Toggle navigation eco Press Releases Press Releases Press Distribution List Press DownloadsPress TextPhotographsLogosStudiesAnnual ReportsPortfolio Press Policy & Law One Year of the Black-Red Coalition: IT Decision-Makers Give German Digital Policy Poor Marks The interim assessment of digital policy after just under a year of the German federal government’s tenure is mixed: in the eco Digitalpuls, the Association of the Internet Industry evaluates key digital policy initiatives across six areas of action. The results show that, despite initial progress, German digital policy still lacks impact. date 2026/04/23 press Policy & Law After Cabinet Decision: eco Association Sees Significant Risks in IP Storage The Federal Cabinet has approved the three-month retention period of IP addresses. eco warns of legal risks, questionable effectiveness, and significant burdens for companies as well as for Germany as a digital business location. date 2026/04/22 press Policy & Law Ahead of the CSAM Trilogue: eco Warns Against Search Obligations and Double Regulation Ahead of the upcoming trilogue negotiations on the European CSAM Regulation, eco is calling for a clear commitment to voluntary measures as well as greater regulatory coherence in the ongoing legislative process. date 2026/04/15 press Datacenter Leadership Change at the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany: Volker Ludwig Takes Over as Spokesperson The Alliance for the Strengthening Digital Infrastructures, founded under the umbrella of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, announces a change in the role of spokesperson. Dr. Béla Waldhauser is handing over the role of spokesperson to Volker Ludwig, SVP and Managing Director Central Europe at Digital Realty. date 2026/04/14 press Policy & Law Key Points of Hesse’s Regional Data Centre Strategy: eco Alliance Notes Progress and Areas Requiring Further Clarification The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany regards Hesse’s data centre strategy as a significant boost for the region’s digital sector. It highlights the strategic expansion and a multi-faceted approach as particular strengths. At the same time, the industry believes there is still a need for clarification regarding energy infrastructure, grid connectivity and the specific role of local authorities. date 2026/03/27 press Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Criticises Cybersecurity Act: State Intervention in Networks and Systems Threatens to Become the New Normal eco warns of a paradigm shift towards active network manipulation and calls for clear constitutional safeguards. date 2026/03/23 press Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Urges: AI Omnibus Must Be the Starting Point for Genuine Relief for the Economy The European Parliament paves the way for less bureaucracy in AI – eco now calls for consistent implementation, greater legal certainty and innovation-friendly regulation. date 2026/03/23 press Datacenter Data Centre Strategy Remains Too Vague on Electricity Prices and Energy Efficiency The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, operating under the umbrella of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, welcomes key elements of the German federal government’s National Data Centre Strategy, which is set to be adopted by the cabinet today. In particular, the target of doubling data centre capacity by 2030 and quadrupling AI capacity sends an important signal for competitiveness and digital sovereignty from the industry’s perspective. date 2026/03/18 press Policy & Law eco Association on the Expiry of Voluntary Chat Control: Failed Extension Must Not Lead to a Mandatory Search Obligation Under the CSAM Regulation With the expiry of the temporary exemption for voluntary chat control set to expire on 3 April 2026, the European Union faces a legal gap in the voluntary detection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. Following the failure of the EU Council and the European Parliament to agree on an extension of the exemption, pressure is mounting to find a swift and long-term solution for voluntary proactive measures by service providers within the framework of the trilogue negotiations on the CSAM Regulation. date 2026/03/18 press Policy & Law Oliver Süme on the Conclusion of the Digital Omnibus Consultations The Digital Omnibus offers an important opportunity to reduce the growing complexity of European digital regulation. date 2026/03/11 press Security eco – Association of the Internet Industry: Cybersecurity Act Threatens to Normalise State Intervention in Network Infrastructures The draft bill for an Act to Strengthen Cybersecurity intervenes deeply in the architecture and control logic of digital infrastructures and fundamentally shifts the understanding of cybersecurity. eco – Association of the Internet Industry strongly criticises this paradigm shift. date 2026/03/02 press © iStock.com/ Policy & Law eco on the Debate Surrounding a Social Media Ban: Blanket Age Restrictions Are Not the Solution The debate on a legal minimum age for social media continues to gain momentum. Initiatives from the German SPD and CDU/CSU parties envisage mandatory age verification and, in some cases, far-reaching restrictions. eco Association calls for a differentiated, European-coordinated solution and warns against blanket bans. date 2026/02/23 press Policy & Law eco Association on the EU Summit: Strengthening Europe’s Digital Competitiveness This EU summit must send a clear signal of unity and political will, especially to the business community. Europe’s competitiveness is under pressure. The productivity gap with other world regions has widened, and non-European players dominate the global market for investments in artificial intelligence. date 2026/02/12 press Artificial Intelligence eco on the AI Regulation: Without Clear Coordination, Chaos Threatens in the Enforcement of the AI Act Ahead