NRW wants to regulate tech giant: SPD demands measures against monopolies!

NRW wants to regulate tech giant: SPD demands measures against monopolies!

Nordrhein-Westfalen, Deutschland - North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) takes a crucial step in the regulation of large technology groups. On June 5, the SPD will bring in an application in the state parliament that denounces the control of algorithms and the influence of the tech giants on freedom of expression. According to Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger , companies such as Meta and Alphabet have monopoly structures with over 85% market share in social media and 88% Search engines. NRW is referred to as the "media location number one in Germany" and is strongly affected by these developments.

In the application of SPD Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer, a “market share limit” of 30% is required to limit the power of platforms in political opinion formation. Tikok, whose use among German social media users is 42%, is highlighted as an example. Media Minister Nathanael Liminski (CDU) sees restrictive measures in the implementation of restrictive measures to use AI-based technologies to combat criminal content in social networks.

regulation of algorithms and tax obligations

In addition, the SPD demands that Tech Groups fully tax their profits generated in Germany in Germany. This claim is supported by Minister of Culture Weimer, who criticizes that the technology companies hardly pay taxes and invest too little in society. The use of the "Kivi" tool of the State Institute for Media, which is intended to support criminal prosecution, is also intensified.

experts, such as the Cologne media professor Martin Andree, emphasize the need to have users take the content and followers with them across platform boundaries in order to weaken the monopoly positions. This type of regulation is considered crucial across parties and as part of a larger trend towards digital self -determination.

digital transformation in NRW

NRW stands on the threshold of a comprehensive digital transformation that is viewed as a historical turning point in economic history. According to Economy NRW , the digital, data-based business world has already revolutionized various industries such as music and film. The focus has shifted from the end customer business to industrial B2B models in the past two decades.

The availability of data is crucial for digital activities, and NRW invests heavily in the infrastructure such as gigabit networks and cloud services. Initiatives such as KI.NRW and Blockchain.nrw aim to strengthen the economic sovereignty and drive innovative projects in cooperation with the municipalities and the economy.

The digital decade of Europe

The Europe-wide context is also relevant: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proclaimed the "digital decade" of Europe. This initiative, which defines a common plan with goals by 2030, includes important laws such as the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, which are intended to create comprehensive rules for tech giants. These laws are intended to promote a fairer competition and require large platforms that they act more transparently and take more responsibility for their content. It is expected that these regulations will also have a positive impact on the situation in NRW. According to Federal Center for Political Education , users must be provided with the merging of data.

While NRW is preparing for the implementation of its new regulations, developments at European level remain crucial. The digital transformation and the regulation of technologies will continue to remain central topics in the future.