Digital society statistics at regional level

Data extracted in March 2024.

Planned article update: September 2025.

Highlights

In 2023, 6.0% of the EU population aged 16–74 had never used the internet. The highest regional share, at 17.3%, was recorded in Kentriki Elláda (Greece).

In 2023, 63.9% of the EU population aged 16–74 made use of internet banking. The Danish regions of Hovedstaden (the capital region) and Syddanmark recorded the highest regional shares within the EU, at 97.1%.

Source: Eurostat (isoc_r_iuse_i) and (tin00093)

Among other purposes, people use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to work, study, keep abreast of news, communicate, be entertained, interact with public authorities, pay bills or shop online. ICT innovations also provide new business opportunities. To benefit from technological innovations, people and businesses need fast and reliable internet access. However, using the internet can be challenging for some people, for example because of poor access or a lack of skills, creating a ‘digital divide’.

More about the data: survey on the use of ICT in households and by individuals

Household surveys to collect data on ICT usage are usually conducted during the 2nd quarter of each year, although the precise date can vary between EU countries. In general, the data presented in this chapter usually refer to the 1st quarter of the reference year and they concern activities carried out by people during the 3 months prior to the survey.

Most of the statistics presented below cover people aged 16–74, although the 1st section covers household internet access.

The data are generally presented for NUTS level 2 regions. Exceptions are Germany, Greece and Türkiye (where the data refer to NUTS level 1 regions) and Croatia, Norway and Albania (where national data are presented).

When making comparisons over time – Figures 1 to 4 compare the situation in 2023 with that in 2018 – there are breaks in series for the EU, Germany and Ireland in 2021.

The infographic above shows that, in 2023, 6.0% of people aged 16–74 in the EU had never used the internet. There may be several reasons why some people don’t use the internet, including a lack of skills, opportunities, interest or cost. Among NUTS level 2 regions, the Greek region of Kentriki Elláda had the highest share of people never having used the internet (17.3%). The next highest shares – in the range of 16.2–16.7% – were recorded in Severozapaden (Bulgaria), Guyane (France), Calabria (Italy) and Norte (Portugal). By contrast, at the other end of the range, less than 0.5% of the population had never used the internet in 4 Dutch regions, 3 Swedish regions, 2 Danish regions and Luxembourg.

Full article

Households with access to the internet

Internet access comes in a variety of forms

broadband access includes cable and fibre-optic connections that deliver high-speed internet through traditional infrastructure
wireless access includes options like Wi-Fi and mobile broadband that are generally accessed via routers or cellular networks
satellite internet reaches remote areas and offers connectivity when other technological options are limited.

In 2023, more than 99.0% of households had access to the internet at home in Luxembourg and in 5 Dutch regions

In 2023, the share of EU households connected to the internet was 93.1%. Across the EU, households in rural areas were less likely to have internet access (90.5% in 2023) than households that were in towns and suburbs (92.7%) or in cities (94.9%). For the purpose of this publication, internet access doesn’t refer to ‘connectability’ (can a connection be provided in the household’s street or local area), but rather to whether anyone in the household is able to use the internet at home if so desired (‘connectivity’).

Map 1 shows the regional distribution of households with access to the internet at home. These data have considerable importance when considering the remainder of the information in this chapter: relatively low levels of internet access will restrict the share of people accessing the internet and making use of a range of internet activities.

In 2023, the highest regional shares of households with access to the internet were concentrated in the Benelux and Nordic countries, Spain, (western) Hungary and several regions of Austria, as well as many capital regions. Overall, there were 63 NUTS level 2 regions in the EU where the share of households with access to the internet was at least 95% (as shown by the 2 darkest shades of blue in Map 1).

The 4 regions with the highest shares of households with access to the internet in 2023 were all located in the Netherlands: Utrecht (99.5%), Drenthe (99.4%), the capital region of Noord-Holland (also 99.4%) and Overijssel (99.2%). The top 10 regions also included Luxembourg (99.1%) and Prov. Vlaams-Brabant in Belgium (98.7%), as well as 4 more Dutch regions.

