Month: August 2024

Categories
Actualités EN

The Open Internet Project expresses its outrage at Elon Musk’s insult of Thierry Breton and offers its full support to him

Twitter Linkedin

The Open Internet Project expresses its outrage at Elon Musk's insult of Thierry Breton and offers his full support

In a context where regulating the GAFAM is crucial to preserving the integrity of democratic processes, such attitudes are not only irresponsible but also represent a threat to global political stability.

The Open Internet Project expresses its deep concern over the recent actions of Elon Musk, head of the platform X, who chose to respond insultingly to a European political authority after receiving an official letter from Thierry Breton, a member of the European Commission.

In a context where regulating the GAFAM (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft) is crucial to preserving the integrity of democratic processes, such attitudes are not only irresponsible but also represent a threat to global political stability. The letter from the European Commission reminded Mr. Musk of his obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), emphasizing the need for X to implement effective measures to prevent the spread of harmful content, especially during major global events.

Elon Musk’s response, which was caricatured and insulting, is a regrettable demonstration of a lack of respect, or even a certain contempt, that leaders of large companies may have for European institutions, whose representatives are, after all, the guardians of consumer interests. This also raises concerns about X’s genuine commitment to combating disinformation, online hate, and other forms of illegal content.

Moreover, Elon Musk’s recent actions highlight the crucial issue of the impartiality of major digital platforms. By choosing to engage in such a confrontation with a European institution, Elon Musk demonstrates how these platforms can influence public debate and impact democratic processes. Digital platforms are not neutral; their algorithms and editorial choices have a direct impact on the information that users access. When the leaders of these platforms choose to take sides in political debates, they jeopardize the plurality of voices and the quality of public discourse.

The Open Internet Project calls for strengthened regulation and increased oversight by the relevant authorities to ensure that digital platforms, particularly those led by such influential personalities, fully comply with existing laws and do not compromise global political security and stability.

«Elon Musk has not only shown disrespect towards European institutions, but he has also demonstrated a worrying disregard for the responsibility that comes with leading such influential platforms as X. Such behavior from a tech leader threatens not only the rule of law but also global political stability. It is imperative that these platforms adhere to legal standards and obligations to protect our democracies, just as they must comply to ensure fair competition. »
declares Quentin Adam
President of the OIP

We support and commend the initiative of Mr. Thierry Breton and all European institutions working against the unfair practices of American giants, who continually challenge European regulations.

The Open Internet Project reaffirms its commitment to a responsible, transparent, and democratic values-respecting internet, and calls on tech leaders to exercise greater responsibility in their public communications.

Contacts:

Léonidas Kalogeropoulos, Managing Director : +33607315126 –  l.k@openinternetproject.eu

Lucie Lebret, Project Manager :+33757503010 – lucie.lebret@mediation-arguments.com

26, rue de l’Université • 75007 Paris
+33 (0)1 53 45 91 91

Contactez-nous par mail
Twitter Linkedin
Categories
Actualités EN

European organisations are concerned about the approximations of the European Cybersecurity Scheme for Cloud Services

Twitter Linkedin

European organizations are concerned about the approximations of the European Union Cybersecurity Scheme for Cloud Services

« It is essential that the European Data Certification Scheme does not endanger the high standards of data protection we have established in Europe. »

After Cigref’s alert on digital sovereignty in the face of extraterritorial laws, and in anticipation of an extended Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) – which would allow the United States to access European Data – it is now the turn of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) to call on the European Union Cybersecurity Agency (ENISA) to address the risks involved.

One crucial question remains : will the EUCS currently being established be compliant with the RGPD ?

Cigref’s concerns over digital sovereignty

In April this year, Cigref members, representing the largest French companies and administrations that use digital solutions, expressed their concerns about the potential implications of the European Data Certification Scheme (EUCS) for Europe’s digital sovereignty. They are particularly concerned about the impact of extraterritorial laws, such as FISA, which could compromise the security and confidentiality of European citizens’ data.

