Ingoing Investigations Conducted By The European Commission Could Alter ‘Data Protection Rules’ Across E.U.
Dailycsr.com – 17 July 2017 – The European Commission is considering new rules that will stop “web platforms” like Amazon and Google to offer “unfair terms to small businesses selling or promoting products”, reported Brian Collett.
The “common complaint” of “search results” favouring the “paying” providers’ rankings is particularly being looked into. There are allegations against Google in Brussels for prioritising search results in favour of “its own comparison shopping service”.
Talking about other issues, Collett added:
“Other issues for the Commission include unilateral contract changes, lack of access to essential sales and customer data, and inadequate transparency”.
The outcome of the investigation could result in “EU-wide laws” that would render “data protection rules” consistent so that consumers will be guaranteed to have a harmonised shopping experience “across borders online”. The investigation was taken up by the commission to partly “promote small businesses and entrepreneurs” besides stimulating the weak “jobs market” in Europe. Presently, in a combination of consumers and service providers that brings both together, an attempt is being made to encourage “the sharing economy”.
However, the complaints regarding the tech companies of the U.S. becoming “too powerful in Europe” will also be looked into during the inquiry. Likewise, the operators of the U.S. as well as their “associations” form “critical” part of the investigation. The “Computer & Communications Industry Association”, based out of the U.S., is the representative of Facebook and Google, whereby its Vice-President of Europe, James Waterworth, said:
“We believe there’s not enough of a basis for general intervention and that the European Commission should use other instruments when there’s market failure.”
Nevertheless, online platforms’ like “TripAdvisor” and Apple’s representative, EDiMA, expressed its astoundment and disappointment, while the Commission is looking forward to come up with its “proposals by the end of this year”. Furthermore, Collett informed:
“After a separate inquiry the Commission is to publish guidance showing providers how to speed up the removal of hate speech and extremist rhetoric from their platforms. This follows terrorism attacks in Europe in recent months.
“The Commission does not intend to issue legislation. It aims instead to clarify minimum requirements for removing offending items”.
References:
ethicalperformance.com
The “common complaint” of “search results” favouring the “paying” providers’ rankings is particularly being looked into. There are allegations against Google in Brussels for prioritising search results in favour of “its own comparison shopping service”.
Talking about other issues, Collett added:
“Other issues for the Commission include unilateral contract changes, lack of access to essential sales and customer data, and inadequate transparency”.
The outcome of the investigation could result in “EU-wide laws” that would render “data protection rules” consistent so that consumers will be guaranteed to have a harmonised shopping experience “across borders online”. The investigation was taken up by the commission to partly “promote small businesses and entrepreneurs” besides stimulating the weak “jobs market” in Europe. Presently, in a combination of consumers and service providers that brings both together, an attempt is being made to encourage “the sharing economy”.
However, the complaints regarding the tech companies of the U.S. becoming “too powerful in Europe” will also be looked into during the inquiry. Likewise, the operators of the U.S. as well as their “associations” form “critical” part of the investigation. The “Computer & Communications Industry Association”, based out of the U.S., is the representative of Facebook and Google, whereby its Vice-President of Europe, James Waterworth, said:
“We believe there’s not enough of a basis for general intervention and that the European Commission should use other instruments when there’s market failure.”
Nevertheless, online platforms’ like “TripAdvisor” and Apple’s representative, EDiMA, expressed its astoundment and disappointment, while the Commission is looking forward to come up with its “proposals by the end of this year”. Furthermore, Collett informed:
“After a separate inquiry the Commission is to publish guidance showing providers how to speed up the removal of hate speech and extremist rhetoric from their platforms. This follows terrorism attacks in Europe in recent months.
“The Commission does not intend to issue legislation. It aims instead to clarify minimum requirements for removing offending items”.
References:
ethicalperformance.com
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