Overall, there were 35 regions in the EU where the share of households with access to the internet at home was less than 90% in 2023 (as shown by the 2 lightest shades in Map 1). The lowest shares were concentrated in France (6 regions), Bulgaria, Germany, Italy (5 regions in each), Portugal (4 regions) and Greece (3 regions). The French outermost region of Guyane was the only region in the EU to report that fewer than 4 out of 5 households had access to the internet at home (77.1%).

As well as showing those regions that had the highest and lowest shares of households with access to the internet, Figure 1 also provides information about those regions that experienced the biggest and smallest changes compared with 2018. The proportion of EU households connected to the internet had been 87.9% in 2018. This share rose 5.2 percentage points during the most recent 5-year period for which data are available, such that 93.1% of households had internet access at home in 2023.

The share of households with access to the internet at home increased 22.6 percentage points between 2018 (65.7%) and 2023 (88.3%) in the French outermost region of Guadeloupe – the largest increase among EU regions. Relatively large gains were also made in 3 Bulgarian regions – Yugozapaden, Yugoiztochen and Severozapaden – as their shares rose between 17.4 and 17.6 points during the same period.

By contrast, there were 19 regions in the EU where the share of households with access to the internet fell between 2018 and 2023. The biggest decreases were observed in German regions, with falls of at least 5.0 percentage points in Niedersachsen, Thüringen, Saarland, Bremen and Schleswig-Holstein (the latter had the biggest fall, down 10.4 points).

Figure 1: Households with access to the internet at home, 2023
(by NUTS 2 regions)
Source: Eurostat (isoc_r_iacc_h) and (isoc_ci_in_h)

Internet users

internet users are defined as people aged 16–74 using the internet: at home, at work, or elsewhere; for private or professional purposes, regardless of the device or the type of connection used.

More than 80% of people in the EU used the internet on a daily basis in 2023 – higher shares were recorded among the younger generations and people living in cities

In 2023, 85.9% of people in the EU reported that they had used the internet on a daily basis during the 3 months preceding the ICT survey. This share was 1.9 percentage points higher than in 2022, and 11.8 points higher than in 2018. The last few years have been characterised by slower growth in the share of people using the internet on a daily basis, as this indicator approaches saturation for many groups in society.

In the EU, internet use was particularly high among younger generations: 97.1% of people aged 16–24 used the internet daily in 2023. By contrast, the share for people aged 65–74 was 59.2%. In general, people living in rural areas were less likely to use the internet daily (80.3% in 2023) than those living in towns and suburbs (85.7%) or in cities (89.5%). Many rural areas have a higher proportion of older people, while some rural/remote areas face difficulties in accessing internet services, which may partly explain this digital divide.

In every region of the EU, more than 2 out of 3 people used the internet daily in 2023

Map 2 shows the share of people making daily use of the internet within each NUTS level 2 region. In 2023, there were clear disparities along broad geographical lines: northern and western regions generally recorded higher levels of daily internet use than southern or eastern regions. Regional shares of people using the internet daily were distributed evenly around the EU average (85.9%), insofar as there were 102 regions with a share above the average, while an identical number had a share that was below.

In 2023, the highest proportions of people using the internet every day were concentrated in the Netherlands. In fact, the 10 highest regional shares within the EU were all located in the Netherlands, with a peak of 99.0% in Flevoland. Outside of the Netherlands, the highest share of people using the internet on a daily basis was recorded in the Swedish capital region of Stockholm (97.0%).

In total, there were 14 regions in the EU where less than 75.0% of people used the internet on a daily basis in 2023 (they are shown with a yellow shade in Map 2). This group was composed of 5 regions from Poland, 4 regions from Bulgaria, 3 (island or outermost) regions of France, as well as a single region from each of Greece and Italy. The lowest proportion of people using the internet every day was registered in the southern Polish region of Świętokrzyskie (68.0%).

