The European Commission is gearing up to present the final section of it single digital market strategy. On Wednesday 25 April, it will publish several data-related proposals and on Thursday 26 April, several proposals relating to the platforms.
The package on data will include a communication on artificial intelligence, as well as a communication on e-health and a directive update on the reuse of information from the public sector. The communication on the artificial intelligence (AI) strategy will seek to encourage the development of this technology, while attempting to ensure that it does not lead to any abusive conduct in this regard (see EUROPE 11987). The draft text leaked to the press refers to a charter on the ethical chapter in AI at the beginning of 2019 and a report on the long-term implications relating to responsibilities in mid 2019.
The package on the platforms will include a draft regulation on unfair practices used by the platforms in business dealings (this involves the sensitive issue of the algorithms used by browsers) and a communication on misinformation. The draft regulation on the unfair practices of the platforms (known as 'platform to business') is expected to introduce a number of transparency criteria to recalibrate the relationship a platform develops with professional users, in addition to introducing online appeals mechanisms in the event of litigation (see EUROPE 11989).
The week will come to a spectacular close on Friday 27 April when the 2002 significant market power (SMP) guidelines are updated to introduce the concept of “joint dominance” to respond to specificities in Belgium and Netherlands. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)