A Digital Single Market

This chapter examines the challenges faced by the Digital Single Market initiative, notably hurdles such as payment services, geo-blocking, and cross-border parcel systems. The design and implications of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) fall into this period. The GDPR has evolved into one of the globally most influential EU regulations. The ePrivacy Regulation remains separate and is still awaiting adoption. The 2019 copyright Directive sought to update copyright laws for the digital era. Provisions addressing the liabilities of online platforms for user content sparked debates over upload filters and potential censorship. The Directive also introduced text and data mining exceptions, which are crucial for AI development. The revision of the Audio-Visual Media Service Directive expanded regulations to video-sharing platforms, attempting to stay relevant in a rapidly converging media landscape. A Directive about ancillary audio-visual services extended the ‘country of origin’ provision to certain online transmission channels. The European Electronic Communications Code integrated separate Directives into comprehensive legislation. It tried to balance competition with investment incentives. However, its effectiveness in achieving a harmonised market and efficient spectrum allocation for 5G did not fully materialise. The journey of the Digital Single Market from consultation to legislative outcomes underscores the EU’s intricate process in navigating national traditions and hesitations among member states to cede power to the EU level.