Policy & Law

Saxony-Anhalt: Urgent Need for New Federal Government to Improve Digital Public Administration, Education and Mobility

Following on from the regional state elections at the beginning of June, Saxony-Anhalt is on the verge of forming a new government. eco welcomes the fact that the planned tripartite alliance of CDU, SPD and FDP is focusing on digitalisation in the current draft of a coalition agreement, and that it is seeking to advance digitalisation with a ministry set up specifically for this purpose.

date 2021/08/19

press

Policy & Law

eco Association on EU Copyright Law: Companies Can Expect a Patchwork of 27 Different Regulations

Because they have not transposed the EU Copyright Directive into national law quickly enough or have done so only inadequately, the European Commission has now initiated infringement procedures against 23 member states. While Germany is not affected by this, numerous companies in Germany also have to struggle with considerable...

date 2021/07/27

press

Policy & Law

eco Association: German Constitutional Court Calls for Limits to the Use of State Trojans – Constitutional Complaint Remains a Success for Civil Rights and IT Security

With its decision on the state police law in Baden-Württemberg, announced yesterday, the Bundesverfassungsgericht, the German federal constitutional court, has set new limits to the use of so-called state Trojans and emphasised the state’s duty to protect citizens and businesses. This justification must be taken into...

date 2021/07/22

press

Policy & Law

Copyright Before the ECJ: Association of the Internet Industry Sees Last Chance to Prevent Upload Filters

With a lawsuit before the European Court of Justice (ECJ), Poland wants to overturn Article 17 of the controversial EU copyright reform.

date 2021/07/15

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eco

Holiday Photos Online: eco Complaints Office Gives 5 Tips on What Parents Should Watch Out for

Holidays at the beach or lake and eternalising shared family experiences via photos – that’s what many people wish for at the moment. But is it really safe to share pictures of children and young people via messenger services or social media platforms? Alexandra Koch-Skiba, Head of the eco Complaints Office, reveals what parents should look out for to ensure that their holiday photos do not lead to any unpleasant surprises.

date 2021/06/23

press

Policy & Law

eco Survey Shows: Excessive State Restrictions Could Counteract Player Protection in Online Gambling

The gambling market in Germany is in a state of upheaval. Online gambling offers in particular are becoming increasingly popular. Current surveys come to the conclusion that three quarters of the German population have already participated in commercial gambling offers (online and offline).

date 2021/06/10

press

Policy & Law

eco on the Amendment to the Law on the Protection of the Constitution

The eco Association calls for transparency, clarification and control in dealing with state Trojans: "Recent developments show that one question is becoming increasingly urgent: Who monitors those doing the monitoring?" comments Klaus Landefeld, Vice-Chair of the eco Board.

date 2021/06/10

press

Policy & Law

eco Election Barometer: Dissatisfaction with Digital Policy Particularly High in Eastern German States

There is a high level of dissatisfaction amongst German citizens when it comes to the federal government’s digital policy: 73 percent of those surveyed in the current “Digital Policy Election Barometer” state that they are not satisfied with the political framework conditions and solutions in any field of digitalisation.

date 2021/06/07

press

Policy & Law

eco Association Warns of Consequences of Planned Copyright Reform: Upload Filters Paralyse Exchange on Online Platforms

The eco Association expresses sharp criticism of the upcoming German copyright law reform, stating that the expectations regarding a press publishers’ ancillary copyright are illusory, and that the consistent implementation of the value-gap rules will only function by means of upload filters.

date 2021/05/19

press

Policy & Law

Telecommuncations Act Amendment in the Bundesrat: “Declaration of bankruptcy for civil rights”

With today’s approval of the Telecommunications Modernisation Act, the German Federal Council (Bundesrat) has once again adopted data retention - and the German legislator is once again breaking EU law.

date 2021/05/07

press

Policy & Law

Amendment to the German Act for the Protection of the Constitution: eco Warns Against Use of State Trojans

The eco Association is highly critical of the fact that the German coalition is apparently ignoring all warnings about the consequences of source telecommunication surveillance and the use of so-called “State Trojans”, and calls for a hearing with digital experts in the Bundestag.

date 2021/05/05

press

Policy & Law

“German Ministry for Digitalisation Long Overdue” – eco Association Welcomes Public Administration Discussion Paper

The eco Association welcomes a recognition from public administration digital experts of the importance of a Ministry for Digitalisation. Alongside a new level of organisation at government level, eco also calls for the establishment of a digital steering committee in the German Bundestag.

date 2021/05/04

press

Policy & Law

eco Election Barometer: More than 70% of all German citizens dissatisfied with the federal government’s digital policy

When it comes to digital policy, German voters give the federal government a poor rating, and are calling for digital issues to be accorded greater political priority in the coming legislative term. eco formulates an Internet Policy Agenda for the Bundestag elections with 20 core demands from the Internet industry for a modern digital policy.

date 2021/04/29

press

Policy & Law

Telecommunications Act Reform

eco is sceptical of consumer benefits for right to fast Internet and warns against extending data retention

date 2021/04/23

press

Policy & Law

EU AI Package Paves the Way for Innovation and Billions in Economic Growth

The European Commission today presented its proposal on the regulation of AI technologies. eco – Association of the Internet Industry welcomes the fact that Brussels is refraining from a blanket overregulation of artificial intelligence and is instead focusing on AI regulation for high-risk applications.

date 2021/04/21

press