EU PolicyEU Political Party Positions on Preserving Online Privacy: Election 2024
As the 2024 EU elections approach, the Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) wants to help you better understand how the policies of the major European political parties align with the needs of those who build the infrastructure of the Internet. The i2Coalition is the leading voice for web hosting companies, domain registrars and registries, cloud infrastructure providers, managed services providers, and related technology. We have been monitoring the stances of major EU political parties and finding alignment on the issues that matter most to our members.Â
This article is the second in a three-part series on how the i2Coalition’s mission and members fit into the EU election conversation. If your Internet infrastructure company is interested in getting more involved in shaping these discussions, please do not hesitate to contact our membership director at [email protected].
In this edition, we’ll explore how we believe Brussels should preserve online privacy.
The i2Coalition shares the vision of the EPP and Renew Europe in advocating for digital privacy protection. The i2Coalition’s EU Digital Policy Manifesto provides a guide for Internet infrastructure providers and policymakers alike as we collaborate to address the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. It states, “Support both the lawful pursuit of illegal online activities and the defense of privacy and security rights without compromising encryption integrity.” Conversations around digital privacy often happen in the context of law enforcement and abuse prevention: the absence of explicit digital privacy elements in EU party platforms does not necessarily mean that those parties are not supportive of it.
That said, here is how the major parties in the 2024 EU election align with our stance on preserving online privacy
- European People’s Party (EPP)
Point 1.7 of the EPP’s manifesto reads, “We advocate the storage of IP addresses for the most serious criminal offences, especially in the fight against child abuse in accordance with the requirements of the European Court of Justice, and in respect of the fundamental right to data protection.” - Renew Europe
Renew Europe’s Priorities 2019-2024 paper states that the party will “[r]equest guarantees that any data sharing agreement with a third country fully complies with our strong EU privacy standards,” and will also focus “on closing the knowledge gap regarding the opportunities and risks associated with technological change, by addressing the challenges digitalisation raises, such as the lack of digital skills and knowledge about new technologies, high cost, working conditions of platform workers, protecting privacy and security and eradicating the possibilities of abuses.“
To see more of how the major EU parties’ stances on Internet infrastructure align with those of the companies that build our interconnected world, please read our two companion articles in this series:
Join Us in Shaping the Future of the Internet
The major policy areas that underpin our coalition—digital trade and Internet governance, privacy, encryption, cybersecurity, access to data, and intermediary liability—also form the cornerstones of a resilient and inclusive digital future. We seek to share our values in these areas in policy recommendations to ensure that Europe’s digital landscape thrives, innovates, and remains protected from threats that could compromise its potential.Â
We invite all stakeholders in the Internet infrastructure industry to join our cause. Find out more on our website and contact our membership director at [email protected].