speech online comes into force on Tuesday (1 February) but some of the largest online platforms refuse to cooperate. EURACTIV Germany reports.
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.