of tomorrow’s cabinet discussion on the AI Implementation Act, eco – Association of the Internet Industry welcomes the 1:1 implementation of the EU requirements, but warns of practical enforcement problems and unclear responsibilities. date 2026/02/12 press Artificial Intelligence Greater Cyber Resilience Through AI: eco – Association Publishes 5-Step Plan for Companies A new white paper from eco shows how companies can use AI safely and responsibly. A five-step plan supports decision-makers in implementing AI applications, addresses new threats such as deepfakes and AI-supported phishing, and classifies best practices and relevant standards such as ISO/IEC 42001. date 2026/02/09 press eco Safer Internet Day 2026: Over 50,000 Young People Discuss How to Deal with AI Companions Safer Internet Day has met with a great response throughout Germany: more than 1,000 schools, associations, libraries, companies and initiatives are getting involved with their own campaigns and events. eco is also participating in the campaign day. date 2026/02/06 press Policy & Law eco Sharply Criticises Law on IP Address Storage: Endangers Fundamental Rights, Undermines Investment Security and Weakens Germany as a Digital Location The draft law presented by the German federal government to introduce a three-month IP address storage is facing criticism from the Internet industry. eco warns of violations of European Court of Justice case law, a reduction in judicial control and considerable financial burdens for the sector. date 2026/02/02 press Policy & Law Resilience Requires Clarity: KRITIS Umbrella Act Should Be Consistently Implemented With the adoption of the KRITIS Umbrella Act by the German Bundestag, a uniform nationwide framework for the protection of critical infrastructures in Germany is being created for the first time. What now matters is a practicable, real-world implementation. date 2026/01/29 press Policy & Law eco Survey Shows: Data Protection, No Thanks! Around 90 Per Cent of Germans Give Up When Faced on Long and Complicated Privacy Policies A YouGov survey commissioned by eco on European Data Protection Day shows that only a minority reads privacy information completely. eco calls for more transparency, comprehensibility and user orientation. date 2026/01/28 press Policy & Law Alexander Rabe on the Draft of the National Data Centre Strategy Whether on the topic of grid connection allocation, waste heat or the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG), eco’s Managing Director Alexander Rabe assesses the draft National Data Centre Strategy on behalf of the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, founded under the umbrella of the eco Association. date 2026/01/26 press Policy & Law eco on the German-Italian Government Consultations As central economies in the EU, Germany and Italy bear a special responsibility to shape this course together – because competitiveness, technological strength and digital sovereignty can only be achieved through European solidarity. date 2026/01/22 press eco eco Association on the Current Draft of the DNA Unfortunately, eco believes that the present draft of the DNA does not achieve the previously formulated goals. Instead of tangible improvements to competitiveness and investment conditions in Europe, it contains only more new rules and obligations. date 2026/01/21 press Policy & Law eco Association on the Official Draft of the Revised Cybersecurity Act eco welcomes the planned strengthening of ENISA and faster certification procedures in the revised Cybersecurity Act, but warns that bureaucracy must be avoided, international standards must be maintained, and investment security for companies must be guaranteed. date 2026/01/21 press Datacenter Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany Reinforces Commitment to Climate and Environmental Protection in the Data Centre Sector The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, founded under the umbrella of eco, will continue to be represented on the Board of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact (CNDCP) in 2026 and 2027. date 2026/01/21 press Policy & Law World Economic Forum 2026: eco Association Calls for a Digitalisation Surge for the European Economy in Davos At the start of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos, eco is calling for a commitment to greater and more offensive digitalisation in Europe. In light of geopolitical tensions and potential threats to industrial and technological supply chains, this is crucial for Europe’s competitiveness and ability to act. date 2026/01/19 press Security eco Association: European Competitiveness Thanks to High-Performance Cloud Infrastructure “We know that, as things stand today, demand for data centres in Germany alone will exceed planned capacities by about three times by 2030. That is why every building block is important in supporting the digital transformation in Germany.” date 2026/01/15 press Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Calls for Swift Adoption of KRITIS Umbrella Act Following Power Outage in Berlin 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. date 2026/01/05 press © MickeyCZ | istockphoto.com Policy & Law Joint Statement by Business Representatives on the DSC Advisory Board: US Administration’s Actions Raise Serious Questions 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. date 2025/12/24 press Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Criticises New Version of Data Retention Law: “Disproportionate, Contrary to European Law and Outdated” 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. date 2025/12/22 press Policy & Law eco Association: German Federal Police Act Threatens to Undermine Digital Security The current draft law to modernise the German Federal Police Act significantly expands the Federal Police’s surveillance powers. In view of the first reading on Thursday, eco Association is now warning of the risks to IT security and digital communication. date 2025/12/17 press
