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

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

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

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

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

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

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Actualités EN

EUCS : OIP joins Cigref in expressing its concerns to the European Commission

EUCS : OIP joins Cigref in expressing its concerns to the European Commission

Such disparity in the defense of citizens’ interests in the processing of their data, from one side of the Atlantic to the other, is striking.”

As the new version of the EUCS is being examined by experts from the European Union’s certification group from April 15, the cloud and digital value chain players who are members of the Open Internet Project – OIP – are giving their full support to the open letter sent by Cigref to the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, on April 11, expressing the legitimate concerns of the European digital industry as a whole, and of its users, regarding guarantees of immunity from non-European legislation with extraterritorial scope for data and its associated processing, concerning the most sensitive data.

Clearly, the high standards expected since the start of work on the EUCS have waned, with sovereignty requirements no longer appearing in the 221-page document presented on March 22, and due to be submitted for discussion from April 15, 2024

This erasure of the European Union’s sovereignty ambitions coincides with the extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which gives the US secret services access to our personal data, and Joe Biden’s executive order restricting the transfer of US citizens’ data to other states !

"Such disparity in the defense of citizens' interests in the processing of their data, from one side of the Atlantic to the other, is striking."
declares Quentin Adam
President of OIP

While European cloud companies are working to develop systems for maximum security of sensitive data, requiring considerable investment and development,

"With this version of the EUCS, the most commonly used Americans solutions could be offered a form of tolerance to devastating impacts on several levels : 1. Render sensitive data permeable to interference from outside European states ; 2. Undermine the trust that citizens place in their public and private partners, in terms of their ability to guarantee the security of their sensitive data ; 3. Discharge these requirements to foreign, mainly American, cloud companies, thereby enabling them to compete even more unfairly than they already do, with European players who are working to develop highly secure systems to provide their fellow citizens with a service that meets their sovereignty requirements."
adds Quentin Adam
President of OIP
"The Open Internet Project is suggesting working alongside Cigref members to structure a secure end-to-end digital offering, meeting the highest security requirements guaranteed for the most sensitive data, to ensure that a robust and reliable industrial response will be able to meet the expectations of companies, administrations and citizens, even if the political and diplomatic negotiations at work at European Union level were to lead to the abandonment of these requirements within the EUCS framework."
declares Léonidas Kalogeropoulos
General Delegate of the OIP

Contacts:

Léonidas Kalogeropoulos, Délégué Général : +33607315126 –  l.k@openinternetproject.eu

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

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Actualités EN

L’Open Internet Project se félicite de la sanction prononcée par l’ADLC à l’encontre de Google pour non-respect des droits voisins

The Open Internet Project welcomes French Competition Authority's decision to fine Google €250 million for non-compliance of related rights

All the members of the European association Open Internet Project (OIP) welcome the decision taken by the French Competition Authority (ADLC) to fine Google €250 million for non-compliance with its commitments, made mandatory within the legislative framework relating to related rights.

This is the fourth decision issued by the ADLC since the adoption of the French law of 24 July 2019 on related rights against Google, which continues to violate a particularly important law, aiming to create the necessary conditions for balanced negotiations between press agencies, publishers and digital platforms, and to address the profound changes affecting the press sector, and the fact that a significant share of advertising value is now held by the major digital platforms.

"We've always been committed to supporting the press, and we never cease to point out that there's a huge gap between audience share and market share in France, largely in favor of major platforms such as Google and Facebook. This is a fundamental imbalance - worth hundreds of millions of euros - that must be remedied to protect quality information and pluralism. It's a democratic issue! Google constantly violates our laws and does not respect the commitments imposed on it to re-establish fair competition on the digital market. I commend the determination and courage of the ADLC, which will let nothing go by!"
underlines Léonidas Kalogeropoulos
General Delegate of the OIP
"I'm particularly pleased to see that the ADLC, in its decision, highlights the fact that the artificial intelligence service "Bard", launched by Google in July 2023, used content from publishers and press agencies for the purposes of training its founding model, without notifying the latter, and worse, by setting up a system that did not allow publishers and press agencies to negotiate remuneration for related rights. The ethical use of AI is a priority issue for OIP, as it is essential to ensure that AI does not become a lever to reinforce the monopoly held by American players, who, as we unfortunately see all too often, respect neither our laws nor our European values!"
adds Quentin Adam
President of OIP