As well as showing those regions with the highest and lowest shares of daily internet users in 2023, Figure 2 also presents information for the overall change in the share of daily internet users between 2018 and 2023.

In 4 regions, the share of daily internet users rose by more than 30.0 percentage points between 2018 and 2023. Nord-Est in Romania had the highest increase in its proportion of daily internet users, up 36.9 percentage points to 81.6%. Increases upwards of 30.0 points were also observed for 3 more Romanian regions, namely, Sud-Est, Sud-Vest Oltenia and Centru.
The share of daily internet users fell in 8 regions across the EU. The largest declines were recorded in Bremen and Rheinland-Pfalz in Germany, as well as Guyane, Haute-Normandie and Picardie in France.

Figure 2: Daily internet users, 2023
(people aged 16–74 during the 3 months preceding the survey, by NUTS 2 regions)
Source: Eurostat (isoc_r_iuse_i) and (isoc_ci_ifp_fu)

Activities on the internet

The frequency with which people use the internet has grown substantially with the prolific use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Furthermore, the range of (different) activities conducted over the internet has rapidly evolved. Some of the most popular activities on the internet include

education and skills development
working
accessing information
entertainment
communicating with family and friends
interacting with government services
online shopping (e-commerce).

Participation in social networks

Social networks are online platforms that enable individuals to connect, interact, and share content with others. Some of the most popular networks include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat or X (formerly Twitter). These platforms typically allow users to create personal profiles, share photos and videos, and communicate with others through messaging, comments or other forms of interaction.

In 2023, almost 60% of the EU’s population used social networks

In 2017, 51.8% of the EU’s population aged 16–74 used social networks during the 3 months preceding the ICT survey; this was the 1st time that a majority of the EU population used social networks. Participation in social networks grew thereafter and, despite a small fall in 2021, the share reached 59.3% by 2023.

Social networks are among the most popular activities on the internet for young people aged 16–24. In 2023, the share of young people using social networks across the EU was 3.2 times as high as the share recorded for older people aged 65–74. However, during recent years there was a fall in the proportion of young people who used social networks. Their share fell 3.6 percentage points from a peak of 87.0% in 2018 to 83.4% by 2023. During the same period, the proportion of older people using social networks increased each year, their share rising 9.1 points from 16.9% in 2018 to 26.1% by 2023.

In 2023, around 9 in 10 people used social networks in every region of Denmark

Map 3 shows the regional distribution of people aged 16–74 using social networks. In 2023, the highest rates were concentrated in Denmark and Hungary: between 88.6% and 92.8% of the population used social networks in all 5 Danish regions; at least 80.0% of the population used social networks in 7 out of 8 Hungarian regions – the exception being Észak-Alföld. There were 5 more regions in the EU where at least 80.0% of the population participated in social networks

Flevoland in the Netherlands
the capital regions of Helsinki-Uusimaa (Finland) and Bucureşti-Ilfov (Romania)
Cyprus
Etelä-Suomi (also in Finland).

At the other end of the distribution, there were 37 regions across the EU where less than 50.0% of the population used social networks in 2023. Among these, a group of 20 reported shares that were less than 45.0% (they are shown with a yellow shade in Map 3). These 20 regions were located exclusively in Germany and France. In the latter, the lowest proportions of people using social networks were recorded in the outermost regions of Guadeloupe (30.0%), Martinique (29.2%) and Guyane (22.2%). Within Germany, the lowest proportions were recorded in the 3 neighbouring regions of Thüringen (38.1%), Brandenburg (35.7%) and Sachsen-Anhalt (35.1%).

Between 2018 and 2023, the share of people using social networks rose in 154 out of 196 EU regions for which data are available; Figure 3 shows where the biggest and smallest changes took place. The largest increases were recorded in the Nord-Est region of Romania (up 21.2 percentage points) and the Greek region of Nisia Aigaiou, Kriti (up 20.4 points), followed by 3 regions in Hungary where the share of people using social networks rose by 18.5 to 19.0 points.

