Database

Browse Database

GREECE

N/A

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Lack of adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Greece has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.
Coverage Horizontal

GREECE

Since August 2011, last amended in 2021

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator Restrictions on domain names
Law 4002/2011 on Amendment of the State Pension Legislation - Arrangements for Growth and Fiscal Consolidation - Issues of Responsibility of the Ministries of Finance, Culture and Tourism, and Labour and Social Security (Νόμος 4002/2011 Τροποποίηση της συνταξιοδοτικής νομοθεσίας του Δημοσίου - Ρυθμίσεις για την ανάπτυξη και τη δημοσιονομική εξυγίανση - Θέματα αρμοδιότητας Υπουργείων Οικονομικών, Πολιτισμού και Τουρισμού και Εργασίας και Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης)
Art. 46 of Law 4002/2011 requires that gambling sites operating in Greece have a ".gr" domain name.
Coverage Gambling sector

GREECE

Since June 2014
Since November 1994

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator Framework for consumer protection applicable to online commerce
Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU

Law No. 2251/1994 on the Protection of Consumers (Νομος υπ' αριθ 2251/1994 Προστασία των καταναλωτών)
The Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU provides an updated framework aimed at encouraging online sales. The Directive has been implemented by Law 2251/1994 on the Protection of Consumers. The law contains provisions about terms of contract, distance selling, liability, and unfair trade practices, among other things.
Coverage Horizontal

GREECE

Since March 2010, entry into force in May 2010, last amended in 2018
Since February 2021

Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Local content requirements (LCRs) on ICT goods for the commercial market
EU Directive on Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS)

Law No. 4779 of 20 February 2021 (ΝΟΜΟΣ 4779 της 20ης Φεβρουαρίου 2021)
The EU Directive on Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) covers traditional broadcasting services as well as audiovisual media services provided on-demand, including via the Internet. Art. 13.1 provides for Member States to secure a minimum 30% share of European works in the catalogues as well as "ensuring prominence" of those works. "Prominence" involves promoting European works by facilitating access to such works using any appropriate means to ensure their prominence. The Directive has been implemented by Member States in different ways, ranging from very extensive and detailed measures to a mere reference to the general obligation to promote European works.
In Greece, the EU Directive was transposed into domestic law through Law 4779 of 20 February 2021. According to Art. 17 of the law, providers of on-demand audiovisual media services must ensure that at least 30% of the works in their catalogues are European and that these works are given prominence. These providers are required to report to the National Audiovisual and Communications Center (EKOME SA) each June on their compliance with these obligations for the previous year. Additionally, audiovisual service providers located in other Member States that offer services to consumers in Greece must annually contribute an amount equal to 1.5% of their turnover related to their activities in Greece. This amount is designated for the production of Greek audiovisual works, the purchasing of licenses for Greek audiovisual works that have not yet been distributed, or it may be paid to EKOME SA for funding Greek productions.
Coverage On-demand audiovisual services

GREECE

Since 2006
In April 2014
Since February 2011, last amended in 2013

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Local storage requirement
Data Retention Directive 2006/24/EC

Judgment European Court of Justice in Joined Cases C-293/12 and C-594/12 Digital Rights Ireland and Seitlinger and Others

Law No. 3917/2011 on Preservation of Data Generated or Processed in Connection with the Provision of Publicly Available Electronic Communications Services or Public Communications Networks, Use of Surveillance Systems for the Reception or Recording of Audio or Video in Public Places and Related Devices (Νόμος Υπ’ Αριθ. 3917 Διατήρηση δεδομένων που παράγονται ή υποβάλλονται σε επεξεργασία σε συνάρτηση με την παροχή διαθέσιμων στο κοινό υπηρεσιών ηλεκτρονικών επικοινωνιών ή δημόσιων δικτύων επικοινωνιών, χρήση συστημάτων επιτήρησης με τη λήψη ή καταγραφή ήχου ή εικόνας σε δημόσιους χώρους και συναφείς διατάξεις.)
Under the EU Directive on Data Retention, operators were required to retain certain categories of traffic and location data (excluding the content of those communications) for a period between six months and two years and to make them available, on request, to law enforcement authorities for the purposes of investigating, detecting and prosecuting serious crime and terrorism. On 8 April 2014, the Court of Justice of the European Union declared the Directive invalid. However, not all national laws that implemented the Directive have been overturned. The Greek law implementing the Directive is still in place. Art. 6 of Law 3917/2011 goes even further in the implementation of the Data Retention Directive by requiring that retained data on ‘traffic and localisation’ stay ‘within the premises of the Hellenic territory.’
Coverage Telecommunication services or public communication networks
Sources