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) calls for more clarity

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has now voiced its concerns by directly addressing ENISA. The EDPB stresses the importance of ensuring that any certification scheme for cloud services is strictly aligned with the requirements of the RGPD, in order to protect the fundamental rights of individuals with regard to personal data.

The Open Internet Project (OIP) joins the initiative

The Open Internet Project (OIP), an organisation dedicated to the defense of an open and faire Internet, fully supports this initiative. OIP shares concerts expressed by Cigref and the EDPB regarding the protection of European citizens’ data. The organisation calls for increased vigilance to ensure that the new certifications do not weaken existing data protection standards within the European Union.

« It is essential that the European Data Certification Scheme does not endanger the high standards of data protection we have established in Europe. We call on ENISA to review the current project and ensure full compliance with the RGPD. »
says Quentin Adam
President of the OIP
« We applaud the vigilance and the approach of the EDPB, fully committed to ensuring that the data protection rights of European citizens are respected and protected. The European Data Certification Scheme must reflect this priority. OIP supports this initiative to ensure that European citizens' data remains secure and confidential. We call on ENISA to act accordingly. »
adds Quentin Adam
President of the OIP

As previously offered to Cigref, the Open Internet Project is proposing that EDPB members work together with OIP to structure an end-to-end secure digital offering that meets the highest security requirements guaranteed for the most sensitive data. The aim is to ensure that a robust and reliable industrial response can meet the expectations of businesses, administrations and citizens .

Contacts:

Léonidas Kalogeropoulos, Managing Director : +33607315126 –  l.k@openinternetproject.eu

Lucie Lebret, Project Manager : +33757503010 – lucie.lebret@mediation-arguments.com

26, rue de l’Université • 75007 Paris
+33 (0)1 53 45 91 91

Contactez-nous par mail
Twitter Linkedin
Categories
Actualités EN

The Open Internet Project welcomes the groundbreaking US federal decision against Google’s illegal monopoly

Twitter Linkedin

The Open Internet Project welcomes the groundbreaking US federal decision against Google's illegal monopoly

« This historic decision is a crucial step towards restoring an open and competitive Internet. »

The Open Internet Project (OIP) welcomes US federal judge Amit Mehta’s decision to convict Google of illegal monopolistic practices in online search. This decision marks an important victory, not only for the US Department of Justice (DoJ), but also for the entire digital ecosystem, as it represents a crucial step towards fairer competition and a more balanced technology market.

The judge aptly described Google as a “monopolistic” player in his ruling, confirming that the company violated US antitrust laws by spending billions of dollars on exclusive deals with wireless carriers, browser developers and device manufacturers, including Apple. These practices allowed Google to strengthen its dominant position, with payments exceeding $26 billion by 2021.

Attorney General Merrick Garland called the decision “a historic victory for the American people”, stressing that no company is above the law. Indeed, we can easily regard this decision as one of the greatest victories against the monopoly of the tech giants by the US authorities.

« This historic decision is a crucial step towards restoring an open and competitive Internet. We applaud the U.S. Department of Justice for its commitment to justice and competition, which will have consequences beyond the U.S. market, as the practices at hand are global in scope. »
says Léonidas Kalogeropoulos
Managing Director of the OIP

This decision could be the first in a long series of lawsuits against American tech giants, as demonstrated by the pending cases brought by the DoJ’s antitrust division against Apple and the Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuits against Amazon and Meta.

The Open Internet Project regards this decision as an essential step forward in ensuring an open and competitive internet. We call on regulators, particularly European regulators, to continue their efforts to dismantle the anti-competitive practices of technology giants and encourage fair competition.

« May the alliance of anti-trust authorities on both sides of the Atlantic defeat the unfair practices of these global monopolies. »
adds Quentin Adam
President of the OIP

Contacts:

Léonidas Kalogeropoulos, Managing Director : +33607315126 –  l.k@openinternetproject.eu

Lucie Lebret, Project Manager : +33757503010 – lucie.lebret@mediation-arguments.com

26, rue de l’Université • 75007 Paris
+33 (0)1 53 45 91 91

Contactez-nous par mail
Twitter Linkedin