The recent power outage in Berlin once again highlights how vulnerable our critical infrastructures are. The eco Association is therefore calling for the swift adoption of the Critical Infrastructures (KRITIS) Umbrella Act in order to finally create a cross-sector, practical legal framework for the physical protection of critical infrastructures.

Business representatives on the DSC Advisory Board, Susanne Dehmel (bitkom), Dirk Freytag (BVDW) and Alexander Rabe (eco), have issued a joint statement on the sanctions imposed by the US administration: “The US administration’s actions raise serious questions about its dealings with European institutions and applicable EU law. The Digital Services Act is applicable European law.

In response to German Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig’s plans to reintroduce indiscriminate data retention, eco is calling for urgent amendments to the draft bill. Indiscriminate and blanket data retention is incompatible with the case law of the European Court of Justice.

At ICANN84 in Dublin, Thomas Rickert, Director Names & Numbers at eco – Association of the Internet Industry, spoke with Stefan Pattberg of DENIC Services about how service providers are preparing for the next round of new gTLDs, expected to launch in 2026.