Author: Thomas Höppner
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Remember Section 19a GWB?
Five Years On: Big Hopes, Modest Results When the Bundeskartellamt was handed the world’s first bespoke competition toolkit against the largest digital platforms in January 2021, it was billed as a genuine breakthrough. Section 19a of the Act against Restraints of Competition (GWB) allows the authority to designate a company as being “of paramount significance…
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Digital Omnibus: What Would it Mean for Competition and Privacy in Advertising?
In November 2025, the European Commission (“Commission”) proposed a “Digital Omnibus” regulation to amend several EU legislations.[1] Although presented as a simplification exercise to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, the proposal revisits key provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the e-Privacy-Directive concerning the use of personal data, including for advertising purposes. The changes could…