On November 12, the European Parliament will examine Henna Virkkunen, the nominee for EU Commissioner for Digital Affairs. This evaluation comes as various civil society organizations, including the Internet Society, Chaos Computer Club (CCC), Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Epicenter.works, and European Digital Rights (EDRi), urge the Finnish nominee to take a firm stand against the proposed implementation of a data toll for internet giants.

Background and Concerns

The initiative for a 'cost-sharing' model, where big tech companies contribute financially to the expansion of internet infrastructure, has been championed by the EU Commission and certain member states. This idea, prominently endorsed by former Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, has been met with significant resistance. The concept has been discussed under various titles such as "Fair Share," "Network Fees," or "Sender Pays."

These civil society groups, through an open letter to Virkkunen, express concern over attempts to establish mandatory financial contributions from content and application providers to network operators. They argue that these proposals essentially serve the interests of a few large telecommunications entities at the expense of the broader internet ecosystem.

Advocacy for an Open Internet

Despite unfavorable consultation results, recent proposals link this cost-sharing model to a dispute resolution mechanism in the internet interconnection market. These drafts, rejected by EU regulators, aim to alter the internet's network model. Civil organizations contend such changes are unnecessary and potentially harmful to the global internet and its users.

The restructuring of the EU Commission presents an opportunity for Europe to abandon this discourse and reaffirm essential principles like net neutrality. The appeal to the upcoming Commission also includes reconsideration of core elements for a Digital Networks Act (DNA). Recommendations in this regard should be based on evidence and stakeholder input, emphasizing Europe's potential role in championing an open internet for all.

This article originally appeared on Heise Online.