“Huge technology policy questions are looming for whoever takes the top jobs at the European Union in the coming months. Decisions that could radically reshape tech business models, reconfigure the competitive landscape and change the relationship between Internet users and the content and services they consume.”

“The Danish politician returns to the Commission in an unprecedented role to direct and enforce European digital policy.”

“What is the GDPR? Europe’s new data privacy and security law includes hundreds of pages’ worth of new requirements for organizations around the world. This GDPR overview will help you understand the law and determine what parts of it apply to you.”

“In its latest monitoring report of a voluntary Code of Conduct on illegal hate speech, which platforms including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube signed up to in Europe back in 2016, the European Commission has said progress is being made on speeding up takedowns but tech firms are still lagging when it comes to providing feedback and transparency around their decisions.”

“The U.N.’s special rapporteur on freedom of expression on how social media companies can get their acts together.”

“The German parliament passed a law on 30 June that subjects social media companies and other providers that host third-party content to fines of up to €50 million if they fail to remove “obviously illegal” speech within 24 hours of it being reported.”

“Ursula von der Leyen, the president-elect of the Commission, said during a speech earlier this month that “it is not acceptable that (tech companies) make profits, but they are barely paying any taxes.”

“France and Britain are hatching plans to tax the revenue, rather than the profit, of companies such as Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google that make their sales primarily in cyberspace. They’re the first of potentially several countries in Europe implementing “digital taxes” meant to extract money from companies whose multinational earnings often escape the taxman’s grip thanks to legal loopholes and the virtual nature of their offerings.”

“Regulators should publish case studies that illustrate how they have put into practice the GDPR’s principles when investigating complaints. Over time, a new body of case law will emerge as individuals take organizations to court to challenge their data practices and as organizations, in turn, take data protection authorities to court to challenge their enforcement actions. Such legal proceedings might lack the high drama of a murder trial or a celebrity divorce. But make no mistake: the future of human autonomy and dignity will be shaped by their outcomes.”

“It might seem like a lot of extra work, but with the right planning your organization can become GDPR compliant — and improve your business in the process. GDPR is great reminder to businesses that information about individuals is simply on loan — not owned — and organizations have a responsibility to look after it. It’s not just a matter of confidentiality; it’s about integrity, accuracy, and availability — and it’s just plain good business practice.”

“’When there is a lack of competition, users accepting terms of service are often not truly consenting. The consent is a fiction.’”

“The EU's top court has ruled that Google does not have to apply the right to be forgotten globally.”