EC publieke consultatie over de veiligheid van apps en niet-ge-embedde software

EC stakeholders publieke consultatie over de veiligheid van apps en niet-ge-embedde software, 9 juni - 15 september 2016.
Deze consultatie betreft software en apps die noch ge-embed zijn, noch op een tastbaar medium te verkrijgen zijn op het tijdstip van het in de markt zetten ervan, de verstrekking aan consumenten of wanneer ze op een andere manier beschikbaar gemaakt worden aan consumenten (niet-ge-embedde software). Voorbeelden omvatten gezondheidsapps die kunnen worden gebruik op een mobiel toestel, digitale modellen voor 3D-printen of apps die andere apparaten beheren (zoals electronische toepassingen).

Purpose
The views gathered will help to define potential next steps and future policies at the EU level including, if appropriate, possible revisions of existing horizontal and/or sector-specific EU legislation.

For the purpose of this consultation safety and safe use should be understood as freedom from unacceptable danger, risk or harm, including security-vulnerabilities and cover physical, economic as well as moral aspects.

This consultation does not prejudge any future decision on whether or not to propose legislation in this field and any new initiative will be subject to a more in-depth consultation process and political validation.

Scope and context
The purpose of the consultation is to gather input from various stakeholder groups, in particular consumers, businesses and authorities, on their experience related to the safety of apps and other non-embedded software. The questions aim at obtaining a better understanding of the possible risks and problems that non-embedded software may pose and how these problems could be dealt with.

If apps are giving access to a service, this consultation addresses only the safety aspects in the functioning of the app, and not the underlying service itself (e.g. transport or accommodation). For the purpose of this consultation, only apps and non-embedded software that are downloadable on a device such as a personal computer, tablet or smartphone or accessible on a remote location (cloud) would be covered.

For the purpose of this consultation "safety" and "safe use" should be understood as freedom from unacceptable danger, risk or harm, including security-vulnerabilities ("cyber-security") and cover physical, economic as well as non-material damage.

This consultation will only look into the safety of apps and other non-embedded software which is not already addressed and foreseen by sector-specific legislation such as the Medical Devices Directives or the Radio Equipment Directive which include provisions on safety ensuring that equipment within their scope, if compliant, is safe.