Today the European Parliament passed a resolution introduced by the two large groups, EPP and S&D, on “consumer rights in the digital single market”. This resolution had caused quite a stir in the international press since last weekend – before it was even formally submitted to the Parliament. Multiple news outlets created the impression that […]
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An EU-wide ‘Google tax’ in the making?
In today’s issue of German newspaper Handelsblatt, Digital Commissioner Günther Oettinger has announced that he wants Google to pay for using copyrighted material in the EU:
When Google takes intellectual works from within the EU and works with them, then the EU can protect those works and demand a levy from Google.
The possible unintended consequences of such an attempt […]
more ›My vote against the new Commission
On July 15, I approved Jean-Claude Juncker’s mandate to form a Commission. Today I’m voting against his Commission in plenary – because it has already failed to live up to the expectations and announcements.
Few glimpses of hope on Internet policy
In his priorities paper Jean-Claude Juncker announced that copyright reform would be initiated within […]
more ›#AskAnsip – first ever online hearing of a new Commissioner
The last weeks here in the parliament have been quite focused on the hearing of the Commissioner Candidates for the Juncker Commission. I have been focusing on the two candidates who will be the primary commissioners for all matters tied to the Internet; Andrus Ansip, from Estonia, and Günther Oettinger, from Germany. I had some […]
more ›European premiere: Digital Commissioners to stand in online hearing
Andrus Ansip, the designated EU Commission Vice President for the Digital Single Market, today announced his willingness to participate in an open online hearing. Prompted by MEP Julia Reda, he stated at his hearing in front of the European Parliament: »We have to learn from the ACTA case. We have to act in a […]
more ›Europe’s next chief internet policymaker has a message for celebrity hacking victims: You’re dumb.
We should say: We can mitigate or even eliminate some risks. But like with any technology, you can’t exclude all risks. I’ll give an example. This may be a little, um… semi-serious. The fact that recently there have been an increasing number of public lamentations about nude photos of celebrities who took selfies – […]
more ›With great power comes great accountability: The hearing of the new EU Commission
Next week, the European Parliament will be questioning the 26 nominees for the new European Commission – an important task, as the new Commission cannot take up its work before parliament has approved the new team of officials. But is one week of hearings enough to make up one’s mind about which direction the EU […]
more ›Invitation: 1st EU Liquid Democracy Meetup – Nov 29
Calling all architects of the democracy of the 21st century!
Liquid Democracy could be the next step in the evolution of democratic decision-making. Today’s technology for the first time allows us to empower all people by radically increasing their opportunities to participate – in a way that could work for everyone.
Liquid Democracy is the idea for […]
more ›Invitation: Cultural Heritage in a Digital Europe – Nov 11, 2014
Europe is proud of its rich cultural heritage, which is currently being celebrated during the European Heritage Days.
Institutions like museums, libraries and archives play critical and rightly well-respected roles in society. The digital revolution has brought new challenges to these institutions. Too often, they face technical and contractual barriers to the digitalization, access, use […]
more ›Not in our name: Creators for PirateBay’s Peter Sunde
PirateBay co-founder Peter Sunde may only be allowed to attend his father’s funeral in handcuffs. People from the film industry – directors, actors, screenwriters, authors, producers – produced a video today to send their heartfelt support and declare: This is not done to you in our name.
There are many of us in the global film […]
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