A civil society and industry coalition today sent an open letter to European Commission leaders urging them to strengthen intermediary liability protections in the new European Digital Single Market Strategy set for release on May 6.
Signatories include European Digital Rights (EDRi), which represents 35 privacy and civil rights organisation, Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), and CCIA.
The groups encourage that the Strategy reaffirms the basic principle, underpinning the EU’s e-Commerce Directive, that internet intermediaries must have strong protection from liability for third party content. This important principle has been a major factor in the development of online services Intermediary platforms play an important role in advancing the objective of a true European single market by boosting the cross-border delivery of goods and services, including by enabling cross-border sales by small enterprises. Safeguards for intermediaries have also advanced online rights in Europe.
The letter provides concrete recommendations for how the EU can achieve its policy goals while strengthening, rather than weakening, intermediary liability protections.
CCIA has a long track record of defending intermediary liability safeguards and we will continue to defend online freedoms, innovation, and digital growth.