Author: Jordan Maris

Statement on Apple’s DMA compliance plan and their impact on Progressive Web Apps.

Written on 29. February 2024.

For years, Progressive Web Apps have been providing developers with an easy, open way of creating apps that work across platforms, and can be published and shared independently. They were at the heart of Steve Job’s vision for the iPhone, but now it looks like Apple is turning its back on them. If Apple goes ahead with this change, it would be in flagrant violation of the spirit, and likely the word of the DMA. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident: Apple’s DMA “compliance” plan is full of examples of malicious compliance that benefit neither consumers...

The impact of the DMA on businesses: Apple & Match meetings

Written on 28. February 2024.

Enforcement of the Digital Markets Act is just weeks away, with changes that will put the brakes on anticompetitive practices by big tech “gatekeepers”, and guarantee fair competition for developers and free choice for users. Unfortunately, some gatekeepers are dragging their feet. In the last two weeks, I spoke to Apple about their deeply flawed DMA compliance plans, and to Match, the makers of Tinder, about how the law will impact them. Big tech companies own many of the apps we use every day, as well as the devices and software they run on. From Apple’s iPhone, Google’s Android,...

The Benefits of the Digital Markets Act

Written on 25. February 2024.

For years now, Big Tech companies have abused their power and market dominance to limit competition and force us into using their services, but it doesn’t have to be this way. On the 6th of March, a new EU law called the Digital Markets Act (DMA) will come into force, letting developers compete fairly, and giving citizens more choice, so what does it change for you? Why does Spotify cost more on iPhones? Why does Amazon hide cheaper options in favour of its own products? Why is it so hard to change my default browser on Windows? Why is YouTube slower on Firefox? Why do I need five...

Victory! The European Parliament’s Legal Affairs committee takes first steps towards ending unjustified geo-blocking!

Written on 24. October 2023.

PRESS RELEASE, 24 October 2023, Brussels By 11 votes to 10, the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs (JURI) committee approved MEP Karen Melchior’s report on the Geo-blocking Regulation. The report, which passed despite extensive lobbying by the audio-visual sector, calls for measures to ensure linguistic minorities and cross-border communities, as well as citizens who move permanently to another member-state, can still access culture in their native language. Its proposals should form the first steps in the proposed gradual abolishment of geo-blocking of audio-visual content, which is expected...

Fra Arabisk Forår til Efterårskup

Written on 12. September 2023.

Mark Rutte, Ursula von der Leyen, Kas Saed, and Giorgia Meloni, from left to right

Strasbourg 11. september 2023 Vi har brug for langsigtede investeringer i demokrati, retsstat og menneskerettigheder, hvis vi ønsker at sikre freden på Europas dørtrin til resten af verden. Ellers er der overhængende fare for, at vi bliver gidsler for uberegnelige despoter i slyngelstater, der udelukkende ønsker at gøre op med vores værdier og måder at leve på. Man kan udfordre de herskende diktatorer og deres sortsyn. Tænk tilbage på vinteren 2010/2011: Dengang lykkedes det den tunesiske befolkning at samle sig i frustrationerne over diktatoren Ben Ali. Han blev fjernet fra magten –...

AI Act: The European Parliament votes for safer AI and an end to Mass Surveillance

Written on 16. June 2023.

This week, the European Parliament adopted its position on the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI act). As Renew’s lead negotiator on the AI act in the JURI committee, I fought hard to protect citizens’ fundamental rights, and give businesses space and certainty to innovate. I’m very glad to announce that many of the things I fought for have made it into Parliament’s final position. Let’s take a look at what we achieved! The JURI Opinion The Legal Affairs Committee (JURI), where I was lead negotiator, finished its position on the Artificial Intelligence Act in September of last year. Since then...

CSAM – Scanning of end-to-end encrypted conversations and for unknown content and grooming is particularly problematic

Written on 23. May 2023.

First and foremost, it is essential to understand that the proposal for a regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse (CSAM / Chat Control) from the Commission, rather than aiding our fight against abuse, may inadvertently make it more challenging. Specifically, the scanning of end-to-end encrypted conversations and the pursuit of unknown content and grooming will prove ineffective in catching abusers. The Commission is acting like they can wave a magic “digital” wand and solve child abuse, but their proposal actually risks making it harder to catch abusers while...

You spoke, and we heard you: protecting open-source developers in the CRA and PLD

Written on 26. April 2023.

The Product Liability Directive and Cyber Resilience Act are two important EU laws that will impact how software is developed, but many in the open source community are worried about how these laws will affect them, and so am I; which is why I have proposed changes to protect the open source community and guarantee fair rules on liability and cybersecurity. Two weeks ago, the Python Software Foundation published an article expressing concern about issues they had found in two upcoming EU laws: the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), and the Product Liability Directive (PLD). Since the publication...

The European Digital Identity: Parliament’s final position

Written on 23. February 2023.

The European Digital Identity is a proposal that will allow EU citizens, residents and businesses to identify themselves, access digital services and digitally sign documents through a Digital ID and store and share “attributes” such as personal information, diplomas and licenses safely and easily using a Digital Wallet. It will provide inter-operability across the union; with signatures and attributes recognised in all member states, making it easier to work, study and travel around the Union. In 2022, I led negotiations on this law in the JURI Committee, with negotiations concluding in October...

The Data Act: preserving privacy and putting citizens in control

Written on 27. January 2023.

In recent years, we have seen an explosion in the development of “smart” and “connected” devices: from home appliances to industrial machines, and medical equipment to cars. The EU wants to make better use of this data to benefit the economy. I have been negotiating on behalf of Renew in the JURI committee, to make sure the Data Economy is fair, doesn’t harm businesses, puts citizens in control of their data, and prevents abuse of data, be it by governments or companies. On Tuesday 24 January, the JURI committee voted on our opinion on the data act after months of tough negotiations. In...

How will the Commission respond to a court ruling that makes it harder to investigate money laundering & tax evasion?

Written on 5. December 2022.

Last week, Russian Investigative Journalist Maria Pevchikh posted an excellent twitter thread concerning a recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union, and how it may help shady organisations — often controlled by Russian Oligarchs — hide or launder money in the European Union. 1/20 Dear friends, I need to draw your attention to something super bad and super important (and it doesn’t originate from Russia for once). Last week the EU has taken a shockingly stupid and damaging decision to close down national corporate registers of beneficial owners 🧵🧵🧵 pic.twitter.com/DA3kO7Enlh—...