Policy & Law

Many Companies Still Uncertain One Year into the GDPR

eco Association welcomes the initiative of the German federal government to protect companies from discretionary warning penalties. DPAs’ period of grace for imposition of heavy fines will soon draw to a close.

date 2019/05/22

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© eco - Verband der Internetwirtschaft e.V.

Policy & Law

European Election 2019: eco Performs Digital Policy Campaign Check

eco compares digital policy positions of parties on 12 points and calls for completion of the digital single market with a unified legal framework as a priority for the EU election

date 2019/05/10

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Policy & Law

eco on EU Ethics Guidelines for AI: Promoting Societal Discourse on Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence

Commenting on the new guidelines for the ethical use of artificial intelligence presented by the EU Commission, eco Chair Oliver J. Süme welcomes the EU's message concerning the development of trustworthy AI applications. With its own guidelines for handling AI, as well as a Digital Ethics Compendium, the eco Association is helping to promote a whole-society discourse on responsibility for artificial intelligence.

date 2019/04/08

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Policy & Law

IT Skills Shortage: Digital Infrastructure Operators Support...

Many industries are looking for skilled specialists in Germany, but few sectors are so affected by the search for suitable personnel as the drivers of the digital transformation. The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany is supporting an initiative “Establishing STEM's Future” in proactively tackling this skills shortage.

date 2019/04/04

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Policy & Law

eco Complaints Office Annual Report 2018: “Principle of Take-down Instead of Blocking Works”

The eco Complaints Office published its Annual Report on 3 April 2019 in the European Parliament and demonstrates that the principle of “take-down instead of blocking” works.

date 2019/04/03

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Jörg Bienert, Präsident Bundesverband KI und Prof. Dr. Norbert Pohlmann, eco Vorstand

Policy & Law

Industry Associations Aim to Drive Germany Forward as an AI Location

eco Association and the German National AI Association announce strategic partnership: High-performance infrastructures, promotion of skilled workers, and ethical use of AI in focus

date 2019/03/28

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Policy & Law

European Copyright Law Including Upload Filter Is On Its Way: “This Decision Will Fundamentally Change the Internet”

Today, the European Parliament cast its final vote on the European Copyright Directive. With its decision in favor of a European copyright law which includes a European ancillary copyright law and the introduction of upload filters, the European Parliament is flying in the face of a broad alliance comprised of civil society, academics, the digital industry, and Internet politicians – but also journalists, authors, and content creators.

date 2019/03/26

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Policy & Law

eco Association: Companies Urgently Need to Prepare Cloud Use for Brexit

When it comes to data protection, Brexit also poses challenges for German companies. Whether there is a deal or a hard Brexit: In either case, the United Kingdom will become a third country under the GDPR once they leave the EU. This compels companies to check their cross-border processing of personal data as a matter of urgency.

date 2019/03/21

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Policy & Law

eco Association Says: #yes2copyright, but #no2uploadfilter

In the run-up to the Europe-wide rallies planned for Saturday, 23 March 2019 – which are being staged in protest against the problem-ridden reform of EU copyright law – eco - Association of the Internet Industry once more reiterates its criticism of the planned European rules.

date 2019/03/21

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Policy & Law

eco on 5G: A Good Day for Digital Germany

On the start of the 5G spectrum auction today, eco Board Member for Infrastructure & Networks Klaus Landefeld comments: “It is in principle a positive signal Germany as an industry location, and and a good day for Digital Germany, that the starting gun has been fired for future-oriented digital infrastructure and innovation.”

date 2019/03/19

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Policy & Law

European Elections 2019 - Digital Single Market Must Become Integral to the European Single Market

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.

date 2019/02/21

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Policy & Law

eco Association: Digital Technology Funding in Europe Must Be Strengthened

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.

date 2019/02/19

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Policy & Law

Last Chance for a Fair European Copyright Squandered

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.

date 2019/02/13

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Policy & Law

Transatlantic Dialogue: USA und EU Need Synchronized Data Protection

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.

date 2019/02/07

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Policy & Law

eco Criticizes Planned German-French Compromise Inclusive of Upload Filter

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.

date 2019/02/07

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