Toggle navigation eco Press Releases Press Releases Press Distribution List Press DownloadsPress TextPhotographsLogosStudiesAnnual ReportsPortfolio Press Policy & Law Survey: Majority Supports Data Centres A YouGov survey commissioned by the eco Alliance shows that the majority of the population supports the expansion of data centres in Germany. The Alliance is calling for clear policy guidelines, better site policy and transparent planning. date 2026/06/22 press Policy & Law eco Association: Amendment to the German Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) Risks Becoming an Obstacle to Investment in Germany eco and the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany have criticised the planned amendment to the German Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG). They argue that a rigid operational PUE of 1.2 for data centres is impractical, jeopardises investment and weakens Germany as a digital business location. date 2026/06/22 press Policy & Law Children are Not Content: eco Complaints Office Raises Awareness of the Dangers of Sharenting and AI Manipulation What is intended as a harmless holiday memory can quickly become a risk: photos of children online can be saved, shared further and altered using AI for abusive purposes. In the “#ChildrenAreNotContent” webinar on 25 June 2026, the eco Complaints Office will explain what parents and professionals should bear in mind when sharing images. date 2026/06/22 press Policy & Law eco on the Franco-German Sovereignty Criteria The Franco-German sovereignty criteria represent an important contribution for the European debate on the cloud, AI and digital infrastructures. From eco’s perspective, it is now crucial to closely align this initiative with the European Commission’s Tech Sovereignty Package and the planned Cloud and AI Development Act. Digital sovereignty must not be defined by blanket rules on country of origin or new barriers to market access, but must instead focus on security, data protection, transparency, the freedom to switch providers and high-performance infrastructure. date 2026/06/17 press Policy & Law eco Association Warns of Anthropic Embargo Following direct export controls imposed by the US government on AI software, Anthropic has blocked its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models worldwide. The eco Association has warned of risks to Europe’s cybersecurity: powerful AI models are vital tools for analysing vulnerabilities, detecting attacks more quickly and strengthening IT systems. Europe must build up its own capabilities in developing, operating and auditing such models. date 2026/06/16 press Policy & Law eco on IP Address Retention: The German Federal Council (Bundesrat) Must Not Provide a Blueprint for Digital Mass Surveillance In light of the deliberations in the German Federal Council (Bundesrat), eco Association warns against a shift in security policy in digital domestic policy. In the association’s view, the planned IP address retention, expanded preservation orders, biometric Internet matching and cross-proceedings data analysis will result in more data retention, more data linking and a greater degree of intrusion. date 2026/06/12 press Policy & Law eco on the Passing of the AI Act Implementation Act With the AI Implementation Act, the German Bundestag is laying the groundwork for the national implementation of the European AI Regulation. eco Association welcomes the one-to-one transposition of the EU requirements and the central role of the German Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), but still sees a clear need for improvements in terms of coordination and enforceability. Without clear responsibilities and uniform enforcement practices, there is a risk of legal uncertainty, additional bureaucracy and barriers to investment for companies. It's now crucial that AI regulation is implemented in a practical, innovation-friendly and consistent manner across the country. date 2026/06/12 press Datacenter eco Data Centre Award 2026: eco Honours Innovative Projects and Leading Figures in Digital Infrastructure The winners of the eco Data Centre Award 2026 have been announced: at the awards ceremony on the eve of the Data Centre Expert Summit 2026, an independent six-member expert jury recognised innovative data centre projects and outstanding individuals in the data centre sector. date 2026/06/11 press Digital Business Models From Strategy to Execution: Europe’s Companies Face Hurdles in Scaling Digital Business Models European companies want to grow through digitalisation, but there are still significant hurdles to implementation. A new FACIS survey of 800 industry decision-makers in Europe reveals that 92 % are planning new digital business models, yet challenges such as cybersecurity, costs and regulatory hurdles are holding back implementation. date 2026/06/10 press Policy & Law eco on the Amendment to the German Telecommunications Act (TKG) The draft act to amend the German Telecommunications Act (TKG) contains important measures to accelerate the rollout of fibre optic and mobile communications networks, according to eco Association. The association welcomes, among other things, the simplification of road-related procedures, improved participation rules along railway lines and better access to energy infrastructure. At the same time, eco warns against new data obligations, unclear procedures and additional bureaucracy. To turn the draft into a genuine acceleration act, eco is calling for shorter deadlines, more practical rules and greater investment certainty. date 2026/06/10 press Policy & Law eco on the Proposed Cloud and AI Development Act: Digital Sovereignty Must Not Lead to Isolation Ahead of the planned presentation of the Cloud and AI Development Act, eco Association warns against blanket exclusion mechanisms for cloud and AI services. Digital sovereignty must not lead to protectionism, explains eco’s Managing Director Alexander Rabe. Transparent, proportionate and technically verifiable criteria are crucial. date 2026/06/03 press Policy & Law Tech Sovereignty Package: eco Alliance Warns of a Dampening Effect on Europe’s Data Centre and AI Goals The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany has warned against regulatory missteps in the anticipated Tech Sovereignty Package. Europe needs faster approvals, predictable grid connections, and a practical labelling system in order to effectively expand AI, cloud and data centre capacities. date 2026/06/02 press Policy & Law eco Warns Against Cybersecurity Act: Cabinet Decision Must Not Become a Gateway to State Intervention in Networks Ahead of today’s Federal Cabinet meeting on the planned Cybersecurity Act, eco has warned against a dangerous expansion of state intervention powers in the digital sphere. From the perspective of the Internet industry, the draft marks a profound shift in the understanding of state cyber defence. date 2026/05/27 press Policy & Law Between Victim Protection and Overblocking: eco Association Calls for Practical Rules in the Fight Against Digital Violence With the draft act for a law to strengthen civil and criminal law protection against digital violence, the German federal government is responding to new challenges. eco Association welcomes the initiative by the German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (BMJV) in principle – but warns that new powers of intervention must only be implemented with clear constitutional safeguards and practical guidelines. date 2026/05/21 press Security eco on the 2025 German Cybercrime Situation Report: New Survey Reveals Room for Improvement in Incident Response and DDoS Defence According to eco, the latest BKA German Cybercrime Situation Report 2025 confirms that the cyber threat situation remains serious. DDoS attacks, in particular, are on the rise. At the same time, the eco IT Security Survey 2026 reveals significant shortcomings in the IT emergency management of many companies. date 2026/05/19 press Datacenter eco Alliance Urges Implementation of the Data Centre Strategy A new position paper from the Internet industry highlights the key obstacles now facing the sector: grid connections, electricity prices and viable framework conditions are becoming decisive factors for the expansion of data centres in Germany. Without swift implementation of energy policy measures, there is a risk that investments will move elsewhere. date 2026/05/07 press Security eco Survey: Is the Password Soon to be Obsolete? One in Three Already Uses New Authentication Methods On the occasion of World Password Day, eco Association is publishing a representative YouGov survey showing that the traditional password is increasingly losing its role as the sole security mechanism. Nevertheless, the majority of Germans still consider their online passwords to be secure. date 2026/05/07 press Policy & Law One Year of the Black-Red Coalition: IT Decision-Makers Give German Digital Policy Poor Marks The interim assessment of digital policy after just under a year of the German federal government’s tenure is mixed: in the eco Digitalpuls, the Association of the Internet Industry evaluates key digital policy initiatives across six areas of action. The results show that, despite initial progress, German digital policy still lacks impact. date 2026/04/23 press Policy & Law After Cabinet Decision: eco Association Sees Significant Risks in IP Storage The Federal Cabinet has approved the three-month retention period of IP addresses. eco warns of legal risks, questionable effectiveness, and significant burdens for companies as well as for Germany as a