The European Commission’s plan to tackle internet copyright infringements, such as illegal media downloads, would require internet service providers to work with the entertainment industry to monitor content. Critics fear this could lead to censorship and over-monitoring. BEUC, the European Consumers’ Organisation said, “Such practices would turn ISPs into some sort of Internet police that monitors the online behaviour of users and enforces copyright legislation. Fundamental rights of users will be jeopardized, namely the right to privacy and the right to due process.” Just last year, a judge ruled in Australia that an ISP company was not responsible for illegal downloading, stating that “If the ISPs become responsible for the acts of their customers, essentially they become this giant and very cheap mechanism for anyone with any sort of legal claim.”
NEWS
EU plan to fight piracy may lead to internet policing, say critics
The European Commission’s plan to tackle internet copyright infringements, such as illegal media downloads, would require internet service providers to work with the entertainment industry to monitor content. Critics fear this could lead to censorship and over-monitoring. BEUC, the European Consumers’ Organisation said, “Such practices would turn ISPs into some sort of Internet police that […]
By Intern
27 May 11
READ MORE
-
Under the Taliban, Afghanistan’s musicians have fallen silent
A complete music ban has meant both professionals and amateurs must stop playing or risk their lives. We explore the impact on those in exile and t...
-
Golazin Ardestani: “They controlled my voice, my body, my agency”
Since Iranian singer-songwriter Gola fled her home country in 2011, she has continued her fight for women's rights in exile
-
Big Tech shouldn’t punish women for seeking abortions
With Trump now in office, state and local governments in the USA must push tech companies to protect women’s private data
-
Joe Mulhall, Solá Akingbolá and Hanna Komar champion silenced musicians
Index on Censorship launches the latest issue of its magazine with a powerful night of poetry and music