GREECE

Since August 2011, last amended in October 2019

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Local storage requirement
Law No. 4002/2011 (Νόμος 4002/2011)
Art. 47.5 of Law No. 4002/2011 requires that data relating to the conduct of online gambling, as well as data exchanged between a player, licensee, internet service provider and financial institutions relating to such games, are stored in servers located in Greece for a period of 10 years. Moreover, according to Art. 30, in order to receive a licence, the legal entity must maintain a safe server in Greece, which will be connected to the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC).
Coverage Gambling sector

GREECE

Since April 2016, entry into force in May 2018
Since August 2019

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Indicator Framework for data protection
General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation 2016/679)

Law No. 4624/2019 on the Personal Data Protection Authority, Implementing the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) and Transposing into National Law Data Protection Directive with Respect to Law Enforcement (Directive (EU) 2016/680) and Other Provisions
The European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provides a comprehensive framework for data protection that applies to all EU Member States. Greece implemented the GDPR in 2019 through Law No. 4624/2019.
Coverage Horizontal

GREECE

Since May 2006
In April 2014
Since February 2011, last amended in 2013

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Indicator Minimum period for data retention
Data Retention Directive 2006/24/EC

Judgment European Court of Justice in Joined Cases C-293/12 and C-594/12 Digital Rights Ireland and Seitlinger and Others

Law No. 3917/2011 on Preservation of Data Generated or Processed in Connection with the Provision of Publicly Available Electronic Communications Services or Public Communications Networks, Use of Surveillance Systems for the Reception or Recording of Audio or Video in Public Places and Related Devices (Νόμος Υπ’ Αριθ. 3917 Διατήρηση δεδομένων που παράγονται ή υποβάλλονται σε επεξεργασία σε συνάρτηση με την παροχή διαθέσιμων στο κοινό υπηρεσιών ηλεκτρονικών επικοινωνιών ή δημόσιων δικτύων επικοινωνιών, χρήση συστημάτων επιτήρησης με τη λήψη ή καταγραφή ήχου ή εικόνας σε δημόσιους χώρους και συναφείς διατάξεις.)
Under the Directive on Data Retention, operators were required to retain certain categories of traffic and location data (excluding the content of those communications) for a period between six months and two years and to make them available, on request, to law enforcement authorities for the purposes of investigating, detecting and prosecuting serious crime and terrorism. On 8 April 2014, the Court of Justice of the European Union declared the Directive invalid. However, not all national laws that implemented the Directive have been overturned. The Greek law implementing the Directive is still in place. Specifically, Article 6 of Law 3917/2011 requires that data be retained for a period of 12 months, and it needs to be retained within the Hellenic territory.
Coverage Telecommunication services or public communication networks

GREECE

Since July 2000
Since May 2003

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Directive 2000/31/EC (E-Commerce Directive)

Presidential Decree 131/2003 on Adjustment to Directive 2000/31 of the European Parliament and the Council Regarding Certain Legal Aspects of Services of the Information Society, Especially Electronic Commerce in the Common Market, Directive on Electronic Commerce and Directive 2003/31/EC (Προεδρικό Διάταγμα 131/2003 Προσαρμογή στην Οδηγία 2000/31 του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου και του Συμβουλίου σχετικά με ορισμένες νομικές πτυχές των υπηρεσιών της κοινωνίας της πληροφορίας, ιδίως του ηλεκτρονικού εμπορίου, στην εσωτερική αγορά. (Οδηγία για το ηλεκτρονικό εμπόριο))
The Directive 2000/31/EC (E-Commerce Directive) is the legal basis governing the liability of Internet Services Providers (ISPs) in the EU Member States and includes a conditional safe harbour. Not all Member States have transposed the relevant articles consistently, leading to divergent national case law that could cause legal insecurity on an EU level.