digital business location. date 2026/04/22 press Policy & Law Ahead of the CSAM Trilogue: eco Warns Against Search Obligations and Double Regulation Ahead of the upcoming trilogue negotiations on the European CSAM Regulation, eco is calling for a clear commitment to voluntary measures as well as greater regulatory coherence in the ongoing legislative process. date 2026/04/15 press Datacenter Leadership Change at the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany: Volker Ludwig Takes Over as Spokesperson The Alliance for the Strengthening Digital Infrastructures, founded under the umbrella of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, announces a change in the role of spokesperson. Dr. Béla Waldhauser is handing over the role of spokesperson to Volker Ludwig, SVP and Managing Director Central Europe at Digital Realty. date 2026/04/14 press Policy & Law Key Points of Hesse’s Regional Data Centre Strategy: eco Alliance Notes Progress and Areas Requiring Further Clarification The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany regards Hesse’s data centre strategy as a significant boost for the region’s digital sector. It highlights the strategic expansion and a multi-faceted approach as particular strengths. At the same time, the industry believes there is still a need for clarification regarding energy infrastructure, grid connectivity and the specific role of local authorities. date 2026/03/27 press Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Criticises Cybersecurity Act: State Intervention in Networks and Systems Threatens to Become the New Normal eco warns of a paradigm shift towards active network manipulation and calls for clear constitutional safeguards. date 2026/03/23 press Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Urges: AI Omnibus Must Be the Starting Point for Genuine Relief for the Economy The European Parliament paves the way for less bureaucracy in AI – eco now calls for consistent implementation, greater legal certainty and innovation-friendly regulation. date 2026/03/23 press Datacenter Data Centre Strategy Remains Too Vague on Electricity Prices and Energy Efficiency The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, operating under the umbrella of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, welcomes key elements of the German federal government’s National Data Centre Strategy, which is set to be adopted by the cabinet today. In particular, the target of doubling data centre capacity by 2030 and quadrupling AI capacity sends an important signal for competitiveness and digital sovereignty from the industry’s perspective. date 2026/03/18 press Policy & Law eco Association on the Expiry of Voluntary Chat Control: Failed Extension Must Not Lead to a Mandatory Search Obligation Under the CSAM Regulation With the expiry of the temporary exemption for voluntary chat control set to expire on 3 April 2026, the European Union faces a legal gap in the voluntary detection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. Following the failure of the EU Council and the European Parliament to agree on an extension of the exemption, pressure is mounting to find a swift and long-term solution for voluntary proactive measures by service providers within the framework of the trilogue negotiations on the CSAM Regulation. date 2026/03/18 press Policy & Law Oliver Süme on the Conclusion of the Digital Omnibus Consultations The Digital Omnibus offers an important opportunity to reduce the growing complexity of European digital regulation. date 2026/03/11 press Security eco – Association of the Internet Industry: Cybersecurity Act Threatens to Normalise State Intervention in Network Infrastructures The draft bill for an Act to Strengthen Cybersecurity intervenes deeply in the architecture and control logic of digital infrastructures and fundamentally shifts the understanding of cybersecurity. eco – Association of the Internet Industry strongly criticises this paradigm shift. date 2026/03/02 press © iStock.com/ Policy & Law eco on the Debate Surrounding a Social Media Ban: Blanket Age Restrictions Are Not the Solution The debate on a legal minimum age for social media continues to gain momentum. Initiatives from the German SPD and CDU/CSU parties envisage mandatory age verification and, in some cases, far-reaching restrictions. eco Association calls for a differentiated, European-coordinated solution and warns against blanket bans. date 2026/02/23 press Policy & Law eco Association on the EU Summit: Strengthening Europe’s Digital Competitiveness This EU summit must send a clear signal of unity and political will, especially to the business community. Europe’s competitiveness is under pressure. The productivity gap with other world regions has widened, and non-European players dominate the global market for investments in artificial intelligence. date 2026/02/12 press
Policy & Law Survey: Majority Supports Data Centres A YouGov survey commissioned by the eco Alliance shows that the majority of the population supports the expansion of data centres in Germany. The Alliance is calling for clear policy guidelines, better site policy and transparent planning. date 2026/06/22 press
Policy & Law eco Association: Amendment to the German Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) Risks Becoming an Obstacle to Investment in Germany eco and the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany have criticised the planned amendment to the German Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG). They argue that a rigid operational PUE of 1.2 for data centres is impractical, jeopardises investment and weakens Germany as a digital business location. date 2026/06/22 press
Policy & Law Children are Not Content: eco Complaints Office Raises Awareness of the Dangers of Sharenting and AI Manipulation What is intended as a harmless holiday memory can quickly become a risk: photos of children online can be saved, shared further and altered using AI for abusive purposes. In the “#ChildrenAreNotContent” webinar on 25 June 2026, the eco Complaints Office will explain what parents and professionals should bear in mind when sharing images. date 2026/06/22 press
Policy & Law eco on the Franco-German Sovereignty Criteria The Franco-German sovereignty criteria represent an important contribution for the European debate on the cloud, AI and digital infrastructures. From eco’s perspective, it is now crucial to closely align this initiative with the European Commission’s Tech Sovereignty Package and the planned Cloud and AI Development Act. Digital sovereignty must not be defined by blanket rules on country of origin or new barriers to market access, but must instead focus on security, data protection, transparency, the freedom to switch providers and high-performance infrastructure. date 2026/06/17 press
Policy & Law eco Association Warns of Anthropic Embargo Following direct export controls imposed by the US government on AI software, Anthropic has blocked its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models worldwide. The eco Association has warned of risks to Europe’s cybersecurity: powerful AI models are vital tools for analysing vulnerabilities, detecting attacks more quickly and strengthening IT systems. Europe must build up its own capabilities in developing, operating and auditing such models. date 2026/06/16 press
Policy & Law eco on IP Address Retention: The German Federal Council (Bundesrat) Must Not Provide a Blueprint for Digital Mass Surveillance In light of the deliberations in the German Federal Council (Bundesrat), eco Association warns against a shift in security policy in digital domestic policy. In the association’s view, the planned IP address retention, expanded preservation orders, biometric Internet matching and cross-proceedings data analysis will result in more data retention, more data linking and a greater degree of intrusion. date 2026/06/12 press
Policy & Law eco on the Passing of the AI Act Implementation Act With the AI Implementation Act, the German Bundestag is laying the groundwork for the national implementation of the European AI Regulation. eco Association welcomes the one-to-one transposition of the EU requirements and the central role of the German Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), but still sees a clear need for improvements in terms of coordination and enforceability. Without clear responsibilities and uniform enforcement practices, there is a risk of legal uncertainty, additional bureaucracy and barriers to investment for companies. It's now crucial that AI regulation is implemented in a practical, innovation-friendly and consistent manner across the country. date 2026/06/12 press
Datacenter eco Data Centre Award 2026: eco Honours Innovative Projects and Leading Figures in Digital Infrastructure The winners of the eco Data Centre Award 2026 have been announced: at the awards ceremony on the eve of the Data Centre Expert Summit 2026, an independent six-member expert jury recognised innovative data centre projects and outstanding individuals in the data centre sector. date 2026/06/11 press
Digital Business Models From Strategy to Execution: Europe’s Companies Face Hurdles in Scaling Digital Business Models European companies want to grow through digitalisation, but there are still significant hurdles to implementation. A new FACIS survey of 800 industry decision-makers in Europe reveals that 92 % are planning new digital business models, yet challenges such as cybersecurity, costs and regulatory hurdles are holding back implementation. date 2026/06/10 press
