UK joins states warning EU about excessive regulation of online platforms

The UK has joined 10 other European Union member states in writing an open letter to Andrus Ansip, European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, Computing reports.

In the letter, the states warn excessive regulation of online platforms risks harming the initiative.

The letter warns: 'The development of new digital technologies, behavioural patterns and business models is challenging the status quo and raising questions about how platforms function within the Digital Single Market.'

Over the implementation of the Commission's Digital Single Market policies, the signatories make several requests of Ansip. These requests include the following:

• 'Platforms should be primarily seen as an opportunity, not a threat
• Platforms are already subject to significant regulation
• Platforms must not be hampered by cumbersome regulation
• We can best support the development of European platforms in Europe by providing the right conditions for growth.'

Rather than inventing new laws, regulations and frameworks, the letter recommends the EU looks to existing regulatory frameworks to govern new technology platforms.

What's more, the signatories suggest industry self-regulation should be considered first, prior to formal EU-wide regulation.

The letter continued: 'We should avoid introducing legislation that might act as a barrier to the development of new digital business models and create obstacles to entry and growth in the European digital market.

'Such legislation might have an unintentionally damaging effect on the innovation, competitiveness and economic growth of the European digital industries.'

The other states involved in writing the open letter were the Czech Republic, Poland, Luxembourg, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria.