@Fedihacker @heiseonlineenglish No, unfortunately this article is partly wrong. Its headline refers to "billions in fines," which is not at all what the #DigitalNetworksAct is about. Also, Heise's Reuters source says nothing about fines.

What Reuters says is that the EC will likely not force #BigTech to pay EU telcos for transmitting data over, you know, the internet.

This (previously planned) #NetworkFee or #UnfairShare has always been a bad idea. And that is @heiseonline's second mistake:

The proposal of the new #EU #DigitalNetworksAct #DNA has been postponed to 20 January 2026.

I consider this a good thing.

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/documents-register/detail?ref=SEC(2025)2543&lang=en

#NetNeutrality #UnfairShare

Die profitstarken Telcos versuchen immer wieder mit denselben Mythen, ihre Bilanz aufzubessern. Wir haben die fadenscheinigen Argumente zu Bandbreitennutzung, #unfairshare & Co aufgedeckt: ⬇️ 3/3
https://epicenter.works/content/myths-about-net-neutrality-debate-on-network-fees-aka-fair-share
Myths about Net Neutrality: Debate on Network Fees aka. “Fair Share”

Statt eines gleichwertigen Internetzugangs für alle würde #UnfairShare die Macht stark zu Netzbetreibern verschieben. Obwohl es dazu noch nicht einmal einen Gesetzesvorschlag gibt, richten die Forderungen eines EU-Kommissars bereits weltweit Schaden an.
https://netzpolitik.org/2023/datenmaut-fuer-netflix-co-thierry-bretons-schnapsidee-macht-weltweit-schule/
Datenmaut für Netflix & Co: Thierry Bretons Schnapsidee macht weltweit Schule – netzpolitik.org

Populäre Internet-Dienste wie Netflix und YouTube sollen sich am europäischen Breitbandausbau beteiligen, fordern große Netzbetreiber. Die umstrittene Idee stößt vor allem beim französischen EU-Kommissar Thierry Breton auf offene Ohren. Bislang liegt noch kein Gesetzentwurf vor – aber der Schaden ist bereits weltweit angerichtet.

netzpolitik.org

Seriously, @TheProgressives and in particular René @repasi, why did you just endorse shooting down #netneutrality by supporting the #UnfairShare #NetworkFee in the Parliament's Competition Report?

Despite all independent experts saying it's a bad idea.

Despite regulators saying it's a bad idea.

Despite your own S&D policy position saying it's a bad idea.
https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/sites/default/files/2023-02/SD_digital_position_paper_en_230208.pdf

Note to @EC_Commissioner_Breton:

"A large majority of [EU] member countries rejected the idea of splitting the costs of the #networks with content providers" due to "the lack of a fact-based approach or evidence of an #investment gap, the risk of driving up prices and the risk to net neutrality. “Let’s not overreact to non-existent market failure,” reportedly argued Germany." (Politico)

#netneutrality #UnfairShare #NetworkFee #FairShare

#Vodafone Group, the global #telecoms corp with 2022 net profits of 2.6 billion EUR, fires 11,000 employees over the next 3 years.

Let me guess: next move is to tell the #EU #Commission that the telco industry is poor and under stress and requires direct payments from content providers. #UnfairShare #NetworkFee #NetNeutrality #Lobbying #FairShare

Sources: https://www.golem.de/news/quartalsbericht-vodafone-group-wird-11-000-arbeitsplaetze-streichen-2305-174219.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vodafone

Quartalsbericht: Vodafone Group wird 11.000 Arbeitsplätze streichen - Golem.de

Der neue Chefin der Vodafone Group räumt ein, dass die Leistung "nicht gut genug" war. Ihre Antwort sind Massenentlassungen.

It's crazy how the #telecoms industry literally *owns* the networks and yet constantly whines about how "we" are "falling short" of making them better.

It's *their* private networks, why should the public aka "we" do the investment? We already pay telcos monthly subscription fees for using them.

#UnfairShare #netneutrality #NetworkTax

"For over a decade now, European #telecommunication network operators have devoted their #lobbying efforts to trying to reclaim their former glory and reintroduce their #monopoly power."

https://techpolicy.press/why-is-the-european-commission-so-determined-to-ruin-the-open-internet/

Excellent write-up by @kkomaitis and @socialhack on #UnfairShare, #NetNeutrality and how an ex-telco CEO turned powerful Commissioner wants to remodel the internet.

Why is the European Commission So Determined to Ruin the Open Internet?

If there ever was a time for smart, better and fit for purpose regulation, it is now, say Konstantinos Komaitis and Thomas Lohninger.

Tech Policy Press

They say

“Never attribute to malice that which Is adequately explained by stupidity”

In EU policymaking, like #unfairshare,” #copyright and “#chatcontrol”, politicians maliciously choose ignorance. It isn’t malice or stupidity, it is both.
And fighting it is exhausting.