Policy & Law One Year of the Black-Red Coalition: IT Decision-Makers Give German Digital Policy Poor Marks The interim assessment of digital policy after just under a year of the German federal government’s tenure is mixed: in the eco Digitalpuls, the Association of the Internet Industry evaluates key digital policy initiatives across six areas of action. The results show that, despite initial progress, German digital policy still lacks impact. date 2026/04/23 press
Policy & Law After Cabinet Decision: eco Association Sees Significant Risks in IP Storage The Federal Cabinet has approved the three-month retention period of IP addresses. eco warns of legal risks, questionable effectiveness, and significant burdens for companies as well as for Germany as a digital business location. date 2026/04/22 press
Policy & Law Ahead of the CSAM Trilogue: eco Warns Against Search Obligations and Double Regulation Ahead of the upcoming trilogue negotiations on the European CSAM Regulation, eco is calling for a clear commitment to voluntary measures as well as greater regulatory coherence in the ongoing legislative process. date 2026/04/15 press
Datacenter Leadership Change at the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany: Volker Ludwig Takes Over as Spokesperson The Alliance for the Strengthening Digital Infrastructures, founded under the umbrella of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, announces a change in the role of spokesperson. Dr. Béla Waldhauser is handing over the role of spokesperson to Volker Ludwig, SVP and Managing Director Central Europe at Digital Realty. date 2026/04/14 press
Policy & Law Key Points of Hesse’s Regional Data Centre Strategy: eco Alliance Notes Progress and Areas Requiring Further Clarification The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany regards Hesse’s data centre strategy as a significant boost for the region’s digital sector. It highlights the strategic expansion and a multi-faceted approach as particular strengths. At the same time, the industry believes there is still a need for clarification regarding energy infrastructure, grid connectivity and the specific role of local authorities. date 2026/03/27 press
Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Criticises Cybersecurity Act: State Intervention in Networks and Systems Threatens to Become the New Normal eco warns of a paradigm shift towards active network manipulation and calls for clear constitutional safeguards. date 2026/03/23 press
Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Urges: AI Omnibus Must Be the Starting Point for Genuine Relief for the Economy The European Parliament paves the way for less bureaucracy in AI – eco now calls for consistent implementation, greater legal certainty and innovation-friendly regulation. date 2026/03/23 press
Datacenter Data Centre Strategy Remains Too Vague on Electricity Prices and Energy Efficiency The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, operating under the umbrella of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, welcomes key elements of the German federal government’s National Data Centre Strategy, which is set to be adopted by the cabinet today. In particular, the target of doubling data centre capacity by 2030 and quadrupling AI capacity sends an important signal for competitiveness and digital sovereignty from the industry’s perspective. date 2026/03/18 press
Policy & Law eco Association on the Expiry of Voluntary Chat Control: Failed Extension Must Not Lead to a Mandatory Search Obligation Under the CSAM Regulation With the expiry of the temporary exemption for voluntary chat control set to expire on 3 April 2026, the European Union faces a legal gap in the voluntary detection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. Following the failure of the EU Council and the European Parliament to agree on an extension of the exemption, pressure is mounting to find a swift and long-term solution for voluntary proactive measures by service providers within the framework of the trilogue negotiations on the CSAM Regulation. date 2026/03/18 press
Policy & Law Oliver Süme on the Conclusion of the Digital Omnibus Consultations The Digital Omnibus offers an important opportunity to reduce the growing complexity of European digital regulation. date 2026/03/11 press
Security eco – Association of the Internet Industry: Cybersecurity Act Threatens to Normalise State Intervention in Network Infrastructures The draft bill for an Act to Strengthen Cybersecurity intervenes deeply in the architecture and control logic of digital infrastructures and fundamentally shifts the understanding of cybersecurity. eco – Association of the Internet Industry strongly criticises this paradigm shift. date 2026/03/02 press
© iStock.com/ Policy & Law eco on the Debate Surrounding a Social Media Ban: Blanket Age Restrictions Are Not the Solution The debate on a legal minimum age for social media continues to gain momentum. Initiatives from the German SPD and CDU/CSU parties envisage mandatory age verification and, in some cases, far-reaching restrictions. eco Association calls for a differentiated, European-coordinated solution and warns against blanket bans. date 2026/02/23 press
Policy & Law eco Association on the EU Summit: Strengthening Europe’s Digital Competitiveness This EU summit must send a clear signal of unity and political will, especially to the business community. Europe’s competitiveness is under pressure. The productivity gap with other world regions has widened, and non-European players dominate the global market for investments in artificial intelligence. date 2026/02/12 press
Artificial Intelligence eco on the AI Regulation: Without Clear Coordination, Chaos Threatens in the Enforcement of the AI Act Ahead of tomorrow’s cabinet discussion on the AI Implementation Act, eco – Association of the Internet Industry welcomes the 1:1 implementation of the EU requirements, but warns of practical enforcement problems and unclear responsibilities. date 2026/02/12 press
