The March 2024 CDT Europe Tech Policy Brief covers significant technology policy developments in the EU, including the enforcement of the Digital Services Act, a landmark judgement by the European Court on encryption rights, the launch of the menABLE report on online gender-based violence, and the adoption of new political advertising regulations by the European Parliament.
The March 2024 issue of the Centre for Democracy & Technology Europe (CDT Europe) Tech Policy Brief addresses key technology and internet policy issues affecting Europe and beyond, emphasizing the need for policy development to protect rights in a digital environment. The CDT team in Brussels, comprising Asha Allen, Silvia Lorenzo Perez, Laura Lazaro Cabrera, and David Klotsonis, is available for further inquiries.
On February 17, the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) officially took effect. The conference on DSA and platform regulation in Amsterdam brought together experts and policymakers to discuss its implementation. Discussions focused on the DSA’s initial achievements and the challenges ahead, with a particular interest in enhancing transparency within the new regulations.
At the conference, it was noted that the DSA Transparency Database requires better structuring as platforms submit data in inconsistent formats, complicating research. Insights were shared on the Delegated Act on Data Access, which necessitates clear guidelines for data sharing to facilitate research access and usability, ensuring that technical conditions for accessing data are specific and comprehensive.
On February 13, the European Court of Human Rights issued a pivotal judgment in Podchasov v. Russia, asserting that Russian laws compelling Telegram to weaken encryption violate user privacy rights as per Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The ruling emphasized that any measure diminishing encryption capabilities infringes on privacy rights, debunking the notion that selective content moderation can be effectively controlled.
A CDT blog post provided an in-depth analysis of this landmark judgement, reinforcing the protection of encryption and the non-negotiable nature of privacy rights for all individuals, not just those under investigation.
The menABLE project, aimed at combating online gender-based violence (GBV), launched its report on February 20. Research highlighted that one in ten women has encountered cyber violence. CDT Europe contributed to the discourse by consulting with experts and analyzing approaches to mitigate online GBV.
Asha Allen, CDT Europe’s Programme Director for Online Expression, discussed the evolving legislative landscape and the positive momentum towards addressing online GBV. Key advancements include the new EU Directive on Violence against Women, setting a framework to criminalize severe forms of online GBV and imposing responsibilities on large online platforms to combat this issue.
The European Parliament recently adopted the long-awaited EU Regulation on the Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising, finalizing a legislative framework aimed at enhancing political expression and safeguarding democratic processes. CDT Europe and partners underscored the importance of this regulation amidst rising concerns about data misuse in political advertising, especially in light of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
With the upcoming major elections in June 2024, the regulation signals the EU’s commitment to fair and transparent democratic practices, though concerns linger regarding its implementation. CDT Europe will actively monitor the adoption of the Political Advertising Regulation and advocate for civil society’s role in ensuring its effective enforcement and rights protection.
Original Source: cdt.org
