Mid-Year Review of the German Federal Government: Around Two-Thirds of Citizens Dissatisfied with Digital Policy

Since 6 May 2025, the new German Federal Government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been in office. In its coalition agreement, the CDU/CSU and SPD coalition has set itself the goal of bringing Germany on the digital fast track (KoaV 2025, p. 67) and making it a leading digital location in terms of future technologies such as AI (KoaV 2025, p. 70). For this purpose, a dedicated Ministry of Digitalisation has been established for the first time, which is responsible not only for digitalisation but also for modernising the state.

But what is the verdict of eligible voters six months after the new German federal government took office regarding the current state of digitalisation in Germany?

A recent survey by eco - Association of the Internet Industry, conducted by the polling institute YouGov*, shows that the majority of respondents (68%) remain dissatisfied with the German federal government's digital policy. Around one-third (29%) even state they are very dissatisfied. Only 17 per cent rate it as satisfactory overall, and only 2 per cent of respondents are actually "very satisfied".

Oliver Süme: Direction is right, now changes must also become tangible for citizens and businesses

eco Chair Oliver Süme does not see the cause of the dissatisfaction in a fundamentally flawed digital policy: "The challenges and obstacles at Germany's digital location have been known for years. The new Ministry of Digitalisation is setting the right priorities. Many of the initiated topics are highly relevant and based on a clear understanding of digital value creation." However, Süme emphasises that it must be about ensuring that the changes also reach citizens and businesses.

"As an association, we welcome the clear stance and visible willingness of the Digital Minister to actually change things. At the same time, the fragmentation of responsibilities remains a challenge: data protection, IT security in business, energy prices and key questions relating to the implementation of the Digital Markets Act lie outside the remit of the Ministry of Digitalisation. The political structure between the ministries continues to cause friction and slows down urgently needed progress."

Urgent need for action on digital infrastructure, data protection & cybersecurity, and digital administrative services

When asked about the three biggest challenges facing digitalisation in Germany, 56 per cent of respondents cited slow administrative processes and bureaucratic hurdles. 40 per cent identified poor coordination between the German federal government, federal states and municipalities as one of the biggest challenges. Around 32 per cent cited the lack of digital infrastructure expansion - specifically, the slow broadband expansion and mobile coverage gaps.

Respondents ranked digital infrastructure and network coverage (42%) among the three most urgent aspects of digitalisation that must be advanced in the coming years. People also see a need for action in the areas of data protection and cybersecurity (40%) and the establishment of digital services in public administration (39%).

Digitalisation efforts need implementation and speed

eco calls for clear prioritisation, binding goals and more coordination between the German federal government, federal states and municipalities.

From the association's perspective, three projects in particular must be visibly advanced in the coming months:

• Digitalisation of administration: The Online Access Act (OZG 2.0) must finally be implemented nationwide - for less bureaucracy and uniform platform standards. Administrative services for citizens should be fully available digitally across the board.
• Digital infrastructure: A functioning and efficient ecosystem of digital infrastructures is a basic prerequisite for the digital functioning of the economy, society and administration. This includes data centres, as well as cloud and colocation providers, Internet Exchange and a well-developed gigabit network.
• Cybersecurity and data protection: Clear, understandable and proportionate rules that balance users' interests in a sensible relationship to the protected interest, and that can be implemented by companies with reasonable effort.

"With the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs, the grand coalition has set the starting signal. Now it's time to remain in the race with action, speed and tangible results. Digitalisation must not remain a promise for the future, but must become part of people's everyday lives," says Oliver Süme.

* The information is based on an online survey conducted by YouGov Germany on behalf of eco - Association of the Internet Industry. A total of 2,374 people aged 18 and over were surveyed between 31 October and 3 November 2025. The results were weighted according to age, gender, education, region, residential environment, voting behaviour and political interest, and are representative of the German population aged 18 and over.