Digital laws
EU countries are positioning themselves with an important digital package
The overwhelming power of tech giants like Google or Facebook should come to an end. Photo: Fabian Sommer / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
The overwhelming power of tech giants like Google or Facebook should come to an end and users should be better protected. Today the EU states are setting their course for a pioneering digital package.
Digital legislation in Europe has taken a big step forward. The Council of EU States on Thursday determined its negotiating position on two important digital laws.
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) aims to limit the power of internet giants like Facebook, Amazon and Google. The Digital Services Act (DSA) deals with societal issues such as hate speech or counterfeit products.
Important for the digital market
“Today we have reached an important milestone in the creation of a more open and competitive digital market,” said Slovenian Minister Zdravko Pocivalsek, referring to the DMA on behalf of the current EU Council Presidency. On the sidelines of the meeting of the ministers responsible for the internal market and competition, the French minister Cédric O spoke of an “almost historic” day.
The DMA aims at so-called gatekeepers (gatekeepers), which have a significant impact on the internal market. According to the EU states, this should include platforms such as search engines or social networks with at least 45 million active monthly users in the EU or 10,000 annual business customers. The threshold for annual sales is 6.5 billion euros.
The gatekeepers must follow certain rules. If they do not do that, they face fines running into billions. The following applies to the DSA: What is prohibited offline should also be prohibited online – for example the sale of counterfeit products or illegal hate speech. The larger the platform, the more rules it has to observe. So far, the Internet has been a “jungle without any rules”, said the Lithuanian Minister Ieva Valeskaite.
Reaction of the federal government
However, the decisions of the incumbent federal government do not go far enough. She agreed on Thursday, but made an additional declaration to both the DMA and the DSA. State Secretary Claudia Dörr-Voss from the Ministry of Economic Affairs mentioned at the meeting, for example, the fear that the protection of children and young people in the media could be weakened. The Executive Minister of Justice Christine Lambrecht (SPD) spoke of a “groundbreaking decision” with regard to the DSA.
For improvements, the Federal Government is relying on the upcoming negotiations with the European Parliament. This aims to tighten his position on both laws in December. Discussions between parliament and the EU states via DMA and DSA can then begin. The aim is to agree on both laws in the first half of 2022.