At the other end of the range, there were 42 regions across the EU where the proportion of people participating in social networks fell between 2018 and 2023. The biggest fall was observed in the French outermost region of Guyane (down 25.0 percentage points) and there were 6 other regions that registered double-digit falls

4 of these were located in Germany – Rheinland-Pfalz, Sachsen-Anhalt, Thüringen and Bremen
they were joined by the eastern Belgian region of Prov. Liège and the northern French region of Haute-Normandie.

Figure 3: People participating in social networks, 2023
(people aged 16–74 during the 3 months preceding the survey, by NUTS 2 regions)
Source: Eurostat (isoc_r_iuse_i) and (isoc_ci_ac_i)

Internet banking

In recent years, one of the main developments within the EU’s banking sector has been an expansion of online services. The frequency with which consumers visit their local branch has fallen rapidly, the number of branches has contracted, and online transfers and e-payments have become the norm. Internet banking eliminates the overheads associated with running local branches and may often be more convenient for consumers as transactions and other banking activities can be carried out at any time of day and from almost any location. While internet banking offers numerous advantages, it also presents a range of challenges and potential issues, including

accessibility issues
security and privacy concerns
technical interruptions of services.

Almost 2 out of 3 people in the EU made use of internet banking in 2023

In 2023, 63.9% of the EU’s population aged 16–74 used the internet for banking during the 3 months preceding the ICT survey. As with most internet activities, there were some quite large differences in the use of internet banking across different age groups. Some young people don’t (yet) have a bank account and therefore, by definition, have no need for internet banking. However, the share of the EU’s adult population making use of the internet for banking rises quickly with age and peaked at 78.0% among people aged 25–29. By contrast, 41.1% of people aged 65–74 used internet banking.

Across NUTS level 2 regions, Map 4 shows the proportion of people aged 16–74 using internet banking during the 3 months preceding the ICT survey. In 2023, more than 90.0% of the population made use of internet banking in every region of Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland. Relatively high shares of people using internet banking were also recorded across Sweden, as well as in a majority of regions in Flanders (Belgium), the Baltic countries and Ireland. Internet banking was also widespread in several capital regions where its share was atypically high compared with neighbouring regions: this was the case, for example, in Praha (Czechia), Budapest (Hungary) and Wien (Austria).

At the other end of the range, the share of the population using internet banking in 2023 was relatively low in several eastern and southern regions of the EU; the lowest shares were concentrated in Bulgaria, Romania and southern Italy.

In 2023, the highest shares of internet banking were recorded in Denmark

A more detailed investigation of the latest information shown in Map 4 reveals the highest proportions of people making use of internet banking in 2023 were recorded in Denmark. The highest shares (97.1%) were observed in the capital region of Hovedstaden and in Syddanmark, while Midtjylland (96.9%) had the 3rd highest share in the EU.

By contrast, there were 3 EU regions where, in 2023, the proportion of people using internet banking was below 15.0%; the Bulgarian regions of Yuzhen tsentralen (13.7%) and Severozapaden (14.7%), as well as the Romanian region of Sud-Vest Oltenia (14.4%). Outside of Bulgaria and Romania, some of the lowest penetration rates for online banking were recorded in regions characterised by a low level of internet connectivity and/or an older population age structure. For example, less than 40.0% of people from the southern Italian regions of Calabria, Campania, Sicilia, Basilicata and Puglia made use of internet banking in 2023.

There was an increase in the use of internet banking across the EU between 2018 and 2023, as the share rose from 51.4% to 63.9% (up 12.4 percentage points). During this 5-year period, the proportion of people making use of internet banking increased in the vast majority of EU regions (182 out of 196), often a relatively fast pace. There were 126 regions that recorded double-digit increases during this period, with 48 of these reporting growth of more than 20.0 percentage points.