Policy & Law eco on the Amendment to the German Telecommunications Act (TKG) The draft act to amend the German Telecommunications Act (TKG) contains important measures to accelerate the rollout of fibre optic and mobile communications networks, according to eco Association. The association welcomes, among other things, the simplification of road-related procedures, improved participation rules along railway lines and better access to energy infrastructure. At the same time, eco warns against new data obligations, unclear procedures and additional bureaucracy. To turn the draft into a genuine acceleration act, eco is calling for shorter deadlines, more practical rules and greater investment certainty. date 2026/06/10 press
Policy & Law eco on the Proposed Cloud and AI Development Act: Digital Sovereignty Must Not Lead to Isolation Ahead of the planned presentation of the Cloud and AI Development Act, eco Association warns against blanket exclusion mechanisms for cloud and AI services. Digital sovereignty must not lead to protectionism, explains eco’s Managing Director Alexander Rabe. Transparent, proportionate and technically verifiable criteria are crucial. date 2026/06/03 press
Policy & Law Tech Sovereignty Package: eco Alliance Warns of a Dampening Effect on Europe’s Data Centre and AI Goals The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany has warned against regulatory missteps in the anticipated Tech Sovereignty Package. Europe needs faster approvals, predictable grid connections, and a practical labelling system in order to effectively expand AI, cloud and data centre capacities. date 2026/06/02 press
Policy & Law eco Warns Against Cybersecurity Act: Cabinet Decision Must Not Become a Gateway to State Intervention in Networks Ahead of today’s Federal Cabinet meeting on the planned Cybersecurity Act, eco has warned against a dangerous expansion of state intervention powers in the digital sphere. From the perspective of the Internet industry, the draft marks a profound shift in the understanding of state cyber defence. date 2026/05/27 press
Policy & Law Between Victim Protection and Overblocking: eco Association Calls for Practical Rules in the Fight Against Digital Violence With the draft act for a law to strengthen civil and criminal law protection against digital violence, the German federal government is responding to new challenges. eco Association welcomes the initiative by the German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (BMJV) in principle – but warns that new powers of intervention must only be implemented with clear constitutional safeguards and practical guidelines. date 2026/05/21 press
Security eco on the 2025 German Cybercrime Situation Report: New Survey Reveals Room for Improvement in Incident Response and DDoS Defence According to eco, the latest BKA German Cybercrime Situation Report 2025 confirms that the cyber threat situation remains serious. DDoS attacks, in particular, are on the rise. At the same time, the eco IT Security Survey 2026 reveals significant shortcomings in the IT emergency management of many companies. date 2026/05/19 press
Datacenter eco Alliance Urges Implementation of the Data Centre Strategy A new position paper from the Internet industry highlights the key obstacles now facing the sector: grid connections, electricity prices and viable framework conditions are becoming decisive factors for the expansion of data centres in Germany. Without swift implementation of energy policy measures, there is a risk that investments will move elsewhere. date 2026/05/07 press
Security eco Survey: Is the Password Soon to be Obsolete? One in Three Already Uses New Authentication Methods On the occasion of World Password Day, eco Association is publishing a representative YouGov survey showing that the traditional password is increasingly losing its role as the sole security mechanism. Nevertheless, the majority of Germans still consider their online passwords to be secure. date 2026/05/07 press
Policy & Law One Year of the Black-Red Coalition: IT Decision-Makers Give German Digital Policy Poor Marks The interim assessment of digital policy after just under a year of the German federal government’s tenure is mixed: in the eco Digitalpuls, the Association of the Internet Industry evaluates key digital policy initiatives across six areas of action. The results show that, despite initial progress, German digital policy still lacks impact. date 2026/04/23 press
Policy & Law After Cabinet Decision: eco Association Sees Significant Risks in IP Storage The Federal Cabinet has approved the three-month retention period of IP addresses. eco warns of legal risks, questionable effectiveness, and significant burdens for companies as well as for Germany as a digital business location. date 2026/04/22 press