Contacts:

Léonidas Kalogeropoulos, Délégué Général : +33607315126 –  l.k@openinternetproject.eu

Anaïs Strauss, Chargée de mission :+33757503010 – anais.strauss@openinternetproject.eu

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

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Actualités EN

The Open Internet Project welcomes French Competition Authority’s decision to fine Google €250 million for non-compliance

The Open Internet Project welcomes French Competition Authority's decision to fine Google €250 million for non-compliance of related rights

All the members of the European association Open Internet Project (OIP) welcome the decision taken by the French Competition Authority (ADLC) to fine Google €250 million for non-compliance with its commitments, made mandatory within the legislative framework relating to related rights.

This is the fourth decision issued by the ADLC since the adoption of the French law of 24 July 2019 on related rights against Google, which continues to violate a particularly important law, aiming to create the necessary conditions for balanced negotiations between press agencies, publishers and digital platforms, and to address the profound changes affecting the press sector, and the fact that a significant share of advertising value is now held by the major digital platforms.

"We've always been committed to supporting the press, and we never cease to point out that there's a huge gap between audience share and market share in France, largely in favor of major platforms such as Google and Facebook. This is a fundamental imbalance - worth hundreds of millions of euros - that must be remedied to protect quality information and pluralism. It's a democratic issue! Google constantly violates our laws and does not respect the commitments imposed on it to re-establish fair competition on the digital market. I commend the determination and courage of the ADLC, which will let nothing go by!"
underlines Léonidas Kalogeropoulos
General Delegate of the OIP
"I'm particularly pleased to see that the ADLC, in its decision, highlights the fact that the artificial intelligence service "Bard", launched by Google in July 2023, used content from publishers and press agencies for the purposes of training its founding model, without notifying the latter, and worse, by setting up a system that did not allow publishers and press agencies to negotiate remuneration for related rights. The ethical use of AI is a priority issue for OIP, as it is essential to ensure that AI does not become a lever to reinforce the monopoly held by American players, who, as we unfortunately see all too often, respect neither our laws nor our European values!"
adds Quentin Adam
President of OIP

Contacts:

Léonidas Kalogeropoulos, Délégué Général : +33607315126 –  l.k@openinternetproject.eu

Anaïs Strauss, Chargée de mission :+33757503010 – anais.strauss@openinternetproject.eu

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

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Actualités EN

OIP welcomes its first member specialized in SaaS solutions: Welcome to Crisp!

OIP welcomes its first member specialized in SaaS solutions: Welcome to Crisp!

The European association Open Internet Project (OIP) is delighted to welcome Crisp, a platform developing software that enables companies to unify their customer relations. With this new membership, the range of solutions offered by OIP members has been broadened, enabling the association to pursue one of its key objectives: to bring together all the key links in the value chain of ethical European tech players!

Crisp est une entreprise innovante dans le domaine du SaaS (Software as a Service), spécialisée dans le développement de solutions pour l’automatisation de la relation client. Crisp permet à 600 000 entreprises de toutes tailles d’interagir en temps réel avec leurs clients via plusieurs canaux de communication, tels que le chat sur site internet, Email, WhatsApp, Messenger ou autres. Cette approche permet non seulement d’améliorer l’expérience client en fournissant une assistance instantanée et personnalisée, mais elle aide également les entreprises à augmenter leur taux de conversion et à fidéliser leur clientèle. En intégrant des fonctionnalités avancées telles que les bots de chat, les réponses automatisées, et une analyse détaillée des interactions clients, Crisp se positionne comme un outil essentiel pour les entreprises souhaitant optimiser leur service client et se démarquer dans le paysage numérique compétitif.

