MEPs ignore expert advice and vote for mass internet censorship

20 June 2018
by eub2 -- last modified 20 June 2018

In a vote today, 20 June, the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament voted for the a Copyright Directive, which includes measures to monitor and filter virtually all uploads to the internet.

The Copyright Directive includes the controversial Article 13, which mandates the mass monitoring and censorship of internet uploads. The vote comes after widespread criticism of these measures and against the advice of civil society, of leading academics and universities, of research institutions, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression and even the inventors of the internet and of the world wide web.

"Upload filters are opposed by every independent, expert voice in this debate." said Diego Naranjo, Senior Policy Advisor at EDRi, "If the campaign keeps growing like it is, we will save the internet from the censorship machines."

The next step is a negotiation between the Parliament and the EU Member States. A final vote of the European Parliament on the outcome of that negotiation will take place around the end of 2018.

"Will Parliamentarians be willing to publicly support such an awful proposal, just weeks before the 2019 elections?" asked Joe McNamee, Executive Director of EDRi, "Time will tell".

EDRi will continue on its efforts to inform the public and MEPs on the dangers of the proposed Copyright Directive, and will continue to offer constructive opposition to the measure in the run-up to the final plenary vote.

European Digital Rights (EDRi) is a not-for-profit association of digital civil rights organisations. Our objectives are to promote, protect and uphold civil rights online.

European Digital Rights (EDRi)