Policy & Law Ahead of the CSAM Trilogue: eco Warns Against Search Obligations and Double Regulation Ahead of the upcoming trilogue negotiations on the European CSAM Regulation, eco is calling for a clear commitment to voluntary measures as well as greater regulatory coherence in the ongoing legislative process. date 2026/04/15 press
Datacenter Leadership Change at the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany: Volker Ludwig Takes Over as Spokesperson The Alliance for the Strengthening Digital Infrastructures, founded under the umbrella of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, announces a change in the role of spokesperson. Dr. Béla Waldhauser is handing over the role of spokesperson to Volker Ludwig, SVP and Managing Director Central Europe at Digital Realty. date 2026/04/14 press
Policy & Law Key Points of Hesse’s Regional Data Centre Strategy: eco Alliance Notes Progress and Areas Requiring Further Clarification The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany regards Hesse’s data centre strategy as a significant boost for the region’s digital sector. It highlights the strategic expansion and a multi-faceted approach as particular strengths. At the same time, the industry believes there is still a need for clarification regarding energy infrastructure, grid connectivity and the specific role of local authorities. date 2026/03/27 press
Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Criticises Cybersecurity Act: State Intervention in Networks and Systems Threatens to Become the New Normal eco warns of a paradigm shift towards active network manipulation and calls for clear constitutional safeguards. date 2026/03/23 press
Policy & Law eco – Association of the Internet Industry Urges: AI Omnibus Must Be the Starting Point for Genuine Relief for the Economy The European Parliament paves the way for less bureaucracy in AI – eco now calls for consistent implementation, greater legal certainty and innovation-friendly regulation. date 2026/03/23 press
Datacenter Data Centre Strategy Remains Too Vague on Electricity Prices and Energy Efficiency The Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, operating under the umbrella of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, welcomes key elements of the German federal government’s National Data Centre Strategy, which is set to be adopted by the cabinet today. In particular, the target of doubling data centre capacity by 2030 and quadrupling AI capacity sends an important signal for competitiveness and digital sovereignty from the industry’s perspective. date 2026/03/18 press
Policy & Law eco Association on the Expiry of Voluntary Chat Control: Failed Extension Must Not Lead to a Mandatory Search Obligation Under the CSAM Regulation With the expiry of the temporary exemption for voluntary chat control set to expire on 3 April 2026, the European Union faces a legal gap in the voluntary detection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. Following the failure of the EU Council and the European Parliament to agree on an extension of the exemption, pressure is mounting to find a swift and long-term solution for voluntary proactive measures by service providers within the framework of the trilogue negotiations on the CSAM Regulation. date 2026/03/18 press
Policy & Law Oliver Süme on the Conclusion of the Digital Omnibus Consultations The Digital Omnibus offers an important opportunity to reduce the growing complexity of European digital regulation. date 2026/03/11 press
Security eco – Association of the Internet Industry: Cybersecurity Act Threatens to Normalise State Intervention in Network Infrastructures The draft bill for an Act to Strengthen Cybersecurity intervenes deeply in the architecture and control logic of digital infrastructures and fundamentally shifts the understanding of cybersecurity. eco – Association of the Internet Industry strongly criticises this paradigm shift. date 2026/03/02 press
© iStock.com/ Policy & Law eco on the Debate Surrounding a Social Media Ban: Blanket Age Restrictions Are Not the Solution The debate on a legal minimum age for social media continues to gain momentum. Initiatives from the German SPD and CDU/CSU parties envisage mandatory age verification and, in some cases, far-reaching restrictions. eco Association calls for a differentiated, European-coordinated solution and warns against blanket bans. date 2026/02/23 press
Policy & Law eco Association on the EU Summit: Strengthening Europe’s Digital Competitiveness This EU summit must send a clear signal of unity and political will, especially to the business community. Europe’s competitiveness is under pressure. The productivity gap with other world regions has widened, and non-European players dominate the global market for investments in artificial intelligence. date 2026/02/12 press
