Home

string(8) "Newsroom"
object(WP_Post)#2039 (24) {
  ["ID"]=>
  int(25504)
  ["post_author"]=>
  string(2) "61"
  ["post_date"]=>
  string(19) "2018-09-12 05:00:01"
  ["post_date_gmt"]=>
  string(19) "2018-09-12 09:00:01"
  ["post_content"]=>
  string(4516) "The European Commission’s apparently endless stream of “solutions” to stop the spread of online terrorist content has today been complemented by yet another measure, a draft Regulation.

Despite a pile of existing tools and expired implementation deadlines, the European Commission has hurriedly published, under the pressure of Germany and France, a new Regulation that addresses (yet again) deleting or disabling access to terrorist content by online companies. The alleged urgency and importance of this proposal need to be seen in the context of the upcoming European elections and terrorism as a leading election topic in recent years.

“Eight months away from the EU elections, it is regrettable that the Commission proposes (yet again) new legislation with minimal regard for effectiveness or for fundamental rights, the pillars of our democracy,” said Maryant Fernández Pérez, Senior Policy Advisor at European Digital Rights (EDRi). “The Commission has an obligation under the Terrorism Directive to assess its impact on human rights by 2021. Instead of analysing the impact of existing initiatives, the Commission has proposed yet more ill-defined measures.”

The proposal contains three main measures to address alleged “terrorist” content.

 	First, it creates orders issued by (undefined) national authorities to remove or disable access to illegal terrorist content within an hour.
 	Second, competent  authorities can choose to make referrals of terrorist-related potential breaches of companies’ terms of service that would be subject to the voluntary consideration of the companies themselves.
 	Third,  it legislates on (undefined) proactive measures that can lead to an authority requesting a general monitoring obligation.

This means that for the first time, the Commission is proposing the possibility of an explicit derogation from Article 15 of the e-commerce Directive which prevents governments from requiring internet companies to monitor everything we say and publish online.

“The Commission’s proposal fails to provide any meaningful evidence on how this regulation will prevent the dissemination of alleged terrorist content online while it puts fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and privacy at risk,” said Fanny Hidvegi, European Policy Manager at Access Now. “The EU Commission should not make the usual mistake of rushing legislation under the political pressure of member states and the upcoming European elections.”

The proposed Regulation follows the release of a Communication on removal of online illegal content in 2017, a similar Recommendation in March 2018, pressure on the Commission from Germany and France in April 2018 and the September 2018 deadline for the implementation of the Terrorism Directive that already covers blocking and removals of terrorist content.

Further, the proposed Regulation builds on the internationally criticised EU’s headlong rush to implement one-size-fits-all automated content filters to somehow solve diverse types of illegal content online. This is a topic that will not only, it appears, serve as a fruitful platform for European election candidates, but also as a normalisation discourse on the privatisation of law enforcement in the hands of internet giants.

European Digital Rights (EDRi) and Access Now will follow closely the development of the file in the upcoming period and work to create a sustainable approach to tackling the spread of online terrorist content that does not keep watering down people’s existing rights and freedoms.

For more information, please see:

https://edri.org/terrorism-directive-document-pool/

https://edri.org/leak-france-germany-demand-more-censorship-from-internet-companies/"
  ["post_title"]=>
  string(46) "EU Terrorism Regulation: an EU election tactic"
  ["post_excerpt"]=>
  string(168) "The European Commission has yet again hurriedly published a new Regulation that addresses technology companies deleting or disabling access to terrorist content online."
  ["post_status"]=>
  string(7) "publish"
  ["comment_status"]=>
  string(6) "closed"
  ["ping_status"]=>
  string(6) "closed"
  ["post_password"]=>
  string(0) ""
  ["post_name"]=>
  string(45) "eu-terrorism-regulation-an-eu-election-tactic"
  ["to_ping"]=>
  string(0) ""
  ["pinged"]=>
  string(0) ""
  ["post_modified"]=>
  string(19) "2018-09-13 11:39:16"
  ["post_modified_gmt"]=>
  string(19) "2018-09-13 15:39:16"
  ["post_content_filtered"]=>
  string(0) ""
  ["post_parent"]=>
  int(0)
  ["guid"]=>
  string(34) "https://www.accessnow.org/?p=25504"
  ["menu_order"]=>
  int(0)
  ["post_type"]=>
  string(4) "post"
  ["post_mime_type"]=>
  string(0) ""
  ["comment_count"]=>
  string(1) "0"
  ["filter"]=>
  string(3) "raw"
}

