Policy & Law

eco Criticizes the EU Commission’s Proposal for Platform Regulation

The EU Commission's proposal on platform regulation for commercial business is regarded by the eco Association as representing an encroachment on contractual freedom and as introducing unequal treatment for platform operators and search engine providers.

date 2018/04/26

press

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Policy & Law

Association of the Internet Industry Supports Broad Alliance Against European Ancillary Copyright Law

An open letter issued by a broad alliance of stakeholders calls for a move away from plans to introduce a European ancillary copyright law for press publishers. The signatories of the letter, who include representatives of quality media, argue that the ancillary copyright law is absolutely unnecessary for press publishers and completely contradicts the basic idea of free access to opinions and information on the Internet.

date 2018/04/25

press

© eco - Association of the Internet Industry

Policy & Law

German Blanket Data Retention Not Compliant with EU Law: eco-Supported Lawsuit Wins

A key ruling made by the Administrative Court of Cologne on a suit taken by SpaceNet AG and supported by the eco Association has determined that blanket data retention infringes fundamental European rights.

date 2018/04/20

press

Policy & Law

eco: “Direct Cross-Border Data Access Leads to Legal Uncertainty and Liability Issues”

The European Commission today presented a concrete proposal on how law enforcement authorities could in future gain cross-border access to electronic evidence (“e-evidence”). According to the proposal, requests should as a rule be answered within 10 days, and in an emergency situation within six hours.

date 2018/04/17

press

Datacenter

German Data Centers Seeking Federal Political Attention for Digital Infrastructures

Well-functioning and high-performance digital infrastructures act as the basis for Germany’s successful digital transformation. Operators of digital infrastructures, such as data centers, are both growth and innovation drivers, as well as multipliers for other industry sectors and guarantors for tax revenues and employment.

date 2018/04/11

press

Policy & Law

CLOUD Act: eco Calls for Prompt Legal Certainty for Companies

With the entry into force of the so-called “CLOUD Act”, in future, international companies with head offices in the United States could be obliged by local laws to disclose data. “The extent to which the law is compatible with the European General Data Protection Regulation must now be clarified”, demands Oliver Süme, Chair of the Board at eco.

date 2018/04/05

press

Policy & Law

Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG): Penalty Guidelines Do Not Eliminate the Danger of Overblocking

Oliver Süme, Chair of the Board at eco, has the following comment to make on the penalty guidelines for the Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) presented on Friday, 23rd March.

date 2018/03/27

press

Policy & Law

eco Criticizes Special Tax for Digital Companies

The EU Commission wants to introduce a new tax for digital companies, and has announced new legislative proposals to this effect. EU Economic Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said today that the favored option would be an EU-wide regulation that would authorize Member States to tax companies without headquarters or production in their countries.

date 2018/03/21

press

Policy & Law

eco Complaints Office Annual Report 2017: Successful Results, Despite Growth in Hate Speech Complaints

The 2017 Annual Report published today in the English language by the eco Complaints Office documents an increase in reported complaints.

date 2018/03/06

press

© eco - Association of the Internet Industry

Policy & Law

eco Welcomes the Last-Minute Decision to Appoint a Minister of State for Digital Affairs

Commenting on the newly created post of Minister of State for Digital Affairs in the Chancellor's Office, Chair of the Board at eco, Oliver Süme, states: “I welcome the decision of the coalition parties to finally accord digital policy a central coordination position and a voice at the cabinet table with the proposed...

date 2018/03/05

press

Policy & Law

eco Criticizes German Coalition Agreement: Digital Policy Modifications Rather Than An Overall Visionary Concept

The German coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and the SPD presented this week incorporates, in the view of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, some important digital policy decisions which the German federal government had failed to make in the last legislative term. However, there is still no discernible political vision for digital transformation in Germany.

date 2018/02/09

press

Policy & Law

eco on “GroKo” Grand Coalition Plans for the Network...

Since the entry into force of the Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) at the beginning of the year, criticism of the law has intensified: the CSU, the FDP, Die Linke (The Left) and Die Grünen (The Greens) are calling for the new regulation to be abolished. EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova has also criticized the law....

date 2018/02/06

press

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Policy & Law

eco Urges the Coalition Partners to Adopt a Measured Approach...

Within the framework of the coalition negotiations for a new German federal government, eco – Association of the Internet Industry calls on the negotiating parties to exercise measured judgment when it comes to the topic of expanding broadband coverage. The association welcomes the declared commitment of the negotiating...

date 2018/02/03

press

© eco - Verband der Internetwirtschaft e.V.

Policy & Law

eco New Year’s Reception: SPD Secretary General Calls...

Speaking yesterday at the eco New Year's reception about the ongoing coalition negotiations, the Secretary General of the SPD Lars Klingbeil called for a digital breakthrough for Germany: "Digitalization is changing all areas of life. Digital policy must therefore be social policy. It is a question of how we will live and...

date 2018/01/31

press

© eco - Association of the Internet Industry

Policy & Law

eco at the Start of the “GroKo” Grand Coalition Negotiations:...

At a party congress on Sunday, the SPD decided to enter into joint coalition negotiations with the CDU/CSU. For at least one reason, Oliver Süme, Chair of the Board at eco, questions whether a new GroKo coalition represents a win-win situation from the point of view of Internet policy.

date 2018/01/22

press