Toggle navigation eco Press Releases Press Releases Press Distribution List Press DownloadsPress TextPhotographsLogosStudiesAnnual ReportsPortfolio Press Policy & Law German Federal Government’s 2024 Take-Down Report: Hotlines Remain Indispensable – Decline in Case Numbers Not a Sign of All-Clear The German federal government reports 31,536 reports of child sexual abuse material in its latest evaluation report for 2024 – fewer than in the record year of 2023, but still significantly higher than in all previous years. The figures correspond to the latest reports from the eco Complaints Office. date 2025/06/18 press Datacenter Artificial Intelligence and Data Centres Go Hand in Hand With AI Gigafactories, the EU aims to catch up in AI development. At least one of the planned super data centres is supposed to be built in Germany — according to the federal government's goal. eco supports this initiative but warns of a bureaucratic obstacle hurdle. date 2025/06/10 press Security BKA Situation Report Confirms Urgent Need for Action: eco Calls for Consistent Cyber Resilience Strategies In view of the growing threat posed by ransomware, eco – Association of the Internet Industry is calling for the consistent implementation of “security by design” and a significant rethink of cyber resilience in companies. Although investigative authorities are doing valuable work in investigating cyber attacks, private... date 2025/06/05 press Policy & Law eco on the Investment Emergency Programme The planned tax relief measures are long overdue, but are an absolutely correct step to move Germany forward as a business location. In the currently strained economic situation, the draft legislation marks a decisive turning point to promote growth – regardless of whether it concerns a large corporation or a family business. date 2025/06/05 press Policy & Law Digital Tax Is a Serious Blow to Digitalisation in Germany and Transatlantic Relations The eco – Association of the Internet Industry has strongly criticised the initiative by Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer to introduce a digital tax in the form of a “platform solidarity levy”. date 2025/05/29 press Artificial Intelligence Association of the Internet Industry on Current Court Decision: Strengthen Legal Clarity – Think Digitalisation in European Terms From the perspective of eco Association, the recent court decision brings important clarity to a central debate concerning the use of personal data in the context of AI training. At the same time, the association emphasises that uniform European regulations remain essential to enable innovation in Europe. date 2025/05/28 press Security DIRECTIONS Research Project: First Voluntary Commitment to Protect Pupil Data Reaches Milestone The DIRECTIONS (Data Protection Certification for Educational Information Systems) research project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), has reached an important milestone: in May 2025, the first voluntary commitment to protect pupils' personal data will be published. More transparency... date 2025/05/16 press Security Buying Mother's Day Gifts Online: Beware of Nasty Surprises! Flowers, jewellery or small gifts: Mother's Day is approaching - and online retail is booming. But where the shopping mood is rising, risks are also lurking. eco Association of the Internet Industry warns: Fake shops are currently luring many buyers into their traps again - often through advertising on social networks. Too... date 2025/05/09 press Policy & Law eco Association on the Structure of the New Ministry of Digitalisation Oliver Süme, Chair of the Board of eco, comments on the planned structure of the new Ministry of Digitalisation as outlined in the recently published organisational decree by the German federal government. Süme calls on the new federal government to quickly provide greater clarity regarding the subordinate agencies of this ministry and to consider data protection and data usage as interconnected issues. date 2025/05/08 press Policy & Law eco Association Congratulates the New German Federal Government – Swift Implementation of Digital Policy Projects Now Required eco congratulates the new German federal government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz and welcomes the establishment of an independent Ministry of Digitalisation. However, what counts now is implementation: the first 100 days must deliver concrete progress. The eco Association identifies key areas for action and calls for cross-departmental action with priority on digitalisation. date 2025/05/07 press Datacenter Data Centre Sector in the Spotlight: eco Association Honours Outstanding Achievements in the Data Centre Industry First-ever presentation of the eco Data Center Awards Bernhard Huter honoured as Data Center Person of the Year Jury presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Peter Knapp JH-Computers GmbH and akquinet outsourcing gGmbH receive awards for most innovative data centre projects Mainz, 6 May 2025 – As part of this year’s... date 2025/05/06 press Policy & Law eco Association of the Internet Industry Presents Requirements for the Ministry of Digitalisation eco – Association of the Internet Industry congratulates the designated Minister of Digitalisation and State Modernisation, Dr. Karsten Wildberger. The German government’s