This week, the European Parliament votes on the Digital Markets Act. The proposed law is good news for both European users and SMEs. The responsible Parliamentary Committee has put together […]
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Where Frances Haugen errs on interoperability
On 8 November, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testified before the European Parliament. Among other things, Haugen was asked to comment on the need for mandatory interoperability as a possible regulatory […]
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The GDPR, Privacy and Monopoly
Critics of interoperability (including the dominant firms targeted by interoperability proposals) emphasize the fact that weakening a tech platform’s ability to control its users weakens its power to defend its users. They’re not wrong, but they’re not complete either.
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European consumers confirm need for effective interoperability in DMA
BEUC, representing the interests of consumers in 32 European countries, has confirmed its support for effective interoperability provisions for core services in the EU’s proposed Digital Markets Act (DMA). While […]
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Interoperability as a tool to challenge platform power and protect human rights
It is difficult to imagine a world where we would not be able to communicate between different telecommunication or email providers. However, this is the current reality for social networking […]
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European tech industry calls on MEPs to introduce meaningful interoperability
A group of 40 European tech companies has written a letter to Members of the European Parliament asking for meaningful interoperability obligations with consumers in mind – not just business […]
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German social democrats demand chats across messengers
In their brand-new party programme, the German social democrats (SPD) call for an interoperability obligation for big tech platforms to achieve Europe’s digital sovereignty goals. “We need alternatives to the […]
Continue readingConsumer group calls for real interoperability
In a blog post about the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) proposal, the European consumer organisation BEUC has called for an interoperability obligation for the gatekeeper’s core services rather than […]
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EDPS says DSA should oblige large online platforms to interoperate
In its new opinion on the Digital Services Act, the European Data Protection Supervisor has recommended the upcoming Regulation to include “explicit obligations on very large online platforms to support […]
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Interoperability as a tool for competition regulation
Interoperability is a technical mechanism for computing systems to work together – even if they are from competing firms. To encourage competition in digital markets, the European Commission has suggested […]
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“Interoperability guarantees competition. […] Interoperability has become key in the digital economy – where this does not work, the provider of the foreclosed technology will be able to set up technological lock-ins for suppliers and customers.”
Konrad Adenauer Foundation report on digital competition, 2020