Committees

Cybersecurity

Committee work

EuroISPA’s Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Committee enables its members to exchange knowledge about current security challenges and national good practice models. The Committee also works with the European institutions and international organisations to ensure a harmonised framework for digital security in Europe. Our members’ technical expertise and experience can guide policy that protects key network infrastructure and citizens fundamental rights, improving the cooperation between governments and industry and allowing the Internet industry to thrive as an economic enabler.

Key ongoing dossiers

Cross-border access to electronic evidence (E-Evidence Package, Second Additional Protocol to the Budapest Convention, etc.)
Data Retention
Revision of the Network and Information Security Directive (NIS 2 Directive)
Europol Regulation

Data Protection

Committee work

Legal certainty, trust and confidence in the data protection framework are of paramount importance for both businesses and European citizens, in order to meet the aims of the Digital Single Market Strategy and to make Europe competitive in the global markets. EuroISPA believes that European citizens’ personal data should be granted a uniform level of protection, regardless of the geographical location or the economic sector of the service provider. In today’s ever-changing digital environment, data protection rules are reflexive to the emergence of new services such as cloud computing and Artificial Intelligence and must not burden the internet industry with crippling compliance costs.

Key ongoing dossiers

E-Privacy Regulation
Implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Innovation and Growth

Committee work

EuroISPA’s Innovation and Growth committee brings together various Internet service providers with experience and insights on how to make Europe’s online content framework optimal for the digital age. The development of a virtuous and cross-border online content market in the EU is a key factor for the completion of the Digital Single Market. In the previous years, various legislative interventions have reformed, with different outcomes, the European online content framework in the area of content portability, audiovisual and VoD, rights management, levies, geoblocking and copyright. Amongst them the Copyright Directive reform has been the crux of this Committee’s work in the previous years. Going forward, EuroISPA will closely follow the implementation of the Directive at the national level. EuroISPA is also eager to work with the new Commission about new proposals in the area of online content and audiovisual.

Key ongoing dossiers

Implementation of the EU Copyright Directive
Geoblocking Regulation

Intermediary Liability

Committee work

The EuroISPA Intermediary Liability committee considers the responsibilities of Internet intermediaries in law and practice, the balance of legal obligations and the impact of legal measures in maintaining the balance of responsibilities that allows Europe’s digital economy to thrive, while also supporting effective law enforcement within a framework of respect for fundamental rights in the online environment. As the EU institutions discuss the Digital Services Act, EuroISPA will engage with them to promote innovation-friendly liability protections as the key infrastructural element of the Digital Single Market.

International Affairs

Markets and Services

Committee work

Following the agreement reached on the European Electronic Communications Code in 2019, the Committee is instrumental in allowing our members to exchange information on national developments regarding the implementation of the Code, and the regulatory framework applicable to the sector. This Committee also oversees matters regarding accessibility requirements and the discussions on the Digital Markets Act.

Key ongoing dossiers

National implementation of the European Electronic Communications Code
National implementation of the Accessibility Act
Digital Markets Act

Safer Internet

Committee work

EuroISPA members are at the forefront of efforts to protect children online, and use their practical experience and infrastructure control to assist law enforcement authorities. In addition to cooperating with law enforcement under the Notice and Takedown Mechanism. EuroISPA members are strong supporters of the European network of Internet Hotlines, with four member associations actually managing the national Hotline in their countries. Our members also share bests practices by ISPs for preservation of evidence and policy development with public authorities.

