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Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft (BVDW) e.V.

BVDW

BVDW represents German digital economy companies in legislative and regulatory affairs.

Lobbying Activity

German digital association opposes revision of EU media laws

19 Dec 2025
Topic — The European Commission is evaluating the current effectiveness of audiovisual media service rules.
Message — The association argues that current media laws are a proven foundation requiring no changes. They suggest using updated guidelines and better coordination instead of drafting new regulations. They emphasize avoiding regulatory overlaps with existing laws like the Digital Services Act.123
Why — This prevents new compliance costs and legal uncertainty from overlapping digital regulations.4
Impact — National regulators lose the power to enforce local standards on foreign digital platforms.5
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Meeting with Katarina Barley (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur for opinion)

18 Dec 2025 · Protecting minors online

BVDW Urges EU to Enforce Existing Digital Laws

24 Oct 2025
Topic — EU consultation on closing consumer protection gaps regarding online commercial practices.
Message — The BVDW argues there is no immediate need for new EU rules. They recommend focusing on the coherent enforcement of existing frameworks like the GDPR. The EU should prioritize simplification and clarification over new legislative layers.12
Why — Avoiding new rules prevents duplicative regulatory burdens and reduces high compliance costs.34
Impact — Consumers may remain exposed to manipulative practices due to fragmented legal definitions.56
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BVDW urges EU to slash digital red tape and costs

14 Oct 2025
Topic — EU initiative to simplify digital regulations and reduce business compliance costs.
Message — BVDW demands a shift toward data use opportunities. They want to remove burdensome cookie consent requirements. They request GDPR reforms to reduce administrative tasks.123
Why — This would lower operational expenses and provide legal clarity for digital business models.45
Impact — Privacy advocates and users may lose direct control over online tracking activities.6
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Response to European Innovation Act

2 Oct 2025

Der BVDW begrüßt den Fokus der Europäischen Kommission auf dem Thema der Innovation in unserer Wirtschaft und bedankt sich für die Möglichkeit Stellung nehmen zu können. Für weitere Details sehen Sie bitte das beigefügte Dokument.
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BVDW calls for simpler, more practical EU data strategy

16 Jul 2025
Topic — The consultation seeks feedback on updating the EU's data strategy for 2025-2030.
Message — The association requests a course correction focused on simplification, practical usability, and cross-sector coherence. They urge the Commission to let existing regulations take effect before introducing new rules.12
Why — Simplification and reduced reporting duties would lower compliance costs and legal uncertainty.34
Impact — National authorities would lose their ability to enforce specific local data protection rules.5
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BVDW urges EU to prioritize practical AI applications

4 Jun 2025
Topic — This strategy aims to accelerate industrial AI adoption and improve public services.
Message — The association wants Europe to focus on tailoring AI models to specific problems. They advocate for better data access and increased computing power for digital innovation. They call for simplified visa processes to attract more international digital experts.123
Why — Simplified rules and support would help members implement AI solutions more profitably.4
Impact — Developers of massive foundation models may lose priority over practical AI application firms.5
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Meeting with Svenja Hahn (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Jun 2025 · Exchange on current digital policies

Meeting with Egelyn Braun (Cabinet of Commissioner Michael McGrath)

3 Jun 2025 · Exchange of views on the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act

Meeting with Matthias Ecke (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Jun 2025 · Digitale Souveränität | Digitalwirtschaft

Meeting with Damian Boeselager (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Jun 2025 · Digitalisation of the EU / Innovation / Competitiveness

BVDW demands proportional technical rules for political advertisement labels

28 May 2025
Topic — The EU is defining technical formats for labels on political advertising.
Message — The BVDW calls for a proportional implementation that provides practical paths for firms. They demand clear responsibility across the advertising chain to provide legal certainty. The association also suggests avoiding redundant regulations already covered by existing laws.123
Why — This would lower compliance costs and protect investments in digital innovation and content.4
Impact — Small businesses face unsustainable financial burdens that could force them to stop advertising.5
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Meeting with Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Apr 2025 · GDPR

Meeting with Marco Giorello (Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and EuroCommerce and

4 Mar 2025 · Code of Conduct on Online Advertising – Workshop 1

Meeting with Rita Wezenbeek (Director Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and

11 Feb 2025 · Opening Session: DSA roundtable discussions on online advertising (Article 46 DSA)

German digital association urges regulatory pause for single market

31 Jan 2025
Topic — The consultation addresses barriers to the cross-border movement of services and goods.
Message — BVDW requests a pause on new regulations to focus on legal certainty and the practical alignment of existing laws. They advocate for a one-stop-shop approach and uniform technical standards to simplify cross-border data processing.123
Why — Unified enforcement and clear standards would reduce administrative costs and enable easier cross-border scaling.45
Impact — Law-abiding companies lose out when slow, inconsistent enforcement allows non-compliant actors to distort competition.67
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Meeting with Svenja Hahn (Member of the European Parliament) and Verband der Automobilindustrie and

