Bundesnetzagentur secures transparency and fairness for business users in the digital economy
Year of issue 2024
Date of issue 2024.05.14
From today the Bundesnetzagentur will be working for the benefit of traders and other business users to ensure that digital services meet the requirements relating to transparency and fairness. Any companies affected can turn to the Bundesnetzagentur with their complaint. The first cases have already been reported.
"Under the new law, we can support companies that are dependent on platforms and other online services. We will ensure that the rules for business users from Germany are fair and transparent,"
said Klaus Müller, President of the Bundesnetzagentur. "Business customers who face discrimination because of non-transparent terms and conditions or ranking rules can turn to us."
European P2B Regulation protects business users of online services
Online services such as platforms and search engines have digitalised trading and today make a significant contribution towards making goods and services available online to consumers. Small and medium-sized companies, in particular, are dependent as business customers on platforms as marketplaces. Clever product listings and rankings help to increase revenue. These online services play a decisive role as the interface between traders and consumers. The EU Regulation on promoting fairness and transparency for business users of online intermediation services (P2B Regulation) was introduced in 2020 to prevent this role from being abused.
The P2B Regulation lays down special transparency and information requirements for online services. For instance, services such as online marketplaces, booking portals, app stores and price comparison portals must inform users in advance of any changes to their terms and conditions and must clearly inform users about the main parameters determining ranking. They must also have an internal complaint-handling system for business users and must name two mediators for out-of-court dispute settlement.
Bundesnetzagentur enforces P2B Regulation
Under the German Digital Services Act (DDG), which has come into force today, the Bundesnetzagentur is responsible for enforcing the P2B Regulation in Germany.
The Bundesnetzagentur can initiate proceedings against providers infringing the Regulation. In the case of infringements, the Bundesnetzagentur is able to issue orders and impose fines of up to €300,000.
Support and information for business users
The Bundesnetzagentur has published information for business users about the rules in the P2B Regulation and about their rights at www.bundesnetzagentur.de/p2b (in German).
Complaints about potential infringements of the P2B Regulation can be reported to the Bundesnetzagentur using a form available online.
