Digital Omnibus: Greens/EFA call for digital enforcement - not a blank cheque for Big Tech
On Wednesday, the European Commission will present its Digital Omnibus proposal, promoted as a simplification of EU digital rules. In reality, it risks reopening and weakening flagship achievements such as the GDPR, the AI Act and the Data Act, while echoing the deregulatory agenda of Big Tech.
Instead of creating uncertainty and loopholes, Europe should strengthen enforcement and provide clearer guidance through an independent Digital Enforcement Agency that can deliver coherent and effective expert oversight across digital spaces.
Greens/EFA MEP Kim van Sparrentak comments:
“It is disappointing to see the European Commission cave under the pressure of the Trump administration and Big Tech lobbies. By putting our digital acquis up for discussion the EU risks rolling out the red carpet to a business model based on stolen data, hype and zero regard for human rights or the planet. This model has nothing to do with competitiveness or innovation, this is about exploitation.
“If the EU really wants to be a front runner in innovation, we need to keep course and deliver on our promises: safe, privacy-friendly and energy-efficient technology, that’s what I call innovation. Real simplification is helping businesses with clearer guidance, clarity, helpdesks and consistent enforcement. Think of having one Digital Enforcement Agency for the largest companies or strategic investment in European technologies. For legal clarity, the upcoming Digital Fairness Act will provide a great opportunity to align rights and obligations in the digital acquis.
Greens/EFA and Pirate Party MEP Markéta Gregorová comments:
“The Digital Omnibus leak reveals that the Commission has been working on a much more far reaching plan that it had announced. Yet, the Commission is not planning to undertake an impact assessment. This raises serious doubts about its capacity to properly consider the implications for the enforcement of our fundamental rights.
“I am surprised and concerned that the GDPR is being reopened and weakened at its core, including on the definition of what personal data is. The potential changes that would allow greater flexibility for AI training are particularly troubling, as they could open the door to the use of personal and sensitive data without sufficient safeguards. Our fundamental rights must carry more weight than financial interests. The same applies to any attempt to weaken the current rules on cookies and integrity of our terminals, which rely on user consent as their cornerstone.”
