{"id":12179,"date":"2024-04-23T13:20:24","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T12:20:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/europe\/?p=12179"},"modified":"2026-01-05T10:09:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T10:09:44","slug":"ecta-etno-gsma-joint-statement-on-the-european-parliament-proposals-to-payment-services-regulation-after-the-plenary-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/europe\/general\/ecta-etno-gsma-joint-statement-on-the-european-parliament-proposals-to-payment-services-regulation-after-the-plenary-vote\/","title":{"rendered":"ECTA, ETNO & GSMA Joint Statement on the European Parliament proposals to payment services regulation after the plenary vote"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, the European Parliament voted on a report proposing amendments to the European Commission\u2019s proposal for a revised Payment Services Regulation.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The European telecommunications industry recognises the importance of revising payment service rules to improve consumer protection in electronic payments . We are keen to work closely with the banking sector to fight against impersonation fraud.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Therefore, we call policymakers to find a proportionate and workable solution by deepening cooperation between the two sectors without changing the liability regime.<\/strong><\/p>\n

To be effective in fighting impersonation fraud and safeguarding consumers the final text should strike the right balance and ensure that any additional obligations on telecommunications providers are aligned with what is legally and technically feasible.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The telecoms industry\u00a0supports the European Commission\u2019s proposal for closer cooperation between the\u00a0banking sector and telecommunications operators in the fight against impersonation fraud. While there are\u00a0numerous cooperation tools between the two sectors in several Member States, the industry is ready to\u00a0further enhance and develop such cooperation to effectively fight against impersonation fraud.<\/p>\n

We note with concern\u00a0that the European Parliament deviates from the concept of enhanced cooperation and\u00a0proposes a transfer of liability from the banking sector to the telecoms sector sector.<\/p>\n

This\u00a0is disproportionate and it raises serious reservations in so far as it conflicts with current technical and\u00a0legal constrains that govern the provision of electronic communications services according to EU legislative\u00a0provisions applicable to telecommunications operators (net neutrality, secrecy of communications,\u00a0prohibition of generalized network surveillance, technical controls workable on voice networks, etc.).<\/p>\n

To be effective in fighting\u00a0impersonation fraud and safeguarding consumers, the upcoming Regulation needs\u00a0to strike the right balance and duly consider the roles of the various players in the chain.<\/p>\n

It must be stressed that\u00a0telecommunications operators only have oversight of a very small part of the process\u00a0when impersonation fraud leads to financial fraud In fact, they are only carriers (mere conduits) of the\u00a0information to the recipient and do not have visibility or control over the contents of communications in the\u00a0same way that a postal man cannot be expected to police or be blamed for the content of letters they deliver,\u00a0nor is he legally authorized to open these letters to read their content). For example, operators are limited in\u00a0their ability to monitor the content of an SMS and to remove it from the customer\u2019s device once it is delivered.<\/p>\n

Considering\u00a0these concerns, we call on policy makers to adopt a proportionate and balanced approach in\u00a0the next phase of the legislative process.<\/p>\n

For more information please contact:<\/h5>\n\n
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