The August cyberattack on parts of Berlin’s state administration network and the publication of the stolen data on 4 September demonstrate, in the view of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, how dangerous differing security standards for the public and private sectors can be.

How can connected machines be transformed into truly intelligent manufacturing? In this eco interview, Igor Mikulina, CEO and founder of MicroStep Europa and President of the Board of Trustees of the IndustryFusion Foundation, discusses open standards, edge AI and the evolution of the smart factory towards increasingly autonomous systems.

At its closed-door meeting today, the SPD parliamentary group in the German Bundestag intends to adopt new guidelines on the use of AI in the workplace. Among other things, it plans to impose higher taxes on productivity gains from AI and on large technology companies.

Connected machines alone do not make a smart factory. Igor Mikulina, CEO of MicroStep Europa, explains the role of edge **AI**, interoperability and open standards in the intelligent manufacturing of the future.

Email security is one of the most important basic protective measures. Read about how ams OSRAM implemented SPF, DKIM and DMARC to strengthen email security, prevent spoofing and improve email deliverability.

In this joint interview, the Dutch domain industry association Vereniging van Registrars (VvR) and eco discuss their cooperation in the domain sector. They explain who they are, why this connection matters and how members can benefit from closer cooperation.

Since 2016, eco’s Internet Policy Forum has brought together leading voices from politics, industry, academia and civil society to discuss the key issues surrounding digitalisation.

Flexible grid connection agreements are a key topic for the data centre industry. But what does it take for FCAs to work reliably in day-to-day operations? In this interview, Tobias Schreiner and Frederik Drewes from Loadwise provide insights into the technical requirements, flexibility potential and experiences from other European markets.

In this interview, Jens Franz from Finger Stockstadt GmbH & Co. KG explains the developments shaping the use of concrete in data centres, the approaches available for reducing emissions, and how rainwater management can also be made more intelligent.

eco is calling for concrete measures at the cabinet retreat to boost competitiveness and technological sovereignty – with better investment conditions for digital infrastructure, less bureaucracy and practical AI rules to unlock 96 billion Euro in value creation potential in industry.

In this interview, plusserver CCO Peter Höhn explains the opportunities offered by open-source-based virtualisation and managed private clouds, and what companies should bear in mind when developing their infrastructure strategy.

eco has warned of new cyber risks arising from the BND reform and has criticised, in particular, the handling of vulnerabilities, the role of the BSI and the BND’s expanded powers to intervene within Germany. The association is calling for tighter legal limits and effective independent prior scrutiny – particularly in relation to automated and AI-supported measures.

55 per cent believe they are likely to be deceived by deepfakes or other AI manipulation within the next five years   28 per cent expect damaging or abusive AI content to be created about them   eco calls for clear rules, understandable labelling and better awareness-raising  Berlin, 5 August 2026 – Fifty-five...

Eight months after NIS2 came into force, a recent eco survey reveals that implementation remains a challenge for many companies. Respondents identify documentation requirements, reporting processes, and risk analysis and management as the biggest hurdles. Ulrich Plate, an eco KRITIS expert, emphasises: “What’s crucial now is practical guidance and effective processes in day-to-day business operations.”

eco has warned against a German transitional regulation on the protection of minors on social media and is calling for uniform European guidelines based on the Digital Services Act.

The launch of the first website on 6 August 1991 laid the foundations for today’s e-commerce, digital platforms and other business models. Today, digital platform and transaction models alone generate 40 per cent of the Internet industry’s revenue.

A name, logo or plausible-looking sender address is not enough to reliably establish that an email really comes from a particular company. Nevertheless, 86 per cent of adults in Germany consider at least one of these visible features sufficient proof that an email can be trusted.

The ICANN86 Readout, hosted by eco – Association of the Internet Industry and ICANN, brought together representatives from ICANN’s Supporting Organisations and Advisory Committees to review the main outcomes of the ICANN86 Policy Forum in Seville.

Many companies are exploring AI and automation. What matters, however, is that solutions work effectively in day-to-day operations over the long term and deliver tangible relief. In this interview, Civan Erbay from SOTER.studio discusses successful AI and automation projects, areas of societal application and the responsible use of new technologies.

From 2 August, new transparency obligations will apply to AI applications and AI-generated content. eco calls for clear technical standards and consistent implementation of the AI Act across Europe.

Against the backdrop of the upcoming introduction of European Digital Identity Wallets (EUDI wallets), leading associations, federations, institutions and subject matter experts in Germany have come together in the voluntary “Wallet-ready?! Initiative.

The July issue of eco's dotmagazine explores how cables, clouds, and culture are being reshaped simultaneously – and why none of them can wait for the others to catch up.

Commenting on the announced appointment of Gitta Connemann as Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernisation, Alexander Rabe, Managing Director of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, stated:

eco notes with concern that, despite indications to the contrary last week, France has now become the first European country to introduce a general minimum age of 15 for the use of social media.

The European Commission has published its final guidelines on transparency obligations under the AI Act only 13 days before they come into application − far too late. Companies now have to analyse complex requirements, adapt internal processes and implement technical solutions within a very short period of time.

The European Commission today published the final report of its expert group on the protection of minors in the digital environment. The report contains recommendations for the future design of the European legal framework, including a minimum age of 13 for the use of social media and risk-based, graduated access to digital services.

Artificial intelligence, cloud applications and data-intensive digital services are causing the energy demand of data centres to grow continuously. Stefan Bastian, Managing Director of ebm-papst neo, explains how intelligent air and cooling systems support the operation of modern data centres.

The European Commission is driving forward the implementation of the Trusted Flagger mechanism enshrined in the Digital Services Act (DSA). In a position paper published on 7 July 2026, eco – Association of the Internet Industry generally welcomes the draft guidelines, but calls for targeted improvements.

In an interview with eco, plusserver CEO Dr Marc Wilczek discusses cloud modernisation, practical AI applications, and the new requirements arising from regulation and IT security.

The ICANN85 Readout, hosted by eco – Association of the Internet Industry and ICANN, brought together Internet governance stakeholders to review the main outcomes of the ICANN85 Community Forum in Mumbai.