European Commission Rolls Out DSM Review, Won't Expand Work to Tackle Fake News

The European Commission's digital single market strategy work won't be expanded to tackle online “fake news” disinformation despite its proliferation over the past year, said EC Vice President-DSM Andrus Ansip during the commission's Wednesday rollout of its DSM progress report. The EC instead plans to coordinate with top internet firms to update voluntary agreements to address fake news, including clarifying what protections the companies can claim when they actively work to flag disinformation, Ansip said. The EC renewed its call in the DSM review for EU institutions to finalize important related legislation by the end of 2017, saying delays “would leave people less protected; unable to use better, faster and cheaper connections; and blocked from access to more online content.” The EC noted its successes in ending pan-EU retail roaming charges and ensuring pan-EU portability of online subscription services. Roaming charges are to end in the EU June 15, and the cross-border services portability mandate is to take effect in early 2018. The EC said it plans to propose legislation in the fall on cross-border flows of non-personal data and legislation in 2018 on access and reuse of public data. The commission also plans to review the 2013 EU cybersecurity strategy and is preparing legislation to address unfair contractual clauses and other trading practices by online platforms. The Computer & Communications Industry Association criticized the progress on the DSM strategy. The EC “came up with the right strategy, but several of its proposals would actually make the situation worse by fragmenting the single market or making digital innovation harder in the EU,” said Vice President-Europe James Waterworth in a statement. CCIA has been critical of EC DSM-related proposals, including its ongoing work on copyright legislation (see 1702240067) and a proposal to implement cross-border levies on VOD services (see 1611180048). The EC “should spend the next two years working closely with industry to come up with the best solutions on new challenges including cybersecurity and removing illegal content from the Internet,” Waterworth said. “It should not hand down solutions but partner with those who make these solutions a reality.”