Policy & Law

eco Criticises France’s Social Media Ban: European Solutions Rather Than a National Patchwork

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.

date 2026/07/23

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Policy & Law

Only 13 Days Until They Apply: eco Warns Against Flying Blind on AI Transparency Obligations

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.

date 2026/07/21

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Policy & Law

European Solutions Instead of National Patchworks: eco Calls for Coherent Youth Media Protection

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.

date 2026/07/15

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Policy & Law

Trusted Flagger: eco – Association of the Internet Industry Calls for Practical EU Guidelines in the Fight Against Illegal Online Content

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.

date 2026/07/13

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Policy & Law

eco on German Cybersecurity Policy: Association Warns of Attack on Digital Civil Liberties

With a new position paper on current cybersecurity policy, eco – Association of the Internet Industry warns against the increasing tightening of security-policy interventions in the digital sphere.

date 2026/07/08

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Policy & Law

Conference of Economic Ministers Must Act

Ahead of the Conference of Economic Ministers on 1 and 2 July in Konstanz, eco – Association of the Internet Industry – is calling for a clear commitment to expanding data centres, cloud and AI infrastructure in Germany.

date 2026/07/01

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Policy & Law

eco on the Election of the New German Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI)

eco – Association of the Internet Industry welcomes the election of Prof. Dr Moritz Hennemann as the new Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information.

date 2026/06/25

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Policy & Law

eco – Association of the Internet Industry on the Recommendations of the Prien Commission: Effectively Protecting Children, Enabling Digital Opportunities

The expert commission on “Protection of Children and Young People in the Digital World”, appointed by the German Federal Minister for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, today presented recommendations on the use of social media by children and young people. eco – Association of the Internet Industry welcomes this in-depth examination of the issue.

date 2026/06/24

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Policy & Law

Survey: Majority Supports Data Centres

A YouGov survey commissioned by the eco Alliance shows that the majority of the population supports the expansion of data centres in Germany. The Alliance is calling for clear policy guidelines, better site policy and transparent planning.

date 2026/06/22

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Policy & Law

eco Association: Amendment to the German Energy Efficiency Act Risks Becoming an Obstacle to Investment in Germany

eco and the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany have criticised the planned amendment to the German Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG). They argue that a rigid operational PUE of 1.2 for data centres is impractical, jeopardises investment and weakens Germany as a digital business location.

date 2026/06/22

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Policy & Law

Children are Not Content: eco Complaints Office Raises Awareness of the Dangers of Sharenting and AI Manipulation

What is intended as a harmless holiday memory can quickly become a risk: photos of children online can be saved, shared further and altered using AI for abusive purposes. In the “#ChildrenAreNotContent” webinar on 25 June 2026, the eco Complaints Office will explain what parents and professionals should bear in mind when sharing images.

date 2026/06/22

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Policy & Law

eco on the Franco-German Sovereignty Criteria

The Franco-German sovereignty criteria represent an important contribution for the European debate on the cloud, AI and digital infrastructures. From eco’s perspective, it is now crucial to closely align this initiative with the European Commission’s Tech Sovereignty Package and the planned Cloud and AI Development Act. Digital sovereignty must not be defined by blanket rules on country of origin or new barriers to market access, but must instead focus on security, data protection, transparency, the freedom to switch providers and high-performance infrastructure.

date 2026/06/17

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Policy & Law

eco Association Warns of Anthropic Embargo

Following direct export controls imposed by the US government on AI software, Anthropic has blocked its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models worldwide. The eco Association has warned of risks to Europe’s cybersecurity: powerful AI models are vital tools for analysing vulnerabilities, detecting attacks more quickly and strengthening IT systems. Europe must build up its own capabilities in developing, operating and auditing such models.

date 2026/06/16

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Policy & Law

eco on IP Address Retention: The German Federal Council (Bundesrat) Must Not Provide a Blueprint for Digital Mass Surveillance

In light of the deliberations in the German Federal Council (Bundesrat), eco Association warns against a shift in security policy in digital domestic policy. In the association’s view, the planned IP address retention, expanded preservation orders, biometric Internet matching and cross-proceedings data analysis will result in more data retention, more data linking and a greater degree of intrusion.

date 2026/06/12

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Policy & Law

eco on the Passing of the AI Act Implementation Act

With the AI Implementation Act, the German Bundestag is laying the groundwork for the national implementation of the European AI Regulation. eco Association welcomes the one-to-one transposition of the EU requirements and the central role of the German Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), but still sees a clear need for improvements in terms of coordination and enforceability. Without clear responsibilities and uniform enforcement practices, there is a risk of legal uncertainty, additional bureaucracy and barriers to investment for companies. It's now crucial that AI regulation is implemented in a practical, innovation-friendly and consistent manner across the country.

date 2026/06/12

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