PRESS RELEASE: CTU will now oversee online platforms and search engines

Prague, 15 February 2023 – CTU will now oversee the online intermediary services and internet search engines. Today, the amendment to the Act No. 480/2004 Coll., on certain information society services, was approved by the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. Now, it needs to be signed by the President. The main objective of the amendment is to create a fairer environment and more equal conditions in the relationship between providers of online intermediary services and undertakings who use these services. This should also lead to a better functioning of the European digital market.

The amendment to the Act was made to adapt the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on promoting fairness and transparency for business users of online intermediary services, known as the "P2B Regulation".

Thanks to the amendment, smaller undertakings in particular will gain easier access to consumers through online intermediary services, more effective remedy and dispute resolution options with providers of these services. A competitive, fair and transparent online environment is also essential with regard to the conditions for consumers.

"The Office is ready for the new powers and sees them as a challenge to move forward towards the digital agenda. We have already established a new Specialized agenda supervision unit. Its initial task is mainly to set up the right procedures for dealing with specific initiatives of breaches of the law, then to carry out inspections on commercial conditions, investigate individual cases, publish decisions and, where appropriate, issue fines," said Marek Ebert, CTU Council Chair.

Press Unit
Czech Telecommunication Office
Tereza Meravá