European Commission wants an end to ‘online anarchy’ over election rules

The European Commission has published a package of measures to ensure online transparency around elections and to protect voters’ data. Among other things, they must curb foreign online interference.

The European Commission is encouraging Member States to cooperate on elections to quickly detect internet attacks, protect data and exchange information. Political organisations, such as parties, must be able to justify their expenditure on online advertising campaigns. They must also inform citizens about how the target groups they use to disseminate information have been determined, under penalty of national sanctions.

In addition, political organizations can be fined if they violate data protection rules to intentionally influence the outcome of the European elections. “Following the Cambridge Analytica case and more generally the increasing impact of highly targeted voter targeting based on their personal data, the Commission is reminding all those involved in the European elections of their data protection obligations,” it wrote. the Commision.

Furthermore, the Commission wants Member States, political parties and media to take measures to protect their networks and information systems against internet and computer threats. The proposal is to set up a network of knowledge centers on ICT security and to support the European industry with regard to that security.

The measures should, in the words of Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, ‘end the online anarchy over election rules’ and protect the electoral process online, including against foreign interference. The publication coincides with the 2018 State of the Union address of EU President Jean-Claude Juncker, which also includes measures against the online distribution of extremist content.