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EU Takes First Step in Passing Controversial Copyright Law That Could 'Censor the Internet' (theverge.com)

Posted by msmash on from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.

The European Union has taken the first step in passing new copyright legislation that critics say will tear the internet apart. From a report: This morning, the EU's Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) voted in favor of the legislation, called the Copyright Directive. Although most of the directive simply updates technical language for copyright law in the age of the internet, it includes two highly controversial provisions. These are Article 11, a "link tax," which would force online platforms like Facebook and Google to buy licenses from media companies before linking to their stories; and Article 13, an "upload filter," which would require that everything uploaded online in the EU is checked for copyright infringement. (Think of it like YouTube's Content ID system but for the whole internet.) EU lawmakers critical of the legislation say these Articles may have been proposed with good intentions -- like protecting copyright owners -- but are vaguely worded and ripe for abuse.

3 of 235 comments (clear)

  1. Forget "good intentions" by Nova+Express · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Laws that transfer power from citizens to the government are never about "good intentions," they're about control.

    One of the first things they'll start censoring is content critical of sacred Eurocratic initiatives. Video opposing unassimilated Muslim immigration into Europe? Sorry, that's banned because we call it "hate speech." Video suggesting Italy should leave the Euro? Sorry, we have to ban that because it endangers "economic stability."

    Good intentions have nothing to do with it. It's all about censorship and control.

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

    http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

    1. Re:Forget "good intentions" by Joce640k · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity.

      The "media companies" are the ones fighting for this law - in the hope Google and Facebook will pay them for the right to link to their stories.

      It's going to really funny to watch their faces after Google and Facebook stop linking to them.

      --
      No sig today...
  2. Everything Is Copyrighted by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Where can I submit all my stuff so it'll become part of what gets reported when scanned? I have about 1tb of home videos and photos as well as all my writing assignments from since high school and I can go through all my old accounts and submit all the posts I've written. I use a desktop email client so submitting all the email I've written should be easy.