Internet Policy in the EU

Latest business news about Internet Policies of the European Union.

While the digital revolution is influencing more and more aspects of our lives, its reach is still uneven - fewer than 50% of EU households access the internet, while broadband internet access, critical to getting the most out of advanced online services, is still difficult to find in many remote regions.

The Internet also offers enormous possibilities to European companies, particularly SMEs, which can for the first time realistically grow inside Europe's single market through the use of eBusiness technologies.

FACT SHEETS

Key Internet Policies

• Broadband Gap Policy
• Geographical eInclusion

Information Society Initiatives

• Single European Information Space
• eBusiness

EU Information Society Contacts

LATEST NEWS

European Parliament website under cyber attack — 26 January 2012, 19:59 CET

The European Parliament website came under cyber attack Thursday but hackers failed to penetrate the assembly's internal network, a spokesman said.

US cautions EU against costly online data privacy rules — 26 January 2012, 15:44 CET

The United States will closely examine the European Commission's online privacy legislation and wants to ensure it will not be too costly for companies to do business, says a senior US diplomat.

Data protection reform - guide — 25 January 2012, 15:13 CET

The European Commission has today proposed a comprehensive reform of the EU's 1995 data protection rules to strengthen online privacy rights and boost Europe's digital economy. Technological progress and globalisation have profoundly changed the way our data is collected, accessed and used. In addition, the 27 EU Member States have implemented the 1995 rules differently, resulting in divergences in enforcement. A single law will do away with the current fragmentation and costly administrative burdens, leading to savings for businesses of around €2.3 billion a year. The initiative will help reinforce consumer confidence in online services, providing a much needed boost to growth, jobs and innovation in Europe.

EU takes on Internet giants over people's personal data — 25 January 2012, 18:25 CET

The European Commission has launched a bid to make companies including Internet giants such as Google or Facebook give people more control of their personal data or face big fines.

Google hit by new anti- trust complaint in Europe — 24 January 2012, 17:15 CET

The French online shopping website Twenga has filed a complaint against Google at the Commission, accusing the search giant of abusing its dominant position to eliminate competition.

EU urges balance between Internet freedom and copyright — 22 January 2012, 22:55 CET

Governments must strike a balance between policing the Internet to protect copyright and upholding freedom of expression, EU justice commissioner Viviane Reding said on Sunday.

EU's top Internet official criticises US web crackdown — 20 January 2012, 15:47 CET

The European Union's top Internet official criticised on Friday planned US legislation against online piracy and voiced concerns about the closure of the popular file-sharing site Megaupload.com.

Communication on e-commerce - guide — 11 January 2012, 15:57 CET

The European Commission has adopted a Communication presenting 16 targeted initiatives aimed at doubling the share of e-commerce in retail sales (currently 3.4 %) and that of the Internet sector in European GDP (currently less than 3 %) by 2015.

EU wants to double online shopping by 2015 — 11 January 2012, 15:58 CET

The European Commission launched a drive on Wednesday to encourage more people to shop online, hoping to double e-commerce and the Internet's contribution to the economy by 2015.

Euro police arrest 112 in online child sex-abuse bust — 16 December 2011, 15:54 CET

Police in 22 European countries swooped on 112 suspects for allegedly sharing "the most extreme form" of online videos of children being sexually abused and raped, policing agency Europol said on Friday.

US Justice Department confirms e-book industry probe — 07 December 2011, 23:38 CET

The US Justice Department has confirmed that it is conducting an investigation into the electronic book industry, a day after the European Commission announced a similar probe.

EU opens antitrust probe into Apple's e-book deals — 06 December 2011, 17:00 CET

European antitrust officials launched a probe on Tuesday to determine whether iPad maker Apple and five international publishers struck illegal deals to fix the price of e-books in Europe.

Programming language 'can't be copyrighted' — 29 November 2011, 15:46 CET

A computer programming language cannot be protected by copyright, the adviser to the EU's top court said on Tuesday in an opinion that could affect the competitive IT industry.

