It’s just around the corner: In May 2019, the European elections will be taking place. If the EU wants to achieve its ambitious goals for digitalization, then the strict and resolute implementation of a modern network policy will be even more important in the coming legislative term. Digitalization can become a success model for Europe, but only if the EU recognizes its potential and develops it into a locational and competitive advantage.

Without IT security and trustworthiness, sustainable digitalization does not work! dotmagazine looks at technologies and applications that promote the increased trustworthiness of digital systems.

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Negotiations are currently underway on the size of the budget for the EU's “Horizon Europe” research framework programme. The many announcements and assurances at European level on strengthening digital performance and sovereignty now need to be followed up with concrete funding policy initiatives; only by doing so can Europe be made internationally fit for the future as a digital location.

Patrick Koetter, Leader of the eco Competence Groups Email and Anti-Abuse, explains in interview the burning topic for him at M3AAWG in San Francisco.

Introducing a European copyright law that ignores the entire potential of the digital economy and impedes the digitalization of society and the development of new innovative business models throughout Europe – simply to protect traditional industries and outdated business models – is in no way appropriate to the realization of the European digital single market.

With protectionist sentiments threatening a digital trade war between the EU and US, the Transatlantic Dialogue roundtable series has brought together important government and industry representatives today in Brussels to productively discuss common interests and the existing EU-US Privacy Shield framework.

A proposal by the Romanian Council Presidency is currently circulating which sets forth the result of the agreement between France and Germany on the sticking points of the Copyright Directive. The proposal reveals a weakened German position in the negotiations on a European ancillary copyright law, including that of an upload filter. The smallest, small and medium-sized companies will essentially be those who take the hit – as will the Internet itself.

In an open letter to the representatives of the trilogue negotiations on the Copyright Directive – the EU Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission – many European representatives of academic institutions, the civil society, industry, and the Internet culture call for a clear commitment to counter EU Commission’s demands for automated filter systems for online platforms that work with user-generated content.

The German Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) remains a superfluous law and a threat to the freedom of opinion in the Internet. This is the conclusion of eco – Association of the Internet Industry upon reading the transparency reports just published by the Internet platforms required to do so under the act.

It may not happen often, but when it does, it is invariably unexpected: Public prosecutor investigations can affect any IT, data, and service provider. In a current set of guidelines EuroCloud, in cooperation with the German law firm Derra, Meyer & Partner Attorneys-at-Law, explains what providers need to consider in advance and what rights and obligations are associated with an actual state search.

Head of the eco Complaints Office Alexandra Koch-Skiba presents a case study of successful self-regulation of the Internet industry, with the fast and effective removal of illegal online content around the globe.

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Julia Janssen-Holldiek, Director of the Certified Senders Alliance, demonstrates how voluntary industry self-regulation can have a profound effect on quality, and bring the community together.

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Henning Lesch from the eco Association explores the need to adapt approaches to regulation in response to the global challenges of digitalization, and the role that self-regulation can play in this transformation.

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Vittorio Bertola from Open-Xchange looks at freedom and corporate social responsibility in the context of digitalization, and how Europe needs to respond to the global transformation.

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Jan Oetjen, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the European netID Foundation, talks to Julia Janssen-Holldiek, Director of the CSA, about the end of the cookie era, living without customer data, and advantages for customers and companies of the European netID single sign-on service.

Thomas Rickert, Leader of the eco Association Names & Numbers Forum, explains ICANN’s work towards a consensus policy for dealing with the data protection issues of the registration data in the public Whois.

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Prof. Michael Rotert, Honorary President of the eco Association, asks whether we need to develop a new set of digital fundamental rights, and if so, how this could be achieved.

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Sabine Zimmermann from Initiative Digital explains how SMEs can approach digital transformation without relinquishing their core values.

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To support research into the digital society, the German government-funded Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society was founded in September 2017. dotmagazine spoke to the Director of Fraunhofer FOKUS and one of the co-founders of this "German Internet Institute", Prof. Ina Schieferdecker, about both the institute and the broader topic of education in the digital society.

Joyce Dogniez from the Internet Society explains the value of Internet connectivity for education and equality endeavors, and for the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

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This month, dotmagazine explores how we – as societies, governments, companies, and individuals – can retain our core societal values as we digitalize, and where our ethics may need to be updated for the digital age.

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On the occasion of today's anniversary of the Elysée Treaty, EuroCloud France and EuroCloud Deutschland_eco have announced a closer cooperation. The two associations have agreed on regular consultations with the objective of further expanding the business relationships of their members, and to engage in continuous dialog to prepare for possible impacts of Brexit.

A meeting of European data center associations took place in Amsterdam on 16 January, including associations from Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, England, Ireland and Scotland

On the occasion of its New Year's reception in Cologne, eco – Association of the Internet introduced the first three members of its recently established Presidency Committee. The role of this committee is to promote interdisciplinary exchange on current digitalization questions. In the coming Presidium meetings, the Association plans to identify the first joint projects requiring the cooperation of all societal stakeholders in the field of digitalization.

The Blue Angel, which has been awarded to particularly environmentally-friendly products and services since 1978, also has colocation data centers in its sights. The German Federal Environment Agency is currently working with interested experts to develop an appropriate concept. The eco Association welcomes the opportunity for German data center operators to pit energy efficiency as a competitive advantage.

Today's decision by the British Parliament has once again delayed Britain's withdrawal agreement with the EU. The eco Association also sees an opportunity here – namely, that legislators on both sides of the English Channel have gained more time to come up with relevant deals in the areas of data flow, business processes, and the regulation of contracts. Regulation of these areas is of central importance to the digital industry’s ability to continue to work effectively.

In the course of the most recent data scandal, the German Federal Minister for Justice Katarina Barley has called for stricter rules for the operators of Internet platforms. eco Association Chair Oliver Süme comments.

Encryption is an effective means to prevent this kind of attack and data theft. Therefore, the German federal government should more strongly support and drive forward the development and dissemination of user-friendly encryption technologies.

Dr. Daisy Walzel from DWF looks at the impact of competition law on digital platforms.

What makes Frankfurt such a desirable location for data centers? Marc Fröse from Etix Everywhere examines how to make the most of the global epicenter for colocation. Read more on dotmagazine.