24 Jan 2025 · Exchange on Green Claims

Meeting with Birgit Sippel (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Dec 2024 · LIBE priorities

German Digital Industry Urges Leaner DSA Reporting Rules

24 Jan 2024
Topic — The EU is establishing mandatory templates for Digital Services Act transparency reporting.
Message — BVDW demands that reporting requirements stay within the original law's scope and avoid unnecessary complexity. They suggest reducing content categories and extending the two-month preparation deadline.123
Why — Lowering required reporting detail would reduce compliance and administrative costs for companies.4
Impact — Platform users might face more burdensome procedures when flagging illegal online content.5
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German digital industry urges stricter deadlines and GDPR revision

1 Sept 2023
Topic — Rules to streamline cooperation between national data protection authorities in cross-border enforcement cases.
Message — BVDW requests mandatory maximum deadlines for all procedural stages to prevent delays. They also call for a full revision of the GDPR text to clarify rules on pseudonymized data and consent.12
Why — Standardized timelines and clearer definitions would provide companies with greater legal certainty and reduce bureaucracy.3
Impact — National data protection authorities lose their discretion to set individual timeframes for handling investigations.4
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Response to Virtual worlds, such as metaverse

2 May 2023

The German Association for the Digital Economy (BVDW) e.V. represents the interests of companies that operate data driven business models or whose value creation is based on the use and implementation of digital technologies. The basis for this economy is the intelligent combination of data and creativity with a simultaneous decisive orientation towards ethical principles. As the driving force, guide and accelerator of digital business models, BVDW represents the interests of the digital economy towards politics and society and aims for the creation of market transparency and framework conditions that encourage innovation. With figures, data and facts, its network of experts provides orientation for a central area of the future. The metaverse and Web3 as technological developments will revolutionize the Internet and how it has been used to date. Such far-reaching developments must be monitored by politics, the economy and society at an early stage to make them usable for everyone and to use them in a meaningful way. BVDW therefore calls on policymakers to address this development at an early stage and to assign responsibilities at an appropriate level. It is also important to identify how existing regulation can be applied and, if necessary, adjusted. BVDW stands for the principle: What applies offline also applies online and should therefore also apply in the metaverse. At the same time, BVDW calls on policymakers to enter into a dialog with the industry at an early stage in the development of standards. Existing initiatives from the private sector should be used as a reference in this context. Society must also be involved in the discussion at an early stage to create acceptance and discuss opportunities and risks together. The European Union should take a leading role in the establishment of this new technology and in doing so represent its values also internationally. Now is the time to set the right course for an open, inclusive technology that is committed to our values. Attached we share our entire position paper.
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German digital industry urges faster, harmonized GDPR enforcement

23 Mar 2023
Topic — Harmonizing administrative procedures for data protection authorities in cross-border GDPR enforcement cases.
Message — The organization requests shorter processing times through concrete procedural deadlines. They also urge for increased transparency and optimization of coherence mechanisms.12
Why — These improvements would provide legal certainty and establish a level playing field for businesses.34
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Response to Requirements for Artificial Intelligence

6 Aug 2021

Der Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft (BVDW) e.V. ist die Interessenvertretung für Unternehmen, die digitale Geschäftsmodelle betreiben oder deren Wertschöpfung auf dem Einsatz digitaler Technologien beruht. Als Impulsgeber, Wegweiser und Beschleuniger digitaler Geschäftsmodelle vertritt der BVDW die Interessen der digitalen Wirtschaft gegenüber Politik und Gesellschaft und setzt sich für die Schaffung von Markttransparenz und innovationsfreundlichen Rahmenbedingungen ein. Sein Netzwerk von Experten liefert mit Zahlen, Daten und Fakten Orientierung zu einem zentralen Zukunftsfeld. Der BVDW bedankt sich für die Möglichkeit der Stellungnahme und fügt seine ausführliche Positionierung als separates Dokument bei. Besonders problematisch ist aus Sicht des BVDW: o die zu weit gefasste Definition von KI; o Rechtsunsicherheiten allgemein und insbesondere in Bezug auf Hochrisiko-KI; o die Vielzahl an Widersprüchen im Vorschlag insbesondere bei den Transparenzpflichten; o Die teils unverhältnismäßigen Anforderungen und die Bürokratie, die im Vorschlag mit einem hohen Bußgeld einhergehen. Eine innovationsfreundliche und vertrauensvolle „KI made in Europe“ braucht aus Sicht des BVDW: 1. eindeutige Begriffsdefinitionen, klare Anwendungsgebiete und Rechtssicherheit; 2. Auswirkungsregulierung statt Technikregulierung; 3. Weniger bürokratischen Aufwand; 4. Eile bei den technischen Spezifikationen;
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Response to Digital Services Act: deepening the Internal Market and clarifying responsibilities for digital services

