The document “Monitoring the Digital Economy & Society 2016-2021” is a narrative of main policy developments and outlines the main data requirements to monitor European digital policies, information and communication technologies as well as their impact on the economy and society in the period 2016-2021.

Some relevant issues:

The Digital Single Market Strategy is based on three pillars:

1.- Better access for consumers and businesses to online goods and services across Europe;

2.- Creating the right conditions for digital networks and services to flourish;

3.- Maximising the growth potential of the European Digital Economy.

The forthcoming actions under the three pillars will jointly address several issues to enable better access to goods and services, as well as content online. Assessment and removal of barriers to online trade, such as unjustified geo-blocking, stepped-up enforcement of consumer protection laws and simplification of the application of VAT regimes are some of the actions proposed.

Recent trends in the digitisation of businesses:

Cloud computing services;

3D printing;

Industrial and service robots;

Internet of Things (IoT);

Big Data Analytics.

Children are particularly vulnerable to online marketing practices and exposure to inappropriate content online, little information is available on the exposure of children to such practices and few measures to protect children online exist. Because of this lack of data it may be worthwhile to start monitoring children’s online activities and exposure to inappropriate content more systematically.

 

Full text:

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/new-monitoring-framework-digital-economy-and-society