In Cyprus, the share of people making use of internet banking more than doubled from 33.3% in 2018 to 70.9% in 2023 (up 37.6 percentage points). This was the largest increase recorded across EU regions (see Figure 4), while the take-up of internet banking also increased at a rapid pace for most regions of Ireland, Greece, Spain and Hungary. By contrast, there were 14 regions in the EU where the penetration of online banking declined between 2018 and 2023. The largest falls were mainly concentrated in Germany, while the other regions with falling shares were located in France and Sweden.

Figure 4: People using internet banking, 2023
(people aged 16–74 during the 3 months preceding the survey, by NUTS 2 regions)
Source: Eurostat (isoc_r_iuse_i) and (isoc_ci_ac_i)

E-commerce

E-commerce has the potential to make it easier for consumers to compare different retail offers. It can reconfigure the geography of consumption, for example, extending consumer choice and influencing price competition, not least in relatively remote regions of the EU. At the same time, e-commerce can transfer the time and cost burden of travelling to shops from consumers to distributors.

More about the data: selling goods or services online

For statistical purposes, selling goods or services online doesn’t require an electronic payment transaction. In other words, while the transaction is carried out online, the payment and/or delivery can take place offline. The selling goods or services online doesn’t cover the situation where someone simply places an advertisement on a website, for example to sell a 2nd hand bicycle or a spare ticket for an event, as these transactions aren’t generally concluded online in an automated manner. It does, however, encompass the selling of services (for example, babysitting, handymen services, gardening, or beauty services) via online marketplaces/platforms such as Facebook Marketplace.

People selling goods or services online

Approximately 1 in 5 of the EU’s population sold goods or services over the internet in 2023

In 2023, 19.9% of the EU’s population aged 16–74 reported that they had sold goods or services over the internet in the 3 months preceding the ICT survey. Younger people were generally more likely (than older people) to sell goods or services online. For example, 28.7% of people aged 25–34 used the internet to sell goods/services, which was 3.9 times as high as the corresponding share (7.4%) recorded for people aged 65–74.

Map 5 shows the regional distribution – at NUTS level 2 – of people selling goods or services online. Regional shares were distributed relatively evenly insofar as there were 97 regions with shares equal to or above the EU average (19.9%), compared with 109 regions with shares below the EU average.

At the upper end of the distribution, there were 20 regions in the EU where, in 2023, more than 35.0% of people sold goods or services over the internet (as shown by the darkest shade of blue in Map 5). This group of 20 regions was concentrated in the Netherlands (11 out of the 12 Dutch regions; Flevoland was the only exception), while the remainder of the group was composed of

3 regions from Hungary, including the capital region of Budapest
2 other capital regions – Bratislavský kraj (Slovakia) and Helsinki-Uusimaa (Finland)
Prov. Brabant Wallon (Belgium), Midtjylland (Denmark), Corse (France; low reliability) and Malta.

In 2023, the highest proportion of people selling goods or services online was recorded in the Dutch capital region of Noord-Holland (44.5%). It was followed by 5 other Dutch regions – Limburg, Groningen, Overijssel, Drenthe and Friesland – with shares in the range of 42.3 to 43.4%. Outside of the Netherlands, the Hungarian capital region of Budapest had the highest share of people selling goods or services online (41.7%).

In total, there were 15 regions in the EU where less than 7.5% of the population sold goods or services online in 2023 (they are shown with a yellow shade in Map 5). This group was primarily concentrated in south-eastern Europe: it was composed of 5 regions from Romania, 4 regions from Greece and 3 regions from Bulgaria, as well as 2 Polish regions and a single (autonomous) region from Spain. The lowest proportion of people selling goods or services online was registered in the Vest region of Romania (2.5%).

People ordering goods or services over the internet for private use

More about the data: defining e-commerce

For statistical purposes, e-commerce is defined as ‘buying goods or services through electronic transactions, including the placing of orders for goods or services over the internet; payment and the ultimate delivery of the goods or service may be conducted either online or offline. Orders via manually typed e-mails are excluded’.