EU court rules against web filters to block file sharing — 25 November 2011, 15:57 CET

Internet service providers cannot be forced to install filters aimed at preventing people from illegally downloading music and other files, the EU's top court ruled on Thursday.

One click to Europe: EU launches migration website — 18 November 2011, 15:37 CET

The European Union launched a website Friday to help would-be migrants navigate a maze of 27 states with their own immigration rules for workers and students.

European Parliament urges release of Egyptian blogger — 17 November 2011, 22:14 CET

The European Parliament called Thursday for the immediate release of an Egyptian blogger while voicing concern over the prosecution of civilians by military courts.

Recommendation on the digitisation of cultural material and its preservation online - guide — 29 October 2011, 00:23 CET

The European Commission has adopted a Recommendation asking EU Member States to step up their efforts, pool their resources and involve the private sector in digitising cultural material. This is seen as essential to make European cultural heritage more widely available and to boost growth in Europe's creative industries. The digitised material should be made available through Europeana, Europe's digital library, archive and museum.

Germany warns Facebook over face-recognition app — 21 October 2011, 22:48 CET

Facebook has until November 7 to bring its facial recognition software into conformity with privacy laws in Germany and the European Union or face legal action, says a government lawyer.

Connecting Europe Facility - guide — 19 October 2011, 22:46 CET

The European Commission has today tabled a plan which will fund €50 billion worth of investment to improve Europe's transport, energy and digital networks. Targeted investments in key infrastructures will help to create jobs and boost Europe's competitiveness at a time when Europe needs this most. The "Connecting Europe Facility" will finance projects which fill the missing links in Europe's energy, transport and digital backbone. It will also make Europe's economy greener by promoting cleaner transport modes, high speed broadband connections and facilitating the use of renewable energy in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy. In addition the funding for energy networks will further integrate the internal energy market, reduce the EU's energy dependency and bolster the security of supply.

EU dangles infrastructure investment as key to jobs, growth — 19 October 2011, 22:57 CET

The EU dangled Wednesday a 50-billion-euro carrot of investment funds in a bid to boost jobs and growth through upgrades to Europe's transport, telecoms and energy infrastructure.

EU approves Microsoft's Skype takeover — 07 October 2011, 23:59 CET

European anti-trust officials approved on Friday US technology giant Microsoft's $8.5 billion takeover of Internet voice and video leader Skype.

Public consultation on the application, monitoring and enforcement of non-discrimination obligations in electronic communications — 03 October 2011, 22:54 CET

The European Commission has launched two public consultations related to access for alternative operators to the fixed telephone and broadband networks of established operators. The consultations are part of Commission efforts to boost the Single Market for telecoms services by ensuring consistent and coherent approaches to regulating telephone and broadband networks in all Member States. The first consultation concerns non-discriminatory access for alternative operators to the infrastructure and services of dominant telecom operators. The second concerns the way national regulators calculate prices that operators have to pay for this wholesale access (cost-orientation remedies). The results will help the Commission to draft Recommendations for a consistent, investment-friendly application of non-discrimination and price control remedies.

Public consultation on costing methodologies for key wholesale access prices in electronic communications — 03 October 2011, 22:54 CET

The European Commission has launched two public consultations related to access for alternative operators to the fixed telephone and broadband networks of established operators. The consultations are part of Commission efforts to boost the Single Market for telecoms services by ensuring consistent and coherent approaches to regulating telephone and broadband networks in all Member States. The first consultation concerns non-discriminatory access for alternative operators to the infrastructure and services of dominant telecom operators. The second concerns the way national regulators calculate prices that operators have to pay for this wholesale access (cost-orientation remedies). The results will help the Commission to draft Recommendations for a consistent, investment-friendly application of non-discrimination and price control remedies.

Brussels prods Europe to invest in broadband — 04 October 2011, 10:26 CET

The European Commission is urging Europe's largest telecoms operators to invest in high-speed broadband as it launches a review into the price of access to smaller alternative operators.

US, EU alcohol marketers adopt new code of conduct — 30 September 2011, 08:47 CET

Leading distillers in the United States and Europe on Friday will enact new social media marketing guidelines they said would promote responsible drinking.