announcement that it will create an independent “Ministry of Digitalisation and State Modernisation” is an important political signal for the digital transformation of Germany as a business location, according to eco Association. date 2025/04/29 press Security eco Association: Europe Urgently Needs A Successor for Stopped CVE Database Following the withdrawal of US funding, the CVE project faces shutdown – a serious blow to the global cybersecurity infrastructure. Klaus Landefeld, Member of the eco Board, warns of the consequences and calls for a swift, coordinated solution. date 2025/04/22 press IoT eco Association Calls for Smart Internet for Smart Industry Industrial IoT is an important growth market. To leverage this potential for Germany as a business location, a fast, reliable Internet is needed. eco – Association of the Internet Industry, therefore, demands that part of the €500 billion special fund for German infrastructure, established by the new German federal... date 2025/04/15 press Policy & Law DORA Reporting Period Begins: Supply Chain Security as a Predetermined Breaking Point Regulatory requirements increasingly affect non-regulated third-party providers De facto NIS2 compliance required even before coming into force Be prepared becomes a competitive factor Between 14 and 28 April 2025, financial institutions in the EU must have registered their IT service providers with the Federal... date 2025/04/11 press Policy & Law eco on the Publication of the Coalition Agreement: Ministry of Digitalisation Is a Strong Signal – Now It Needs Implementation Skills and Strategic Leadership eco Association responds to the coalition agreement published today and positions itself on key issues for the Internet industry, such as the planned Ministry of Digitalisation, data protection supervision and data retention. date 2025/04/09 press Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry on the EU Commission’s AI Continent Action Plan: Europe Must Now Courageously Implement the AI Innovation Turnaround With the AI Continent Action Plan released today, the EU Commission is sending an ambitious signal: Europe aims to become the Number One AI hub – with targeted investments in computing power, data infrastructures, skilled workers and the promotion of applications. date 2025/04/09 press Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Warns Against Digital Tax: Risk for Transformation and Competitiveness In the current debate about possible counter-tariffs and economic policy measures, eco – Association of the Internet Industry warns of the negative consequences of a digital tax. Such a measure would not only affect international tech companies, but could also have a significant impact on the German and European digital economy. date 2025/04/08 press Policy & Law eco Industry Pulse: IT Decision-Makers See the Extent of Regulation as the Biggest Obstacle to Digital Transformation in Germany As the German coalition negotiations draw to a close, eco – Association of the Internet Industry is appealing to the future government parties to now set the right course for a strong and future-proof digital location in Germany. date 2025/04/02 press Datacenter Coalition Negotiations: Operators of Digital Infrastructures Demand a Clear Strategy and Budget for a Strong Digital Location Germany The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany welcomes the investments and calls for a significant portion of the planned special fund to flow into the digital infrastructure ecosystem and accelerate digital transformation. date 2025/03/27 press Mobility Discussion Paper from the Mobility CG: The Direction Needs to Be Set Beyond the Upcoming Legislative Period The results of the current coalition negotiations will largely determine Germany's future transport policy. The steering committee of the Mobility Competence Group of eco – Association of the Internet Industry is therefore calling for the incoming German federal government to set a clear course to ensure that tomorrow's mobility is digital, sustainable and innovation-driven. date 2025/03/18 press Policy & Law eco on the Start of Coalition Negotiations: It’s Time to Take a Holistic Approach to Digitalisation! On the occasion of today’s start of German coalition negotiations between CDU, CSU and SPD, eco Chair of the Board Oliver Süme calls for a consistent and comprehensive digital policy with a coherent overall concept that promotes economic innovations, ensures societal participation, and strengthens Germany’s digital sovereignty. date 2025/03/14 press Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Calls for Evaluation of European Laws Before the Introduction of New EU Security Measures In view of the planned strategy on internal security, the eco Association warns the EU Commission against a hasty reform and calls for existing laws and regulations to be reviewed. Hasty measures can burden businesses and even curtail fundamental rights. date 2025/03/13 press Digital Business Models Open Source and Interoperability as Key to Europe’s Competitiveness: eco Association Leads the New 8ra Project FACIS The eco – Association of the Internet Industry is managing the newly launched FACIS project as part of the European infrastructure initiative IPCEI-CIS/8ra. date 2025/03/11 press Policy & Law eco Association: Digitalisation at