- EU must ensure standardized data protection
- EU needs strategy for deployment of AI and other digital technologies
- Copyright must not become an obstacle to Europe’s digitalization
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 in areas such as cybersecurity, copyright, digital infrastructures, and 5G technology, then the strict and resolute implementation of a modern network policy will be even more important in the coming legislative term. In the view of eco – Association of the Internet Industry, the focus must be on strengthening the common Digital Single Market and on its development into an integral part of the European Single Market.
“Europe needs a standardized framework for digital markets and for the operators of digital technologies and services; one which supports the innovative power of existing industries and economic actors, enables new value chains and business models, and not least, which strengthens companies and start-ups,” eco Chair Oliver Süme said yesterday during the first “Internet Policy Party Check”, which the eco Association organized in Berlin in the run-up to the European elections. He went on to say that 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.
In the eyes of the eco Association, the focus should be placed on three core tasks.
The EU must ensure standardized data protection
In the first place, eco continues to see the need for urgent action in the area of data protection.
The EU must ensure that the Member States implement and apply the General Data Protection Regulation in a standardized and consistent manner. The European Data Protection Board must involve the Internet industry more heavily in its work.
Therefore, eco calls for a goal-oriented structuring of the work of the European Data Protection Board and the stronger inclusion of the expertise of the Internet industry. This would also mean that the practical specifications required relating to the application of the GDPR could be considerably sped up.
The EU needs a strategy for the use of AI and other digital technologies
Further, the EU needs to finally develop a coherent European strategy for strengthening the development and the use of artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies.
The Internet association also calls for the EU to apply a particularly strong focus on the economically viable application of AI solutions. Here, addressing the question of simplified access to data for the training of artificial intelligence should be a pivotal element to its strategy.
It is also important that the ambitious objectives that the EU Commission wishes to support to the tune of 1.5 billion Euro are not thwarted through regulations in other places, as could transpire with the ePrivacy Directive.
Copyright must not be allowed to become a barrier to the digitalization of Europe
Süme also renewed the association’s calls for the EU Commission and Parliament to develop a modern European copyright that does justice to the digital age, and that harmonizes the legitimate interests of authors and creators, distributors, the Internet industry, and end users.
On this topic, Süme again strongly criticized the result of the trilogue negotiations on copyright reform concluded in the past week: “Unfortunately, the chance for digitally-compatible copyright has not been taken, and the many critical voices against a European copyright which includes upload filters and ancillary copyright have been ignored. Instead of a fair balance of interests, the protectionist ambitions have prevailed, which will ultimately result in the disadvantaging of digital services and business models. In this way, Europe is sending a clear signal, saying no to innovation and technical progress. The amended copyright must not be allowed to become a barrier to digitalization in Europe.”
Süme added that it was now in the hands of the EU Parliament to halt and correct the negative development in the reform of copyright.
A detailed version of eco’s 19 core digital policy demands for the European elections is available at: https://international.eco.de/euagenda/