In 2023, 58.1% of people aged 16–74 in the EU reported that they had bought/ordered goods or services over the internet in the 3 months preceding the ICT survey. As with many other internet activities, the propensity to make use of e-commerce is closely linked to age. For example, 74.4% of people aged 25–34 used the internet to buy/order goods or services; this was 2.5 times as high as the corresponding share (29.7%) recorded for people aged 65–74. Across the EU, the share of people reporting that they had bought/ordered goods or services over the internet was higher among those living in cities (61.9%) than it was for people living in rural areas (53.9%).

The share of people using the internet to buy/order goods or services in the 3 months preceding the ICT survey was higher than the EU average (58.1%) for every region of Czechia, Denmark, Ireland, France (except the outermost regions), the Netherlands, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden; this was also the case in Estonia, Luxembourg and Malta. By contrast, the share of the population making use of e-commerce was below the EU average for every region of Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia; this was also the case in Croatia (national data), Cyprus and Latvia.

Almost 9 out of 10 people in the Dutch region of Utrecht bought/ordered goods or services over the internet in 2023

In 2023, there were 21 EU regions where at least 80.0% of people aged 16–74 had bought/ordered goods or services over the internet in the 3 months preceding the ICT survey (as shown by the darkest shade of blue in Map 6). Those regions characterised by a high propensity to use e-commerce were primarily concentrated in the Netherlands (11 regions), Sweden (4 regions) and Denmark (3 regions); this group was completed by 2 regions from Ireland (including the capital region of Eastern and Midland) and a single region from Czechia (the capital region of Praha). At the top end of the distribution, the regions with the highest shares of people buying/ordering goods or services over the internet were all located in the Netherlands – Overijssel (85.9%), Noord-Holland (86.4%) and Utrecht (87.8%).

By contrast, there were 20 regions in the EU where less than 35.0% of the population bought/ordered goods or services over the internet in 2023 (they are shown with a yellow shade in Map 6). These regions were concentrated in eastern and southern regions of the EU – across Romania, Bulgaria and (southern) Italy – but also included 3 outermost regions of France and a single region in Poland. At the bottom end of the distribution, there were only 2 regions in the EU where fewer than 1 in 5 people made use of e-commerce – the Bulgarian region of Yugoiztochen (19.8%) and the French outermost region of Guadeloupe (18.7%).

Source data for figures and maps

Digital society at regional level

Data sources

European ICT surveys provide timely statistics on individuals, households and enterprises relating to their use of ICTs. Many of these statistics are used in the benchmarking framework associated with the European Commission’s 6 priorities for the period 2019–24: A Europe fit for the digital age. This strategy is built on 3 pillars: i) technology that works for people ii) a fair and competitive digital economy and iii) an open, democratic and sustainable society.

The data in this chapter are based on an annual survey on ICT usage in households and by individuals. The legal basis for the 2023 survey is Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common framework for European statistics relating to persons and households, based on data at individual level collected from samples. In this fast-changing environment, this framework is implemented through a series of annual regulations that specify the detailed information to be collected, making it possible for the survey to be tailored to developments so that policymakers can have access to data that measure the impact of new technologies and services. For 2023, the survey was implemented by Regulation (EU) 2022/1399 and supplemented by Regulation (EU) 2022/2279.

The statistical units for regional data on ICTs are households or individuals. The population of households consists of all households having members in the age group of 16–74. The population of individuals consists of all people aged 16–74. Questions on access to ICTs are addressed to households, while questions on the use of ICTs are answered by individuals within a household. The information presented (and the underlying database) are organised according to survey years; the results presented refer to individuals’ experiences generally during the 3 months (but sometimes during the 12 months) prior to a survey.

Regional statistics on ICT are generally available for NUTS level 2 regions. However, the latest data for Germany and Greece are only provided for NUTS level 1 regions; a similar situation exists for Türkiye. The latest information for Croatia concerns national data; a similar situation exists for Norway and Albania.

