In 2000, the European Parliament enacted the Directive 2000/31/EC "for certain aspects of information society services, in particular thee-commerce in the internal market (Directive on electronic commerce)" (EEL 178/1).
The directive recognizes for each business or entity that provides online services its status Provider Information Society. As a service of the information society is considered every service usually provided remotely for a fee and at the user's request provided by the use of electronic equipment for data storage and processing, including the digital compression of data.
Information society services are not limited to services enabling the conclusion of online contracts but also, insofar as they constitute economic activities, extend to services that are not remunerated by their recipient, such as the provision of online information or commercial communications, or the search, access and data retrieval services.
Information society services also cover the transmission of information over a communication network, by providing access to a communication network or by recording information provided by the recipient of the service. Television broadcasting within the meaning of Directive 89/552/EC and radio broadcasting are not information society services because they are not provided upon individual request. In contrast, point-to-point services, such as on-demand videotaping or the provision of commercial communications by e-mail, are information society services. The use of e-mail or corresponding individual communications, for example by natural persons who do not act in the context of their commercial or professional activity, including their use to enter into contracts between said persons, is not an information society service.
The contractual relationship between employee and employer is not an information society service. Services which by definition are not provided remotely and by electronic means, such as the statutory audit of company accounts or the provision of medical advice when a physical examination of the patient is required, are not services of the information society.
In Greece the Directive 2000/31 was transferred to Greek law by presidential decree 131/2003, which is a faithful copy of the Directive in question.