Risk of Being Neglected in the German Coalition Agreement – The Right Decisions Must Be Made Now! eco Association sees a significant need for improvement in the upcoming coalition agreement based on the preliminary negotiation results of CDU, CSU and SPD. date 2025/03/10 press © Kerrick | istockphoto.com Policy & Law A Digital Policy Fresh Start for Germany: eco – Association of the Internet Industry is Calling for an Independent Ministry of Digitalisation 2.0 The eco Association is calling on the future German federal government to establish an independent Ministry of Digitalisation. This ministry would be able to optimally coordinate a coherent digital strategy with a clear vision for a digital Germany by 2030. To this end, eco has outlined five digital policy priorities for the first 100 days of the new government. date 2025/03/07 press Policy & Law eco Association: Special Fund for Infrastructure is a Positive Contribution to the Digitalisation of Germany eco – Association of the Internet Industry views the decision of the German political parties, CDU, CSU and SPD, as a positive contribution to the successful digitalisation of Germany. Oliver Süme, Chair of the eco Board, comments: ‘The future coalition partners must also address structural challenges.’ date 2025/03/05 press Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry on the German Election Result: Resolute Advancement of Digital Policy Now Required On the occasion of yesterday's Germany's parliamentary elections, Oliver Süme, Chair of the Board at eco Association, is calling for clear structures and responsibilities for a Ministry of Digitalisation 2.0 in the new government. The upcoming legislative period must be guided by the motto: Less regulation – more innovation. date 2025/02/24 press Artificial Intelligence AI Action Summit: “Europe Needs an AI Innovation Agenda!” At the AI Action Summit 2025 in Paris, global stakeholders from business and politics gathered to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. eco Managing Director Andreas Weiss assesses Europe’s role in this dynamic, between innovation and regulation. date 2025/02/12 press Policy & Law Digital Policy Fresh Start After the Election: eco Calls for a Clear Digital Strategy and Legal Certainty The last German Bundestag session of the 20th legislative period has come to an end – and elections will take place in just over a week. eco points out that numerous regulatory initiative relevant to the Internet industry have not been completed, partly due to the collapse of the German traffic light coalition. The eco Association calls for the new government to address the necessary legal clarifications for businesses as quickly as possible after the election. date 2025/02/12 press
Policy & Law German Federal Government’s 2024 Take-Down Report: Hotlines Remain Indispensable – Decline in Case Numbers Not a Sign of All-Clear The German federal government reports 31,536 reports of child sexual abuse material in its latest evaluation report for 2024 – fewer than in the record year of 2023, but still significantly higher than in all previous years. The figures correspond to the latest reports from the eco Complaints Office. date 2025/06/18 press
Datacenter Artificial Intelligence and Data Centres Go Hand in Hand With AI Gigafactories, the EU aims to catch up in AI development. At least one of the planned super data centres is supposed to be built in Germany — according to the federal government's goal. eco supports this initiative but warns of a bureaucratic obstacle hurdle. date 2025/06/10 press
Security BKA Situation Report Confirms Urgent Need for Action: eco Calls for Consistent Cyber Resilience Strategies In view of the growing threat posed by ransomware, eco – Association of the Internet Industry is calling for the consistent implementation of “security by design” and a significant rethink of cyber resilience in companies. Although investigative authorities are doing valuable work in investigating cyber attacks, private... date 2025/06/05 press
Policy & Law eco on the Investment Emergency Programme The planned tax relief measures are long overdue, but are an absolutely correct step to move Germany forward as a business location. In the currently strained economic situation, the draft legislation marks a decisive turning point to promote growth – regardless of whether it concerns a large corporation or a family business. date 2025/06/05 press
Policy & Law Digital Tax Is a Serious Blow to Digitalisation in Germany and Transatlantic Relations The eco – Association of the Internet Industry has strongly criticised the initiative by Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer to introduce a digital tax in the form of a “platform solidarity levy”. date 2025/05/29 press
Artificial Intelligence Association of the Internet Industry on Current Court Decision: Strengthen Legal Clarity – Think Digitalisation in European Terms From the perspective of eco Association, the recent court decision brings important clarity to a central debate concerning the use of personal data in the context of AI training. At the same time, the association emphasises that uniform European regulations remain essential to enable innovation in Europe. date 2025/05/28 press
