Seven European advocacy organizations have called for the cancellation of the negotiation position for Aura Salla, a Member of the European Parliament from the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus/EPP), regarding the simplification of digital regulation in the EU. The groups have raised concerns about Salla's previous role as a leading lobbyist for Meta, claiming that her background and undisclosed ties present a 'serious risk' to the credibility of the EU's digital regulatory framework. This demand comes as Salla was recently appointed as the main negotiator for the EU's Digital Omnibus proposal, which focuses on easing key data regulations within the Union.

Salla's responsibilities involve shaping the Parliament's stance on digital regulations and negotiating with Member States to facilitate the reassessment of data regulation. The Digital Omnibus proposal, which includes significant aspects such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), aims to simplify various existing rules that govern data usage and privacy across the EU. This initiative reflects the ongoing debate within the EU about balancing innovation and regulatory compliance, especially in the tech sector where lobbying influences are often scrutinized.

The backlash from the advocacy organizations underscores the heightened sensitivity towards lobbying activities in EU policy-making, particularly in areas that impact digital rights and data privacy. If the demands succeed, it could lead to a significant re-evaluation of how lobbying is perceived in relation to key regulatory positions and further fuel discussions about transparency in the EU decision-making processes.