Key dossiers

Digital Services
E-Privacy Directive
Regulation on the detection, removal and reporting of child sexual abuse online
European Commission’s Recommendation on tackling illegal content online and public-private partnerships’

Committee Chairs

The Chairs of the above-mentioned Committees are as follows:

Cybercrime & Cybersecurity – Chair: Andreas Gruber (ISPA Austria)
Data Protection & Privacy – Chair: Oliver Süme (eco)
Innovation & Growth – Chair: Asko Metsola (FiCOM)
Intermediary liability – Chair: Andrea Monti (AIIP)
International Affairs – Chair: Malcolm Hutty (LINX)
Markets & Services – Chair: Michel Combot (FFTélecom)
Safer Internet – Chair: Alex de Joode (AMS-IX)

“Both data protection and the legal challenges around the availability of non-personal data remain a key topic in the process of transitioning Europe into a data economy. In this regard, the analysis of overlap and interdependency of the GDPR, the European Data Act, and the upcoming Artificial Intelligence Act will be of high importance for EuroISPA’s Data Protection Committee. In addition, the Association will continue to monitor the development of the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework and the further legislative process regarding the ePrivacy Regulation.”

Oliver Süme (eco)Chair of Data Protection Committee

“In 2022, the Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Committee continued its strong engagement at EU level and beyond. Among other things, the Committee was able to ensure the inclusion of a secure data exchange system in the final text of the E-Evidence Regulation, and that the situation of small providers was sufficiently taken into account in the adoption of the NIS 2 Directive. The year 2023 will be dedicated to the national implementation of these new frameworks, where the Committee will continue to play an active role and assist its members. Besides this, new topics such as the Cyber Resilience Act will move into the focus.”

Andreas Gruber (ISPA Austria)Chair of Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Committee

“Intermediary liability is a serious matter that should be handled with the utmost care. Since the beginning of the Information Society, European ISPs have not shied away from the legal challenges that have arisen. Over time, they have contributed to the work of the legislators and supported law enforcement in the field, bearing all the costs. Unfortunately, the contribution of the ISPs has often been neglected and, in general, the regulatory approach has been to shift to them the tasks that belong to the public authorities. However, the Intermediary Liability Committee will continue to provide experience and expertise to policy makers and legislators to ensure that the rights of the ISP industry are supported in the context of the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights.”

Andrea Monti (AIIP)Chair of Intermediary Liability Committee

“Children’s online protection is a key priority for EuroISPA’s Safer Internet Committee, and our members have a longstanding relationship with law enforcement authorities to assist them in the fight against CSAM. In the last year, we have met with several EU policymakers working on the proposed CSAM Regulation to provide the technical expertise of our diverse membership on the matter. In 2023, we will continue our engagement efforts, participating in further meetings and events. EuroISPA will have a key role to play in moving away from a polarised debate and instead focusing on the technical implications of the proposed CSAM Regulation.”

Alex de Joode (AMS-IX)Chair of Safer Internet Committee

“Now that almost all Member States have implemented the DSM Directive, the Innovation and Growth Committee can turn its eyes to newer, maybe more national developments. We’ll continue to monitor any proposals related to geo-blocking, the territorial dimension of the single market, and different kinds of tax levies. In addition to the Committee’s work, I will be attending the EUIPO Observatory Working Groups on EuroISPA’s behalf.”

Asko Metsola (FiCOM)Chair of Innovation and Growth Committee

“In 2022, the Markets and Services Committee continued its work on 5G & Network Deployment, analyzing developments in each national country and identifying barriers and issues that were brought in front of EU lawmakers. Also, the Committee had a strong look at the impact of the Energy crisis on the Internet infrastructure and the services of its members and fostered the exchanges with all stakeholders. The year 2023 will be dedicated to strengthening the activities of the Committee on connectivity issues related the Internet, in the wake of the initiative of the Gigabit Infrastructure Act proposed by the European Commission.”

Michel Combot (FFTélécoms)Chair of Markets and Services Committee

“EuroISPA actively represents the views of the European Internet industry before the most relevant Internet Governance and ICT cooperation organisations such as ICANN, EuroDIG, the Internet Governance Forum and the Council of Europe. Our International Affairs Committee brings our members the latest developments and relevant trends at international level, providing a technical forum to discuss the future of our sector.”

Malcolm Hutty (LINX)Chair of International Affairs Committee

Contact details

EuroISPA

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1000 Brussels

+32 2 789 6618

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