Internet Policy in the EU

Latest news and information on the Internet policies of the European Union.

2018 reform of EU data protection rules — 21 May 2018, 18:43 CET

Stronger rules on data protection mean people have more control over their personal data and businesses benefit from a level playing field.

General Data Protection Regulation - background guide — 21 May 2018, 18:50 CET

The data protection reform package which entered into force in May 2016 and will be applicable as of May 2018 includes the General Data Protection Regulation ("Regulation") and the Data Protection Directive for the police and criminal justice sector.

Social media record on removing hate speech improves — 23 January 2018, 13:28 CET

IT companies removed around 70% of illegal hate speech notified to them, according to an evaluation of the EU Code of Conduct on countering illegal online hate speech carried out by NGOs and public bodies.

New initiative seeks to boost Europe's digital skills — 18 January 2018, 00:14 CET

The EU Commission adopted Wednesday new initiatives to improve key and digital competences of European citizens and to promote common values and pupils' awareness of the functioning of the EU.

MEPs demand controls on cyber-surveillance tools — 17 January 2018, 23:47 CET

EU export controls should be extended to cyber-surveillance tools to avoid human rights violations, MEPs said in a vote Wednesday, setting the Parliament's position for negotiations with EU ministers.

Talks set to remove barriers to free flow of data in Europe — 20 December 2017, 23:07 CET

A draft proposal to allow non-personal data to move freely across borders, removing unjustified restrictions on the geographical location for storing and processing data, was agreed Wednesday by EU states.

Online shopping rules aim to end geo-blocking — 23 November 2017, 22:57 CET

New EU rules on online shopping, provisionally agreed by the EU institutions Monday, mean that online buyers of goods or services from another EU country must be treated like local customers.

Privacy activist can sue Facebook, but no class action: EU Court — 15 November 2017, 22:54 CET

Austrian privacy activist Maximilian Schrems can sue Facebook Ireland before the Austrian Courts with respect to the private use of his Facebook account, an EU Court advisor said Wednesday.

EU bolsters protection against online fraudsters — 15 November 2017, 20:47 CET

MEPs approved Tuesday EU-wide rules to protect consumers against scams and detect and stop rogue traders more swiftly, with a view to increasing consumers' trust in cross-border e-commerce.

Brussels mulls action to protect public from fake news — 14 November 2017, 22:48 CET

The EU Commission launched a consultation on fake news and online disinformation Monday, setting up an expert group representing academics, online platforms, news media and civil society groups.

Study on Spectrum Assignment in the European Union — 23 October 2017, 22:56 CET

The objective of the study on Spectrum assignments in the EU was to assess the specific elements, processes and conditions under which radio spectrum, in particular for 5G usage including wireless broadband, should be authorised and assigned by Member States and how timely access to spectrum can contribute more fully to the general objectives set out by the EU regulatory framework (SMART 2016/0019). The study has determined that both regulators and mobile operators would generally prefer to continue adopting the current approach to spectrum authorisation and assignment and that the current authorisation framework is generally fit for delivering current services.

EU-US Privacy Shield review finds room for improvement — 18 October 2017, 21:03 CET

The EU- U.S. Privacy Shield is doing a good job in protecting the personal EU personal data but there is some room for improving its implementation, the Commission says in its first annual review.

Annual Review of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield — 18 October 2017, 20:38 CET

The European Commission published on 18 October its first annual report on the functioning of the EU- U.S. Privacy Shield, the aim of which is to protect the personal data of anyone in the EU transferred to companies in the U.S. for commercial purposes.

Tech giants under increased EU pressure over illegal content — 02 October 2017, 23:07 CET

The Commission presented guidelines and principles Thursday for online platforms to step up efforts to proactively prevent, detect and remove illegal content inciting hatred, violence and terrorism online.

Digital economy must gear up for EU tax reform — 22 September 2017, 11:39 CET

The EU Commission launched its agenda to reform taxation of online business Thursday, paving the way for a legislative proposal on EU rules for taxation of profits in the digital economy.

Fair Taxation of the Digital Economy — 21 September 2017, 18:48 CET

The European Commission Communication 'A Fair and Efficient Tax System in the European Union for the Digital Single Market' was adopted on 21 September 2017. The taxation of the digital economy is part of the EU's fair taxation agenda. It wants an ambitious EU agenda on the matter and a common EU approach to influence the international discussions and develop meaningful solutions to taxing the digital economy to be agreed at the international level by spring 2018.

EU targets end to data localisation — 21 September 2017, 00:25 CET

The EU Commission proposed a framework for the free flow of non-personal data Tuesday, highlighting the removal of data localisation restrictions as key to unlocking the potential of Europe's data economy.

Brussels to launch new cyber-security agency — 20 September 2017, 17:42 CET

The European Union proposed Tuesday a set of measures to step up its cybersecurity capacity, including a cyber-safety scheme and other tools to ensure Europe is better equipped to deal with cyber-attacks.

'Free wifi for Europeans' plan gains MEPs backing — 12 September 2017, 17:29 CET

A financial scheme for local wireless access points in the EU, free of charge and offered without discrimination, is on its way, following a vote by the European Parliament Tuesday.

Brussels okays German state aid for high speed internet — 14 August 2017, 22:32 CET

The EU Commission has endorsed under EU state aid rules three German virtual access products that will allow the use of so-called vectoring technology in state-funded high-speed broadband networks.

Antitrust: Google's record EUR 2.4 bn fine — 27 June 2017, 16:45 CET

The European Commission fined Google EUR 2.42 billion on 27 June 2017 for breaching EU antitrust rules. Google, it said, had abused its market dominance as a search engine by giving an illegal advantage to another Google product, its comparison shopping service.

Google fined EUR 2.4 bn for breaching EU antitrust rules — 28 June 2017, 18:13 CET

The European Commission fined Google EUR 2.42 billion Tuesday for giving an illegal advantage to the U.S. search giant's own comparison shopping service, thus breaching EU antitrust rules.

MEPs target fake news and illegal online content — 15 June 2017, 22:22 CET

Current laws regulating online platforms need to be updated for the digital age, the European Parliament urged Thursday, reflecting increasing public disquiet about fake news and illegal content.

Code of Conduct on countering illegal online hate speech 2nd monitoring — 01 June 2017, 23:12 CET

One year ago, the European Commission and four major social media platforms announced a Code of Conduct on countering illegal online hate speech.

Social media giants making progress on hate speech, EU reports — 01 June 2017, 23:16 CET

A code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online, signed by the EU and four major social media platforms a year ago, has delivered some important progress, the EU reported on Thursday.