Security DIRECTIONS Research Project: First Voluntary Commitment to Protect Pupil Data Reaches Milestone The DIRECTIONS (Data Protection Certification for Educational Information Systems) research project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), has reached an important milestone: in May 2025, the first voluntary commitment to protect pupils' personal data will be published. More transparency... date 2025/05/16 press
Security Buying Mother's Day Gifts Online: Beware of Nasty Surprises! Flowers, jewellery or small gifts: Mother's Day is approaching - and online retail is booming. But where the shopping mood is rising, risks are also lurking. eco Association of the Internet Industry warns: Fake shops are currently luring many buyers into their traps again - often through advertising on social networks. Too... date 2025/05/09 press
Policy & Law eco Association on the Structure of the New Ministry of Digitalisation Oliver Süme, Chair of the Board of eco, comments on the planned structure of the new Ministry of Digitalisation as outlined in the recently published organisational decree by the German federal government. Süme calls on the new federal government to quickly provide greater clarity regarding the subordinate agencies of this ministry and to consider data protection and data usage as interconnected issues. date 2025/05/08 press
Policy & Law eco Association Congratulates the New German Federal Government – Swift Implementation of Digital Policy Projects Now Required eco congratulates the new German federal government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz and welcomes the establishment of an independent Ministry of Digitalisation. However, what counts now is implementation: the first 100 days must deliver concrete progress. The eco Association identifies key areas for action and calls for cross-departmental action with priority on digitalisation. date 2025/05/07 press
Datacenter Data Centre Sector in the Spotlight: eco Association Honours Outstanding Achievements in the Data Centre Industry First-ever presentation of the eco Data Center Awards Bernhard Huter honoured as Data Center Person of the Year Jury presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Peter Knapp JH-Computers GmbH and akquinet outsourcing gGmbH receive awards for most innovative data centre projects Mainz, 6 May 2025 – As part of this year’s... date 2025/05/06 press
Policy & Law eco Association of the Internet Industry Presents Requirements for the Ministry of Digitalisation eco – Association of the Internet Industry congratulates the designated Minister of Digitalisation and State Modernisation, Dr. Karsten Wildberger. The German government’s announcement that it will create an independent “Ministry of Digitalisation and State Modernisation” is an important political signal for the digital transformation of Germany as a business location, according to eco Association. date 2025/04/29 press
Security eco Association: Europe Urgently Needs A Successor for Stopped CVE Database Following the withdrawal of US funding, the CVE project faces shutdown – a serious blow to the global cybersecurity infrastructure. Klaus Landefeld, Member of the eco Board, warns of the consequences and calls for a swift, coordinated solution. date 2025/04/22 press
IoT eco Association Calls for Smart Internet for Smart Industry Industrial IoT is an important growth market. To leverage this potential for Germany as a business location, a fast, reliable Internet is needed. eco – Association of the Internet Industry, therefore, demands that part of the €500 billion special fund for German infrastructure, established by the new German federal... date 2025/04/15 press
Policy & Law DORA Reporting Period Begins: Supply Chain Security as a Predetermined Breaking Point Regulatory requirements increasingly affect non-regulated third-party providers De facto NIS2 compliance required even before coming into force Be prepared becomes a competitive factor Between 14 and 28 April 2025, financial institutions in the EU must have registered their IT service providers with the Federal... date 2025/04/11 press
Policy & Law eco on the Publication of the Coalition Agreement: Ministry of Digitalisation Is a Strong Signal – Now It Needs Implementation Skills and Strategic Leadership eco Association responds to the coalition agreement published today and positions itself on key issues for the Internet industry, such as the planned Ministry of Digitalisation, data protection supervision and data retention. date 2025/04/09 press
Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry on the EU Commission’s AI Continent Action Plan: Europe Must Now Courageously Implement the AI Innovation Turnaround With the AI Continent Action Plan released today, the EU Commission is sending an ambitious signal: Europe aims to become the Number One AI hub – with targeted investments in computing power, data infrastructures, skilled workers and the promotion of applications. date 2025/04/09 press
Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Warns Against Digital Tax: Risk for Transformation and Competitiveness In the current debate about possible counter-tariffs and economic policy measures, eco – Association of the Internet Industry warns of the negative consequences of a digital tax. Such a measure would not only affect international tech companies, but could also have a significant impact on the German and European digital economy. date 2025/04/08 press