30 Mar 2021

Am 15. Dezember 2020 hat die EU-Kommission ihr Digital Services Paket mit einer Verordnung über digitale Dienste (Digital Services Act) und einer Verordnung über digitale Märkte (Digital Markets Act) vorgelegt. Zunächst ist festzuhalten, dass die digitale Wirtschaft in den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten seit Inkrafttreten der E-Commerce Richtlinie viele Veränderungen durchlaufen hat. Die Märkte entwickeln sich schnell und stetig weiter, genauso wie die Geschäftsmodelle. Eines bleibt jedoch gleich, die Nutzung digitaler Dienste und insbesondere digitaler Plattformen wächst und jeder hat mittlerweile verstanden, dass Daten ein Schlüsselelement unserer wirtschaftlichen Zukunft sind. Durch die verstärkte Nutzung digitale Dienste erhöhen sich auch etwaige Risiken, die damit einhergehen können. Der BVDW findet den Schritt der EU-Kommission mit einem Digital Services Act insbesondere den Umgang mit illegalen Inhalten zu harmonisieren, richtig. Der Verband steht zudem vollkommen hinter dem Ziel der Gesetzgebung - der Fortentwicklung eines sicheren und offenen digitalen Raumes, der europäische Werte und die Nutzer digitaler Dienste in den Mittelpunkt stellt - und ist daran interessiert, die Ausgestaltung im Detail mit allen Stakeholdern zu erörtern, um eine zukunftsgerichtete, langfristige und ausgewogene Gesetzgebung zu etablieren. In dieser Stellungnahme möchten wir eine erste Analyse des Vorschlags teilen, behalten uns aber vor, noch weitere Anpassungen zu thematisieren, falls erforderlich. Die ausführliche BVDW Stellungnahme ist beigefügt.
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Response to Legislative framework for the governance of common European data spaces

31 Jul 2020

BVDW agrees that this initiative has the potential to tackle problems with a cross-sector relevance. General Elements 1) From data economy to algorithm economy- A Single Market for data should have in mind the current shift from a data economy towards a broader algorithmic economy and should therefore be designed in a way that a law framework is also expendable for a possible. 2) EU Algorithm Space for critical infrastructures. Algorithms are the first level derivative from this data space as well as arbitrary in its context and value. Of course, one would need to find a clear, transparent and safe framework that is voluntary for companies, as a lot of the algorithms fall within the boundaries of Trade Secrets. However, we do see a clear benefit for critical infrastructure (e.g. vaccines) to have a better cooperation. 3) From algorithm economy to intellectual property competition: Moreover, intangible assets such as intellectual property can be created from this shared data space. Therefore, not only the data should be thought in but also IP resulting from usage of the data, with application of machine learning techniques that are trained with this data as well as the knowledge from its contextualized usage. ● A sector-specific data infrastructure is a valuable goal from our point of view. A strong cooperation with the German Gaia-X project would be beneficial. ● Voluntary data sharing is key: Access to open data has a positive impact on the economy and society at large. This could be further encouraged, but we stress the need to make participation in the data spaces for companies voluntary, the access open to all players, and non-discriminating. ● We see the need to specify that the use of the shared data should be coupled to the European value set and fundamental rights. ● We see the need to focus on data held by public sector bodies first. ● We agree that standardization is a good way to respond to interoperability challenges around data sharing and data reuse. The work should take as a basis existing standard on data formats, models, etc. ● We suggest adding the element of data quality which is crucial and depending on multidimensional aspects such as time, context, refinement to just name some. As it is suggested to engage data reuse it is highly important to add quality control not just of the data but also of the contextualization. ● It is crucial to check the data quality through an independent perspective because as soon as an error is part of a database which is then reused can lead to exponential error amplification effects. Therefore, we suggest the development of an independent body that serves as a data quality test engine that is responsible for adequate usage of the data for specific and defined purposes. This should not limit any data-driven explorative or innovative approach. Instead it should help to increase data quality as well as determine error amplification effects that are data-driven as early as possible. There should be no data collection for the sole purpose of data collection. ● To ensure that the voluntary scheme for companies works, one could think of specific Data sharing incentive schemes such as a trust certificates for companies. ● Full coherence with the GDPR needs to be ensured. Objectives and Policy options: ● We agree that data held by the public sector should be usable for research and innovative uses, for common good research and data use for the society and economy at large by lowering transaction costs resulting from technical barriers. ● We generally support the suggestion of structural enablers for data-sharing for these purposes. We suggest however to specify competence profiles of these possible enablers as well as to clarify questions of transparency, data protection and objectivity as well as independence of them. Please find attached a file in which we provide specified feedback to likely economic, social and environmental impacts.
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Response to Report on the application of the General Data Protection Regulation

29 Apr 2020

Please find attached the Statement of the German Association for the Digital Economy (BVDW) e.V.
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