string(14) "Press Releases"
object(WP_Post)#2039 (24) {
  ["ID"]=>
  int(25504)
  ["post_author"]=>
  string(2) "61"
  ["post_date"]=>
  string(19) "2018-09-12 05:00:01"
  ["post_date_gmt"]=>
  string(19) "2018-09-12 09:00:01"
  ["post_content"]=>
  string(4516) "The European Commission’s apparently endless stream of “solutions” to stop the spread of online terrorist content has today been complemented by yet another measure, a draft Regulation.

Despite a pile of existing tools and expired implementation deadlines, the European Commission has hurriedly published, under the pressure of Germany and France, a new Regulation that addresses (yet again) deleting or disabling access to terrorist content by online companies. The alleged urgency and importance of this proposal need to be seen in the context of the upcoming European elections and terrorism as a leading election topic in recent years.

“Eight months away from the EU elections, it is regrettable that the Commission proposes (yet again) new legislation with minimal regard for effectiveness or for fundamental rights, the pillars of our democracy,” said Maryant Fernández Pérez, Senior Policy Advisor at European Digital Rights (EDRi). “The Commission has an obligation under the Terrorism Directive to assess its impact on human rights by 2021. Instead of analysing the impact of existing initiatives, the Commission has proposed yet more ill-defined measures.”

The proposal contains three main measures to address alleged “terrorist” content.

 	First, it creates orders issued by (undefined) national authorities to remove or disable access to illegal terrorist content within an hour.
 	Second, competent  authorities can choose to make referrals of terrorist-related potential breaches of companies’ terms of service that would be subject to the voluntary consideration of the companies themselves.
 	Third,  it legislates on (undefined) proactive measures that can lead to an authority requesting a general monitoring obligation.

This means that for the first time, the Commission is proposing the possibility of an explicit derogation from Article 15 of the e-commerce Directive which prevents governments from requiring internet companies to monitor everything we say and publish online.

“The Commission’s proposal fails to provide any meaningful evidence on how this regulation will prevent the dissemination of alleged terrorist content online while it puts fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and privacy at risk,” said Fanny Hidvegi, European Policy Manager at Access Now. “The EU Commission should not make the usual mistake of rushing legislation under the political pressure of member states and the upcoming European elections.”

The proposed Regulation follows the release of a Communication on removal of online illegal content in 2017, a similar Recommendation in March 2018, pressure on the Commission from Germany and France in April 2018 and the September 2018 deadline for the implementation of the Terrorism Directive that already covers blocking and removals of terrorist content.

Further, the proposed Regulation builds on the internationally criticised EU’s headlong rush to implement one-size-fits-all automated content filters to somehow solve diverse types of illegal content online. This is a topic that will not only, it appears, serve as a fruitful platform for European election candidates, but also as a normalisation discourse on the privatisation of law enforcement in the hands of internet giants.

European Digital Rights (EDRi) and Access Now will follow closely the development of the file in the upcoming period and work to create a sustainable approach to tackling the spread of online terrorist content that does not keep watering down people’s existing rights and freedoms.

For more information, please see:

https://edri.org/terrorism-directive-document-pool/

https://edri.org/leak-france-germany-demand-more-censorship-from-internet-companies/"
  ["post_title"]=>
  string(46) "EU Terrorism Regulation: an EU election tactic"
  ["post_excerpt"]=>
  string(168) "The European Commission has yet again hurriedly published a new Regulation that addresses technology companies deleting or disabling access to terrorist content online."
  ["post_status"]=>
  string(7) "publish"
  ["comment_status"]=>
  string(6) "closed"
  ["ping_status"]=>
  string(6) "closed"
  ["post_password"]=>
  string(0) ""
  ["post_name"]=>
  string(45) "eu-terrorism-regulation-an-eu-election-tactic"
  ["to_ping"]=>
  string(0) ""
  ["pinged"]=>
  string(0) ""
  ["post_modified"]=>
  string(19) "2018-09-13 11:39:16"
  ["post_modified_gmt"]=>
  string(19) "2018-09-13 15:39:16"
  ["post_content_filtered"]=>
  string(0) ""
  ["post_parent"]=>
  int(0)
  ["guid"]=>
  string(34) "https://www.accessnow.org/?p=25504"
  ["menu_order"]=>
  int(0)
  ["post_type"]=>
  string(4) "post"
  ["post_mime_type"]=>
  string(0) ""
  ["comment_count"]=>
  string(1) "0"
  ["filter"]=>
  string(3) "raw"
}