For reference year 2021, the implementation of a new legal basis for the collection of statistics on the digital society (the framework regulation for the production of European statistics on persons and households (Integrated European Social Statistics – IESS)) resulted in a considerable level shift from 1 year to the next in relation to the data provided by several EU countries (principally Belgium, Germany and Ireland); these breaks in series may impact comparisons over time.

Indicator definitions

Internet users

Internet users, in the context of information society statistics in the EU, are defined as people aged 16–74 making use of the internet in whatever way

whether at home, at work or from anywhere else
whether for private or professional purposes
regardless of the device or type of connection used.

Internet activities

People participating in social networks are people creating user profiles and posting messages or other contributions to websites and applications such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok or Twitter.

People using internet banking are people using online banking services either through a website or an app (application).

Selling goods or services online

The selling of goods or services online, for example via eBay, doesn’t require an electronic payment transaction. In other words, the transaction needs to be made online but the payment and/or delivery can take place offline.

Simply putting an advertisement on a website, for example to sell a 2nd hand bicycle or a spare ticket for an event, shouldn’t be considered as selling of goods or services online, as the transaction isn’t generally concluded online in an automated manner (but instead via a phone call or e-mail).

As regards the selling of online services, the data encompass the selling of services via platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or certain national platforms put in place to sell services (for example, babysitting, housework, house repairs, gardening, beauty services and so on). The use of platforms such as Airbnb or Uber should be considered only if these platforms are part of the collaborative economy (in other words, a marketplace where consumers rely on each other, rather than large companies, to meet their needs).

E-commerce

E-commerce can be defined generally as the sale or purchase of goods or services, whether between businesses, households, individuals or private organisations, through electronic transactions conducted via the internet or other computer-mediated (online communication) networks. The term covers the ordering over computer networks of goods and services, but the payment and the ultimate delivery of the good(s) or service(s) may be conducted either online or offline.

E-commerce by individuals or households via the internet is defined more specifically as the placing of orders for goods or services via the internet; orders via manually typed e-mails are excluded. Also included in the definition are

buying financial investments – such as shares
making reservations for accommodation and travel
participating in lotteries and betting
paying for information services from the internet
buying via online auctions.

Context

Access to ICTs may be considered as fundamental for improving productivity levels and the competitiveness of regions. As internet and digital technologies continue to transform the world, ICT innovations provide a stream of new business opportunities. This new digital world – encompassing concepts such as the internet of things and artificial intelligence (AI) – has the potential to provide tools that will automate real-world processes across a range of EU policy objectives in fields as diverse as health, security, climate, transport, energy, or the modernisation of the public sector.

Digital solutions can enrich our lives in many ways, but the benefits that potentially arise from digital technologies don’t come without risks. Some people no longer feel in control over what happens with their personal data and are increasingly overloaded by digital solicitations for their attention. Furthermore, malicious cyberactivity may threaten personal well-being or disrupt critical infrastructures and wider security interests, while there is increasing attention on the unregulated development of AI.

European Commission priorities

In 2019, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, described how she wanted the EU to grasp the opportunities presented by the digital age. Indeed, A Europe fit for the digital age is one of 6 Commission priorities for the period 2019–24. Such a digital transformation is based on the idea that digital technologies and solutions should

open up new opportunities for businesses
boost the development of trustworthy technology
foster an open and democratic society
enable a vibrant and sustainable economy
help fight climate change.

With this in mind, during February 2020 the European Commission adopted an overarching presentation of ideas and actions for Shaping Europe’s Digital Future, as well as specific proposals in relation to

A European strategy for data (COM(2020) 66 final), which seeks to promote the EU as a leading role model for a society empowered by data to make better decisions – in business and the public sector
a White Paper on Artificial Intelligence – A European approach to excellence and trust (COM(2020) 65 final).

