Press releases

MEPs of the leading legal affairs committee today trimmed a proposal to make series, films or sport events available online if they are broadcast from another country. Now, the rules supported by the European Parliament would only make it possible for consumers to access news and current affairs programmes (for example a morning show) from a foreign broadcaster. The original European Commission proposal included all types of audiovisual content.

MEPs want consumers who buy an online game or who download a piece of software to benefit from consumer rights, such as terminating the contract or getting it repaired, if things go wrong. Such rights currently only exist when buying ‘tangible’ products for instance an umbrella or a hairdryer.

On 14 November, the Attorney General of the EU Court of Justice (CJEU) delivered his opinion on the collective action of Max Schrems against Facebook. Max Schrems, an Austrian citizen, has brought a case to court in Austria on behalf of 25,000 Austrian and foreign consumers to claim compensation from Facebook for violation of their privacy rights.

To stop microbes developing resistance to antibiotics, the EU must urgently adopt legislation to slash the use of antibiotics in farm animals. This is what the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) is calling for in its campaign to raise consumer awareness about the risks of antibiotic resistance on European Antibiotic Awareness Day (18 November).