UK competition and markets authority asks for ex ante rules for digital platforms
09 July 20
Elisar Bashir
The authority suggests a new, regulatory framework that would simultaneously addresses both the sources of market power and its effects. The rules would be enforced by a dedicated regulator that can monitor and adjust its interventions in the light of evidence and changing market conditions.
Digital Services Act: Parliament Legal Affairs committee discusses draft report
08 July 20
Michele Ledger
The discussion provided a valuable overview of the different positions of the political groups in Parliament.
Analysis of new EU rules on collective redress
08 July 20
Javier Huerta Bravo
The new EU directive sets out a procedure to protect the collective interests of European consumers of digital services when they are harmed by the same infringement of EU rules by a trader. For example, this could be the case of a social network or online marketplace operating across Europe that imposes unfair terms on consumers. In that case, “qualified entities” will be able to bring representative actions before member states’ courts or administrative authorities on behalf of consumers. The directive will also apply to representative actions for injunction and redress measures exercised against a trader that operates solely in a single country and does not provide cross-border services (for example, a telecoms operator in some cases), and has harmed the collective interests of consumers in that country.
European Commission outlines steps in review of EU cybersecurity rules
07 July 20
Visiola Pula
The European Commission published its roadmap (in the form of an inception impact assessment) for the review of the directive on the security of network and information systems (NIS), expected for 4Q 2020. The review will evaluate the performance of the directive based on the level of security of network and information systems in EU member states.
COVID-19 mobile apps and their privacy policies in the Americas
06 July 20
Carlos Castellanos
Governments in the Americas have developed mobile apps to help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Some countries in the region have developed contact tracing apps with different approaches and functionalities. The privacy policies of these apps also vary.
EU Digital Economy Weekly Report
05 July 20
Elisar Bashir
This week’s edition features stories about the creation by the European Parliament of a special committee on artificial intelligence and the formal endorsement by EU member states’ permanent representatives (Coreper) of the provisional agreement on the draft EU directive on collective redress. The report also lists events taking place this week.