« Je suis très heureux que Crisp rejoigne l’OIP, qui ne cesse de se diverifier, tout en rassemblant des acteurs unis dans la lutte contre les pratiques commerciales abusives sur le marché européen du numérique. La force de frappe de l’OIP découle notamment de sa capacité à unir les acteurs de l’écosystème numérique animés par la même volonté, celle de se battre pour un marché numérique loyal et compétitif et innovant. Crisp apportera sans aucun doute une expertise et un soutien supplémentaire à nos actions avec un éclairage sur de nouvelles problématiques ! »,
se félicite Léonidas Kalogeropoulos
Délégué général de l’OIP
« Nous sommes enthousiastes à l'idée de rejoindre l’OIP et de contribuer à sa mission de promouvoir un marché numérique européen équitable et innovant. Chez Crisp, nous croyons fermement en la création de technologies qui favorisent une communication transparente et efficace entre les entreprises et leurs clients. En devenant membre de l'OIP, nous avons l'opportunité de partager notre expertise et de travailler conjointement avec d'autres acteurs technologiques européens pour défendre les valeurs d'un internet ouvert et accessible à tous. Nous sommes convaincus que notre collaboration avec l'OIP permettra de relever les défis actuels du secteur numérique et de contribuer à l'établissement de pratiques commerciales plus justes et responsables »
rajoute Baptiste Jamin
Directeur Général de Crisp

Contacts:

Léonidas Kalogeropoulos, Délégué Général : +33607315126 –  l.k@openinternetproject.eu

Anaïs Strauss, Chargée de mission :+33757503010 – anais.strauss@openinternetproject.eu

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

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 When will Brussels apply interim measure?

When will Brussels really apply interim measure?

Do we really have to wait 14 years for a definitive ruling in a case between the Commission and a tech giant that has been abusing its dominant position ever since?

While the members of the Open Internet Project (OIP) welcome the conclusions of the Advocate General, who is proposing that the Court of Justice of the European Union confirm the 2.4 billion euro fine imposed on Google for having favored its own product comparator, they point out that the case was opened 14 years ago, that the fine has still not been paid, even partially, and that no effective measures have been put in place to restore competition on the product comparator market!

The association, which brings together European players in the tech sector, has for years been drawing the European Commission’s attention to the lack of an effective instrument for bringing anti-competitive practices to a rapid end. Indeed, it is pushing for interim measures to be operationalized at European level, which would require only a few words of regulatory change[1]: replace the criteria of “irreparable damage” – which is impossible to prove – with “immediate damage”, as is the case in France, in order to make interim measures operational.

« Interim measures are the only way to quickly put an end to a practice qualified as anti-competitive, in just a few months. Time is the ally of monopolies, and Google Shopping has been taking advantage of this for over 14 years! We reiterate our call to the Commission to initiate a very simple process aimed at revising the criteria for applying interim measures, so that they can become a powerful legal tool, enabling Europe to fight effectively against abuses of dominant positions! »
says Léonidas Kalogeropoulos
General Delegate of the OIP
« All the legal experts are unanimous: the fine imposed on Google is justified, its anti-competitive behavior is proven. How is it then that we have to wait 14 years for a definitive sentence? What alternative player can survive 14 years facing an all-powerful competitor who abuses its monopoly and can obviously get away with anything? Let's give the European Commission the resources it needs to rapidly restore balance to the European digital market! »
says Quentin Adam
President of the OIP

[1] Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty

Contacts:

Léonidas Kalogeropoulos, Délégué Général : +33607315126 –  l.k@openinternetproject.eu

Anaïs Strauss, Chargée de mission :+33757503010 – anais.strauss@openinternetproject.eu

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

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Actualités EN

OIP extends its actions to sovereign online payment : Welcome to HiPay!

OIP extends its actions to sovereign online payment : Welcome to HiPay!

The Open Internet Project (OIP) is delighted to welcome HiPay, an online payment platform, as a new member! With this new membership, OIP extends its scope of intervention to a new issue, sovereign online payment.