Digital society and digital technologies bring with them new ways to learn, entertain, work, explore and fulfil ambitions. They also bring new freedoms and rights, as well as giving people living in the EU the opportunity to reach out beyond physical communities, geographical locations, and social positions. However, there are also challenges associated with this transformation. The EU seeks to increase its strategic autonomy in technology (for example, increasing resilience and its share of the global semiconductor market) and develop new rules and technologies to protect citizens from, among other threats, counterfeit products, cybertheft and disinformation.

The European data strategy aims to make the EU a leader in a data-driven society. The EU is creating a single market for data where data can flow within the EU and across sectors, for the benefit of all. This market will be based on European rules – in particular for privacy, data protection and competition law – ensuring that access to and the use of data are fair, practical and clear. By doing so, the EU aims to become an attractive, secure and dynamic data economy by

setting clear and fair rules on access and re-use of data
investing in next generation tools and infrastructures to store and process data
joining forces in European cloud capacity
pooling European data in key sectors, with common and interoperable data spaces
giving users rights, tools and skills to stay in full control of their data.

The Data Governance Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/868) entered into force on 23 June 2022. Its design supports the development of common European data spaces in strategic domains, involving both private and public players. Examples include in health, the environment, energy, agriculture, mobility, finance, manufacturing, public administration and skills. This initiative aims to make more data available and facilitate data sharing across sectors and EU countries to leverage the potential of data for the benefit of citizens and businesses. For example

good data management and data sharing will enable industries to develop innovative products and services
with more data available, the public sector can develop better policies, leading to more transparent governance and more efficient public services.

In January 2024, the Data Act (Regulation (EU) 2023/2854 of the European Parliament and of the Council on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data) entered into force. Its design promotes a fair distribution of the value of data by establishing clear and fair rules for accessing and using data in the European data economy – a necessity heightened by the growing prevalence of the internet of things. As a result, the design and manufacture of connected products should empower users (businesses or consumers) to access, use and share any generated data both easily and securely.

In March 2021, a European Commission communication Digital Compass: the European way for the Digital Decade (COM(2021) 118 final) set out the EU’s digital ambitions for the next decade in the form of clear, specific targets. The digital compass identifies a number of goals for the remainder of the decade

a digitally skilled population and highly skilled digital professionals
secure and sustainable digital infrastructures
the digital transformation of businesses
the digitisation of public services.

In January 2023, the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission proclaimed a European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade (2023/C 23/01). It is based around 6 key areas

putting people at the centre of the digital transformation
supporting solidarity and inclusion
ensuring the freedom of choice online
fostering participation in digital public spaces
increasing the safety, security and empowerment of individuals
promoting the sustainability of a digital future.

The Digital Markets Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/1925) and the Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065) entered into force in November 2022. The Digital Markets Act establishes a set of objective criteria for qualifying large online platforms as ‘gatekeepers’ (characterised by their strong economic or intermediation position). The act aims to ensure that these platforms behave in a fair way, for example

gatekeepers can no longer engage in self-preferencing on their platforms
users can delete pre-installed software from their devices and can download apps from alternative app stores
businesses can get free access to advertising data and can agree contracts outside of a gatekeeper platform
developers can use alternative payment or identification systems.

The Digital Services Act sets out new standards for the accountability of online platforms regarding illegal content, disinformation and other societal risks. It empowers and protects users by requiring online platforms to tackle illegal content and to increase accountability and transparency. The general obligations of the Digital Services Act apply to all online platforms since 17 February 2024. Very large online platforms or search engines reaching more than 45 million users a month are subject to more stringent rules. Designed as a single, uniform set of rules, the act (among other provisions)

creates stronger public oversight of online platforms (in particular, those that reach more than 10% of the EU’s population)
is designed to increase the mechanisms for the removal of illegal content and for the effective protection of users’ fundamental rights
provides measures to counter illegal goods, services or content online
introduces new obligations on the traceability of business users in online marketplaces
provides safeguards for users, including the possibility to challenge platforms’ content moderation decisions
bans certain type of targeted adverts
increases obligations for very large platforms and search engines to prevent the misuse of their systems.