Bitkom press release: Bitkom on the amendment of the NetzDG

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The Bundestag passed another amendment to the Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) ​​today, Thursday. Bitkom CEO Dr. Bernhard Rohleder explains:

"With this second amendment to the NetzDG, Germany is continuing its national special path and is moving further and further away from the other European states. At the same time, the NetzDG amendment goes far beyond its goal in its attempt to strengthen user rights.

The Digital Services Act is currently being discussed at taiwan gambling data EU level . It will soon introduce a uniform, harmonized procedure for dealing with illegal content - especially for the internal complaint management of online platforms. Instead of concentrating on designing these European rules for all providers, an overly complex national solution is once again being developed. In the digital world in particular, we need a uniform European internal market and not even more national fragmentation.

Furthermore, in an attempt to provide a uniform complaint procedure for users, the new so-called counter-representation procedure creates a bureaucratic monstrosity that is far removed from reality. In future, complaints about posts will be subject to a request for statements from those affected, which will be examined on a case-by-case basis and the decision will be justified individually - regardless of whether the reason for the complaint is regulated in the NetzDG or in the platform's house rules. In view of the high number of cases, this regulation creates an immense administrative burden. This is further exacerbated by the fact that not only hate speech and criminal content are reported, but also often statements covered by the right to freedom of expression that simply do not correspond to the personal opinion and political worldview of the complainant.