The EU Commission presented new measures to combat disinformation in connection with the coronavirus on 10 June 2020. With the new guidelines, operators of social networks are now to report monthly on how they deal with false information about the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the Association of the Internet Industry, the responsibilities and liability for IT security must be regulated in a balanced manner within the framework of the IT-SiG 2.0 and security gaps must be closed quickly: State back-doors and the targeted weakening of encryption are counterproductive for IT security and jeopardise confidence in the use of digital services.

eco publishes guidelines on the current reform of the German Network Enforcement Act: The Association of the Internet Industry supports the containment of hate, incitement and right-wing extremism as well as the fight against illegal content on the internet. The controversial law continues to cause fierce debate due to an obligation to surrender passwords as well as a duty to disclosure inventory and usage data by telemedia service providers.

The online surveillance by the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) of non-German nationals when not in Germany is unconstitutional in its current form, the German Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe has decided.

With digital security threats on the rise as the world grapples with COVID-19, encryption is more important than ever. This global webinar series featuring world-leading security and technology experts will explore how encryption is a critical tool helping people and countries navigate a global health crisis. You’ll learn about dangerous proposals that threaten our digital security, and how we can encourage governments and the private sector to pursue policies that enhance, strengthen and promote the use of strong encryption practices to protect citizens everywhere.

eco draws up a 6-point catalogue of requirements from the Internet industry for the strengthening of Europe as a digital location

eco Chair of the Board Oliver J. Süme assesses the current plans for an obligation to notify for the operators of social networks critically, seeing them as being insufficiently thought through.

eco Comments Final Report of German Data Ethics Commission

The G7 Summit is taking place in Biarritz from 24 to 27 August 2019. The last meeting of the G7 interior ministers saw them commit to encouraging Internet companies to establish exceptional access solutions for encrypted content. The eco Association, together with ISOC, has now written an open letter criticizing the onslaughts on encryption by governments worldwide and, in a background paper, elaborates on the global challenge at the center of the encryption debate.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is today re-negotiating whether companies may transfer personal data to the US. In this context, the ECJ wants to clarify whether the EU-US Privacy Shield agreement achieves an adequate level of data protection.