Newsroom
Press Releases

Press Releases

If you would like to arrange an interview with one of our staff, are interested in additional information on any of our areas of focus, or would like to subscribe to receive media alerts by email, please contact Melody Patry, Advocacy Director at Access Now, at +44 7474 043103 or press [at] accessnow [dot] org

Tiles List

Press Releases

Freedom of Expression

EU Terrorism Regulation: an EU election tactic

The European Commission has yet again hurriedly published a new Regulation that addresses technology companies deleting or disabling access to terrorist content online.…

12 September 2018

Press Releases

Freedom of Expression

قانوني “مكافحة الجريمة الإلكترونية” وتنظيم الصحافة والإعلام في مصر انتهاك للحق الأساسي في حرية التعبير

تدعو المنظمات غير الحكومية إلى الإلغاء الكامل لقانون “الجرائم الإلكترونية” المصري وإصلاح قانون تنظيم وسائل الإعلام. يطالب الموقعون أدناه بالإلغاء الفوري لقانون مكافحة جرائم تكنولوجيا المعلومات والإنترنت “قانون الجريمة الإلكترونية”، فضلاً عن مراجعة وإصلاح المواد المتعلقة بمراقبة الإنترنت وحجب المواقع…

6 September 2018

Press Releases

Freedom of Expression

Statement opposing Egypt’s legalization of website blocking and communications surveillance

Leading NGOs are calling for full repeal of Egypt’s “cybercrime” law and a block of the dangerous law regulating media.…

6 September 2018

Press Releases

Privacy

Access Now to EU Commission: US failure on privacy means “Privacy Shield” must be suspended

The United States government has failed to take necessary steps to protect European privacy rights. The arrangement must be suspended.…

3 September 2018

Press Releases

Freedom of Expression

Journalists, activists in Bangladesh arrested under ICT Act for posting on social media

Students have taken to the streets in protest, and authorities have reportedly arrested a number of activists and journalists covering the protests online — a major breach of freedom of expression in the region.…

10 August 2018

Press Releases

Freedom of Expression

Google beta-tests selling out on its mission

Google walks back earlier stand against helping censorship in China…

5 August 2018

Press Releases

Privacy

Access Now gets its first cryptocurrency donation

Mainframe’s support will empower us to protect privacy and free expression at a critical time for human rights in the digital age.…

3 August 2018

Press Releases

Freedom of Expression

Access Now files new legal intervention in Cameroon against shutdowns

Access Now is supporting plaintiffs in Cameroon, who are challenging the government’s decision to shut down the internet in Anglophone regions of the country. The blocks harmed the human rights of millions, and stand in violation of international law.…

2 August 2018

Press Releases

Freedom of Expression

Access Now supports bipartisan questioning of Google and Amazon over “domain fronting”

We asked members of the U.S. Congress to look at the negative impact of dropping anti-censorship “domain fronting” services. They listened.…

17 July 2018

Press Releases

Digital Security

Global coalition calls on Australia’s government to reject plans to undermine encryption

The coalition letter, signed by 76 organizations, companies, and individuals, urges the government to abandon its plans to degrade security in Australia and around the world.…

17 July 2018

Press Releases

Privacy

Argentina province in talks with Huawei over acquiring facial recognition surveillance technology

Civil society in Argentina delivered a letter to Mendoza’s government detailing concerns about the potential acquisition of Huawei surveillance technologies.…

12 July 2018

Press Releases

Privacy

Defensores de derechos fundamentales piden al gobierno de Mendoza que detenga la compra de tecnología de vigilancia masiva

El gobierno de la provincia de Mendoza en Argentina se reunió con la empresa china Huawei para adquirir tecnología de vigilancia masiva. Organizaciones de derechos digitales enviamos una carta al gobierno para que desista y genere un debate serio, abierto y participativo al respecto.…

12 July 2018