Category: Digital rights
Does the Cyber Resilience Act protect consumer devices enough?
We live at a time when much of what we buy – watches, phones, fridges – is connected to the internet. That has also made us more vulnerable.
How to ensure consumer protection keeps up with the digital revolution
Updating consumer rights in changing times is essential, writes digital team policy officer Claudio Teixeira.
Why exempting small and medium-size marketplaces from checks on online traders is a bad idea
Laws in the EU that require seat belts to be installed in passenger cars do not exempt car manufacturers from the rules based on their size. That parallel might be worth remembering now the EU applies the finishing touches to...
The car data hype – no need to worry? Think twice
BEUC’s mobility expert Robin Loos brings us a story from his future self to explain why regulating access to car data is important.
Why it’s time to ban surveillance ads
It’s the name of a forty-year-old hit that still holds huge popular appeal today. Every Breath You Take became The Police’s signature track, despite the creepy lyrics about a disturbingly possessive person who watches their lover’s every step. It’s also...
Making the Digital Markets Act work for consumers – BEUC’s take on Member States position
If you’ve considered leaving WhatsApp, but felt your hands were tied because all the people you know use it, the Digital Markets Act could well be what you were hoping for. It could be a real game-changer for consumers. The...
Post-Covid world: new consumer realities policy makers must address
This blog reflects the speech delivered by Monique Goyens at an event marking the 30th anniversary of the Consumers and Environment category of the European Economic and Social Committee, on 1 October 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has been for many...
Why the Android antitrust case matters to consumers
Today, the vast majority of mobile phones in Europe run on Android, Google’s operating system. In addition, Google Search is the dominant search engine, used by millions of consumers daily to access goods, services, and information on the web. Part...
EU proposals to shape the digital landscape, a step forward for consumers
Just as the European Parliament and the EU’s Council of Ministers are gearing up to begin their scrutiny of the European Commission’s December 2020 proposals for a Digital Services Act (DSA) and a Digital Markets Act (DMA), it is timely...
Research is for the people: but where are the people?
A few weeks ago, the European research community held its annual powwow with the European Research and Innovation (R&I) Days, organised by the Commission’s Directorate-General in charge of research. The event gathered (virtually) more than 20,000 participants. It was an...