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Deutsch: Vom Aufstieg der Upload-Filter in Europa

In 2011, the European Union decided against the introduction of mandatory filtering in Europe, because a democratic analysis of the evidence showed that this was not necessary. In 2012, the European Union is working on a variety of projects to introduce “voluntary” upload filters and, because they would be introduced on a so-called “voluntary” basis, there will be no democratic analysis.

There are at least three different initiatives currently underway with this target. Firstly, Commissioner Kroes' “CEO Coalition”.

Swedish text below

Dear Mr Fjellner,

I am writing to you with regard to your recent blog post on ACTA.

First of all thank you for providing a clarification after you tabled an amendment for the International Trade Committee vote next week calling for ACTA to be ratified. We are heartened to read that you believe that it would be irresponsible to take a definitive position on ACTA in the absence of assurances from the Commission. You further explain that clarifications are needed on “one or two” paragraphs.

For decades, committed pro-European politicians and academics have wished for a number of ingredients that would be necessary for the credibility of the European institutional framework. They wanted an effective, representative and democratic European Parliament. They wanted a European Parliament that was not just theoretically an equal player in the institutional framework in Brussels, but a Parliament that was a genuine counterweight to the Council (the Member States) and the European Commission. Finally, and most difficult to create, pro-European thinkers dreamed of the possibility of pan-European political campaigns driven by pan-European political movements.

After all of the announcements of ACTA's death, one would wonder why anybody would have felt the need to turn up to the anti-ACTA demonstrations today. In April, the European Parliamentarian in charge of the ACTA dossier said that ACTA was dead.[1] In May, the European Commissioner for the Information Society, Neelie Kroes, said that ACTA was dead.[2] Now, in June, four different European Parliament Committees rejected ACTA.[3] Was tumbleweed going to be the only participant at the ACTA demonstrations?

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Deutsch: Netzsperren: Schlussfolgerungen der dänischen Ratspräsidentschaft

On 8 June 2012 the Council of Ministers will adopt a “Council Conclusions” document on the creation of a “Global Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Online”. In line with the Directive adopted last year, the text refers to blocking “where appropriate” of websites. The inclusion of blocking in the text indicates an expectation of failure – a “global alliance” could be expected to effectively remove, identify and prosecute such offences wherever the material was found.

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Deutsch: UK: Gesetz über Online-Sicherheit zur Sperre pornografischer Seiten i...

A new bill proposed to the House of Lords by Baroness Howe of Ildicote, requires ISPs and mobile operators to "provide a service that excludes pornographic images" and electronic device manufacturers to include ways to filter content at the point of purchase.

If enacted, the Online Safety Bill will force ISPs to prevent access of their customers to pornographic images unless those customers, aged over 18 actively “opt-in” to access the respective material by telling

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Deutsch: Italien: Fragwürdige Entscheidung über Sperrmaßnahmen

The Italian Antitrust Authority (AGCM) has started ordering the blocking some websites involved in the online sale of fashion products, following several complaints made by consumers.

It is the first blocking measure ordered by this Authority (enforced through the collaboration with the antitrust department of the Guardia di Finanza), which relied on the Consumer Code and e-commerce rules.

In its blocking order, the Authority does not charge the provider with selling counterfeited products, but for the infringement of rul

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Deutsch: Bündnis für ein kindersicheres Internet

Following an invitation by Commissioner Kroes in the summer of 2011, and founded on 1 December 2011, the CEO "Coalition to make the Internet a better place for kids" covers the whole industry value-chain.