Indeed, the diversification of OIP’s activities – thanks to the arrival of new members specializing in a variety of fields – means that it can defend European digital solutions on several fronts, especially those dominated by global players tempted to dismiss high-performance, innovative and sovereign alternative solutions, including now in the highly strategic field of payment.

HiPay is a global, multi-channel payment platform. As a regulated business, under the supervision of the Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR), the implementation of omnichannel payments, in a large number of countries and currencies, requires strong technological expertise as well as a strict organization at the service of its merchant customers and the security and fluidity of transactions.

By exploiting the power of payment data, HiPay contributes to the growth of its merchant customers and improves their success rate by giving them a 360° view of their business, providing them with the payment methods best suited to their activity (country, customer base, etc.) and actively combating fraud and risk.

As a recognized and fast-growing FinTech, HiPay aims to keep up with the growth and changes in global commerce.

« We need to multiply our actions to keep up the pressure against monopolistic companies abusing their dominant power. OIP was created at the time of the Google Shopping affair to fight collectively against the abuse of dominant position by the American giant. Since then, it has extended its actions to the Android affair, concerns linked to the sovereign cloud, neighboring rights, fair remuneration for the media, digital advertising, precautionary measures and more. With HiPay, we're opening up a new front on sovereign online payments that respect our data, a subject that is closely linked to all the battles we're waging for a healthy competitive environment! »
says Quentin Adam
President of the OIP and CEO of Clever Cloud.
« HiPay is delighted to join the OIP and is committed to transparency and fair competition on the Internet. The dangers of the Internet related to abuse of dominant positions, fraud and data opacity can also be found in the world of payment and financial transactions. Joining the OIP is a way of defending our sovereignty and that of our merchant customers! »
says Benjamin Jayet
President de HiPay

Contacts:

Léonidas Kalogeropoulos, Délégué Général : +33607315126 –  l.k@openinternetproject.eu

Anaïs Strauss, Chargée de mission :+33757503010 – anais.strauss@openinternetproject.eu

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

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Actualités EN

Google appeals to overturn antitrust fine at top EU court 13 years after the opening of the Google Shopping case: OIP recalls the imperative need to reduce the extreme length of legal procedures!

Google appeals to overturn antitrust fine at top EU court 13 years after the opening of the Google Shopping case: OIP recalls the imperative need to reduce the extreme length of legal procedures!

As Google’s appeal in the Google Shopping case opens this week before the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg, the European association Open Internet Project (OIP) recalls the importance of this historical case, which confirmed the principle that a digital player in a dominant position cannot favor its own services in a privileged way.

OIP once again regrets Google’s delaying tactics, which have led it to continue its anti-competitive practices, and reiterates its call for interim measures to be taken as soon as the litigious behavior becomes known, so that it can be brought to an end immediately.

As the EU court has confirmed, preferential treatment is a prohibited discriminatory practice, and condemned as so. OIP, along with all European digital players, has been calling on the regulator for the past ten years to fight these illegal practices strongly and swiftly against all tech players abusing their dominant position! Google’s appeal against the judgement shows that these tech giants have no intention of respecting the startup ecosystem, which can only exist with free, fair and undistorted competitive conditions.

« Google's latest attempt to have part of the decision cancelled illustrates a major structural problem for its rivals: European legal procedures take too long. As a reminder, the Google Shopping case was opened 13 years ago! »
says Quentin Adam
Président of the OIP et CEO of Clever Cloud.

Not only does this extreme length hinder the development of healthy market conditions for competitors, but European consumers are ultimately deprived of choice and alternatives. Let’s not forget: for these 13 long years, Google has continued to promote its price comparator, without any adequate solution being put in place until now. And many competitors are now dead and no longer around to witness the trial.

«The only effective legal tool for quickly interrupting anti-competitive practices is interim measures, and the OIP continues to campaign for a modification of one European regulation to make them effective!»
says Léonidas Kalogeropoulos
General Delegate of the OIP

Contacts:

Léonidas Kalogeropoulos, Délégué Général : +33607315126 –  l.k@openinternetproject.eu

Anaïs Strauss, Chargée de mission :+33757503010 – anais.strauss@openinternetproject.eu

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