Artificial Intelligence Greater Cyber Resilience Through AI: eco – Association Publishes 5-Step Plan for Companies A new white paper from eco shows how companies can use AI safely and responsibly. A five-step plan supports decision-makers in implementing AI applications, addresses new threats such as deepfakes and AI-supported phishing, and classifies best practices and relevant standards such as ISO/IEC 42001. date 2026/02/09 press
eco Safer Internet Day 2026: Over 50,000 Young People Discuss How to Deal with AI Companions Safer Internet Day has met with a great response throughout Germany: more than 1,000 schools, associations, libraries, companies and initiatives are getting involved with their own campaigns and events. eco is also participating in the campaign day. date 2026/02/06 press
Policy & Law eco Sharply Criticises Law on IP Address Storage: Endangers Fundamental Rights, Undermines Investment Security and Weakens Germany as a Digital Location The draft law presented by the German federal government to introduce a three-month IP address storage is facing criticism from the Internet industry. eco warns of violations of European Court of Justice case law, a reduction in judicial control and considerable financial burdens for the sector. date 2026/02/02 press
Policy & Law Resilience Requires Clarity: KRITIS Umbrella Act Should Be Consistently Implemented With the adoption of the KRITIS Umbrella Act by the German Bundestag, a uniform nationwide framework for the protection of critical infrastructures in Germany is being created for the first time. What now matters is a practicable, real-world implementation. date 2026/01/29 press
Policy & Law eco Survey Shows: Data Protection, No Thanks! Around 90 Per Cent of Germans Give Up When Faced on Long and Complicated Privacy Policies A YouGov survey commissioned by eco on European Data Protection Day shows that only a minority reads privacy information completely. eco calls for more transparency, comprehensibility and user orientation. date 2026/01/28 press
Policy & Law Alexander Rabe on the Draft of the National Data Centre Strategy Whether on the topic of grid connection allocation, waste heat or the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG), eco’s Managing Director Alexander Rabe assesses the draft National Data Centre Strategy on behalf of the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, founded under the umbrella of the eco Association. date 2026/01/26 press
Policy & Law eco on the German-Italian Government Consultations As central economies in the EU, Germany and Italy bear a special responsibility to shape this course together – because competitiveness, technological strength and digital sovereignty can only be achieved through European solidarity. date 2026/01/22 press
eco eco Association on the Current Draft of the DNA Unfortunately, eco believes that the present draft of the DNA does not achieve the previously formulated goals. Instead of tangible improvements to competitiveness and investment conditions in Europe, it contains only more new rules and obligations. date 2026/01/21 press
Policy & Law eco Association on the Official Draft of the Revised Cybersecurity Act eco welcomes the planned strengthening of ENISA and faster certification procedures in the revised Cybersecurity Act, but warns that bureaucracy must be avoided, international standards must be maintained, and investment security for companies must be guaranteed. date 2026/01/21 press
Datacenter Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany Reinforces Commitment to Climate and Environmental Protection in the Data Centre Sector The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, founded under the umbrella of eco, will continue to be represented on the Board of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact (CNDCP) in 2026 and 2027. date 2026/01/21 press
Policy & Law World Economic Forum 2026: eco Association Calls for a Digitalisation Surge for the European Economy in Davos At the start of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos, eco is calling for a commitment to greater and more offensive digitalisation in Europe. In light of geopolitical tensions and potential threats to industrial and technological supply chains, this is crucial for Europe’s competitiveness and ability to act. date 2026/01/19 press
Security eco Association: European Competitiveness Thanks to High-Performance Cloud Infrastructure “We know that, as things stand today, demand for data centres in Germany alone will exceed planned capacities by about three times by 2030. That is why every building block is important in supporting the digital transformation in Germany.” date 2026/01/15 press
Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Calls for Swift Adoption of KRITIS Umbrella Act Following Power Outage in Berlin 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. date 2026/01/05 press
© MickeyCZ | istockphoto.com Policy & Law Joint Statement by Business Representatives on the DSC Advisory Board: US Administration’s Actions Raise Serious Questions 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. date 2025/12/24 press
Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Criticises New Version of Data Retention Law: “Disproportionate, Contrary to European Law and Outdated” 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. date 2025/12/22 press
Policy & Law eco Association: German Federal Police Act Threatens to Undermine Digital Security The current draft law to modernise the German Federal Police Act significantly expands the Federal Police’s surveillance powers. In view of the first reading on Thursday, eco Association is now warning of the risks to IT security and digital communication. date 2025/12/17 press