The Greek Presidential Decree 131/2003 implements the E-commerce Directive in Greece almost verbatim. The provisions in this Decree are considered to exempt the ISPs from every liability (civil, penal, administrative), even the severe liability of service providers according to Art. 8 of Law 2251/1994 on consumer protection. One considerable exemption to the no-liability rule is the field of data protection.
Coverage Intermediaries

GREECE

Since July 2000
Since May 2003

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator Safe harbour for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
Directive 2000/31/EC (E-Commerce Directive)

Presidential Decree 131/2003 on Adjustment to Directive 2000/31 of the European Parliament and the Council Regarding Certain Legal Aspects of Services of the Information Society, Especially Electronic Commerce in the Common Market, Directive on Electronic Commerce and Directive 2003/31/EC (Προεδρικό Διάταγμα 131/2003 Προσαρμογή στην Οδηγία 2000/31 του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου και του Συμβουλίου σχετικά με ορισμένες νομικές πτυχές των υπηρεσιών της κοινωνίας της πληροφορίας, ιδίως του ηλεκτρονικού εμπορίου, στην εσωτερική αγορά. (Οδηγία για το ηλεκτρονικό εμπόριο))
The Directive 2000/31/EC (E-Commerce Directive) is the legal basis governing the liability of Internet Services Providers (ISPs) in the EU Member States and includes a conditional safe harbour. Not all Member States have transposed the relevant articles consistently, leading to divergent national case law that could cause legal insecurity on an EU level.

The Greek Presidential Decree 131/2003 implements the E-commerce Directive in Greece almost verbatim. The provisions in this Decree are considered to exempt the ISPs from every liability (civil, penal, administrative), even the severe liability of service providers according to Art. 8 of Law 2251/1994 on consumer protection. One considerable exemption to the no-liability rule is the field of data protection.
Coverage Intermediaries

GREECE

Reported in 2021, last reported in 2023

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Indicator User identity requirement
Mandatory SIM card registration
It is reported that Greece imposes an identity requirement for SIM registration. Anyone wanting to purchase a SIM card has to provide their national ID card or a passport in case of foreigners to activate a new prepaid SIM card.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

GREECE

Since June 2016
Since April 2019

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Effective protection covering trade secrets
Directive (EU) 2016/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets)

Harmonization of Greek Legislation with Directive (EU) 2016/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on the Protection of Know-How and Undisclosed Business Information (Trade Secrets) Against Their Illegal Acquisition, Use, and Disclosure (EEL 157 of 15.6.2016) - Measures to Accelerate the Work of the Ministry of Economy and Development and Other Provisions. (Εναρμόνιση της ελληνικής νομοθεσίας με την Οδηγία (ΕΕ) 2016/943 του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου και του Συμβουλίου της 8ης Ιουνίου 2016 σχετικά με την προστασία της τεχνογνωσίας και των επιχειρηματικών πληροφοριών που δεν έχουν αποκαλυφθεί (εμπορικό απόρρητο) από την παράνομη απόκτηση, χρήση και αποκάλυψή τους (EEL 157 της 15.6.2016) - Μέτρα για την επιτάχυνση του έργου του Υπουργείου Οικονομίας και Ανάπτυξης και άλλες διατάξεις.)
The Directive 2016/943 on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) is key in harmonising national laws concerning trade secrets. Greece transposed the Directive into national law in 2018, as well as with the Harmonization of Greek legislation with Directive (EU) 2016/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on the protection of know-how and undisclosed business information (trade secrets) against their illegal acquisition, use and disclosure (EEL 157 of 15.6.2016) - Measures to accelerate the work of the Ministry of Economy and Development and other provisions.
Coverage Horizontal

GREECE

Since May 2014

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
Directive 2014/61/EU on measures to reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks
It is reported that passive sharing is mandated and is effective in both the mobile and fixed sectors. In addition, Directive 2014/61/EU (Art. 3.2) establishes that Member States shall ensure that, upon written request of an undertaking providing or authorised to provide public communications networks, any network operator must meet all reasonable requests for access to its physical infrastructure under fair and reasonable terms and conditions, including price, with a view to deploying elements of high-speed electronic communications networks. Such written request shall specify the elements of the project for which the access is requested, including a specific time frame.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

GREECE

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom sector
The Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation S.A. (OTE) is the incumbent telecommunications provider in Greece. Although the company was privatised in 2001 and the Greek state has been gradually reducing its participation in OTE's share capital, it is reported that Greece still owns 7.2% of OTE's share capital.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

GREECE

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Lack of mandatory functional separation for dominant network operators
Greece does not mandate functional separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market. However, accounting separation is a remedy that may be imposed on SMP operators. It is currently imposed on the incumbent and the three mobile operators.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

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