Meta calls for UK gov’t to rethink plans to scrap EU laws

LONDON (AFP) — Meta is urging U.K. lawmakers considering legislation to scrap all retained European Union laws by 2024 to maintain some e-commerce rules to keep Britain globally competitive.

The U.K. government introduced legislation in September to amend, repeal or replace all EU laws automatically retained after Brexit by the end of next year.

“The Brexit Freedoms Bill will enable the U.K. government to remove years of burdensome EU regulation in favor of a more agile, home-grown regulatory approach that benefits people and businesses across the U.K.,” it said at the time.

In a newly disclosed letter to a committee of MPs scrutinizing the bill, the U.S. tech giant said it wanted to draw “attention to one key area of retained EU legislation that we believe may be affected.”

The California-based company, which has around 4,000 full-time staff in Britain, noted 2002 electronic commerce regulations based on an EU directive limit the liability of online platforms “that act as a mere conduit.”

“This framework… is critical to maintaining an online environment that enables a thriving and diverse technology sector to flourish in the U.K.,” Meta said.