Slashdot Mirror
EU Takes First Step in Passing Controversial Copyright Law That Could 'Censor the Internet' (theverge.com)
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.
Based on everything green-lit from Slashdot over the past year about unwavering, unquestioning support for every scaremongering climate article they could get their hands on and every similarly scaremongering article about net-neutrality that only looks at the things from the MSM filtered left-wing perspective I'm glad to see a level-headed approach to a censorship issue.
The "Link Tax" is about the stupidest damned thing I ever heard of in my life.
If I'm publishing articles for a living I want people to link to those articles and drive traffic to my site so I can sell banner ads. In fact, there's entire bullshit sites built around the idea of going viral by getting your aunt to post links to feel-good stories on Facebook that could easily be the equivalent of a single legal-sized sheet of paper of content, but require you to hit "next" to load a new page with a new unrelated image a dozen times to read an incoherent string of facts and opinions that are only tangibly related to the subject of the "root link" - mostly to keep you clicking for page/banner loads. "Legitimate" news stories make money in a similar fashion - the "better" news sites put it all on one page, but some "legitimate news" sites use the bullshit article approach to keep you clicking. (slide-shows - how I hate ad-based slideshows, how I love legitimate add to the story well done slideshows with a wealth of images)
Nope, if I were a news source I would exempt myself from charging the link tax if it were an option just to make sure people actually shared my links, assuming the AI filters don't prevent it. This is why I'm moving to block-chain social networks. Fuck AI overlords on legacy media sites.
The EU is doing the right thing by having their Brexit. More nations should follow because of stupid shit like this. Sometimes it feels like we've all been duped, the Nazi's actually won WWII and their running the EU to get shit like this shoved down everyone's throats.
BTW - here at home in the US we're being threatened by an expansion of the Mickey Mouse protection act. JUST SAY NO to the automatic insanely long copyright extension here in the US.
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In the USA a person can make a funny cartoon. Comment on politics. Quote from a magazine, book, novel, speech.
Publish a comment for the world to see with references without a EU tax per line and per link.
In the USA a person is free to review a movie review and invite comments on the movie.
The USA has freedom of speech and freedom after speech.
The EU starts an investigation for every attempt at speech and a EU fine for attempting publishing links and using quotes.
The EU then has a nice set of laws for political cartoons and memes that amuse internet users on aspects of politics in Spain and France.
Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"