Policy & Law eco Industry Pulse: IT Decision-Makers See the Extent of Regulation as the Biggest Obstacle to Digital Transformation in Germany As the German coalition negotiations draw to a close, eco – Association of the Internet Industry is appealing to the future government parties to now set the right course for a strong and future-proof digital location in Germany. date 2025/04/02 press
Datacenter Coalition Negotiations: Operators of Digital Infrastructures Demand a Clear Strategy and Budget for a Strong Digital Location Germany The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany welcomes the investments and calls for a significant portion of the planned special fund to flow into the digital infrastructure ecosystem and accelerate digital transformation. date 2025/03/27 press
Mobility Discussion Paper from the Mobility CG: The Direction Needs to Be Set Beyond the Upcoming Legislative Period The results of the current coalition negotiations will largely determine Germany's future transport policy. The steering committee of the Mobility Competence Group of eco – Association of the Internet Industry is therefore calling for the incoming German federal government to set a clear course to ensure that tomorrow's mobility is digital, sustainable and innovation-driven. date 2025/03/18 press
Policy & Law eco on the Start of Coalition Negotiations: It’s Time to Take a Holistic Approach to Digitalisation! On the occasion of today’s start of German coalition negotiations between CDU, CSU and SPD, eco Chair of the Board Oliver Süme calls for a consistent and comprehensive digital policy with a coherent overall concept that promotes economic innovations, ensures societal participation, and strengthens Germany’s digital sovereignty. date 2025/03/14 press
Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Calls for Evaluation of European Laws Before the Introduction of New EU Security Measures In view of the planned strategy on internal security, the eco Association warns the EU Commission against a hasty reform and calls for existing laws and regulations to be reviewed. Hasty measures can burden businesses and even curtail fundamental rights. date 2025/03/13 press
Digital Business Models Open Source and Interoperability as Key to Europe’s Competitiveness: eco Association Leads the New 8ra Project FACIS The eco – Association of the Internet Industry is managing the newly launched FACIS project as part of the European infrastructure initiative IPCEI-CIS/8ra. date 2025/03/11 press
Policy & Law eco Association: Digitalisation at Risk of Being Neglected in the German Coalition Agreement – The Right Decisions Must Be Made Now! eco Association sees a significant need for improvement in the upcoming coalition agreement based on the preliminary negotiation results of CDU, CSU and SPD. date 2025/03/10 press
© Kerrick | istockphoto.com Policy & Law A Digital Policy Fresh Start for Germany: eco – Association of the Internet Industry is Calling for an Independent Ministry of Digitalisation 2.0 The eco Association is calling on the future German federal government to establish an independent Ministry of Digitalisation. This ministry would be able to optimally coordinate a coherent digital strategy with a clear vision for a digital Germany by 2030. To this end, eco has outlined five digital policy priorities for the first 100 days of the new government. date 2025/03/07 press
Policy & Law eco Association: Special Fund for Infrastructure is a Positive Contribution to the Digitalisation of Germany eco – Association of the Internet Industry views the decision of the German political parties, CDU, CSU and SPD, as a positive contribution to the successful digitalisation of Germany. Oliver Süme, Chair of the eco Board, comments: ‘The future coalition partners must also address structural challenges.’ date 2025/03/05 press
Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry on the German Election Result: Resolute Advancement of Digital Policy Now Required On the occasion of yesterday's Germany's parliamentary elections, Oliver Süme, Chair of the Board at eco Association, is calling for clear structures and responsibilities for a Ministry of Digitalisation 2.0 in the new government. The upcoming legislative period must be guided by the motto: Less regulation – more innovation. date 2025/02/24 press
Artificial Intelligence AI Action Summit: “Europe Needs an AI Innovation Agenda!” At the AI Action Summit 2025 in Paris, global stakeholders from business and politics gathered to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. eco Managing Director Andreas Weiss assesses Europe’s role in this dynamic, between innovation and regulation. date 2025/02/12 press
Policy & Law Digital Policy Fresh Start After the Election: eco Calls for a Clear Digital Strategy and Legal Certainty The last German Bundestag session of the 20th legislative period has come to an end – and elections will take place in just over a week. eco points out that numerous regulatory initiative relevant to the Internet industry have not been completed, partly due to the collapse of the German traffic light coalition. The eco Association calls for the new government to address the necessary legal clarifications for businesses as quickly as possible after the election. date 2025/02/12 press
