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Copyfail #7: Not allowing research via “commercial” text and data mining
This article is the seventh in the series presenting Copyfails. The EU is reforming its copyright rules. We want to introduce you to the main failures of the current copyright system, with suggestions on how to fix them. You can find all the Copyfails here. How has it failed? We live in an era where […]
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Traffic management: Where are the risks for online discrimination
Net neutrality is the principle that all the internet traffic is treated equally, without blocking or slowing down certain data. Net neutrality is crucial for fair competition between online services, for innovation, and for freedom of expression online. The European Parliament has adopted a Regulation that includes provisions on net neutrality. Currently, the BEREC (the […]
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e-Privacy Directive revision: An analysis from the civil society
After the approval of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Directive for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEDP), the reform of data protection and privacy in the European Union (EU) now reaches the next step: the review of the e-Privacy Directive (Directive 2002/58/EC on privacy and electronic communications).
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PROCEED WITH CAUTION: Flexibilities in the General Data Protection Regulation
We regret that much of the ambition of the original data protection package was lost, due to one of the biggest lobbying campaigns in European history. However, we congratulate the European Parliament — for saving the essence of European data protection legislation.[1] On 14 April 2016, the European Parliament adopted two legal instruments that will regulate […]
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Rush to “fight terrorism” threatens our fundamental rights and security
Today, on 4 July 2016, the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE) waved through a compromise text for a Directive on “combating terrorism”. The compromise comes after a series of secret negotiations between a handful of parliamentarians. Our freedoms and security are being threatened by unclear provisions on key issues like internet blocking and […]
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Specialised services: A make-or-break issue for the open internet
Net neutrality is the principle that all the internet traffic is treated equally, without blocking or slowing down certain data. Net neutrality is crucial for fair competition between online services, for innovation, and for freedom of expression online. The European Parliament has adopted a Regulation that includes provisions on net neutrality. Currently, the BEREC (the […]
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Copyfail #6: The “Google tax”- not a tax and Google doesn’t pay
This article is the sixth in the series presenting Copyfails. The EU is reforming its copyright rules. We want to introduce you to the main failures of the current copyright system, with suggestions on how to fix them. You can find all the Copyfails here. How has it failed? Germany and Spain introduced in their […]
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Is your internet provider discriminating against your favourite app? Report it via RespectMyNet.eu
Several internet providers across Europe offer you “free” access to some parts, but not all, of the internet. On the RespectMyNet.eu platform, users have reported several cases of this uncompetitive and discriminatory practice called “zero rating”. It is especially common for mobile data; Internet Service Providers (ISPs) do not charge users for data used by […]
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A new Regulation for closing down the internet in Turkey
A new telecom Regulation increases concerns about freedom of expression in Turkey. It redefines the power of the Turkish information and communication technologies authority (BTK). The Regulation was published on the Official Gazette issue 29739 on 11 June 2016. Item 10 of the Regulation is titled “Blocking the service and the suspension of the service […]
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Poland adopted a controversial anti-terrorism law
On 22 June, the Polish president signed a new anti-terrorism law. The law contains measures that are inconsistent with the Polish Constitution and with the European Convention on Human Rights. The list of controversies is long: foreigners’ phone calls can be wire-tapped without a court order, and police can collect their fingerprints, biometric photos and […]
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Advocate General: E-lending must be included to the lending rights
In 2015, the Dutch Association of Public Libraries (VOB) started a legal procedure against Stichting Leenrecht, the organisation distributing the remuneration to authors that libraries pay for lending books in the Netherlands. The purpose of the case was to clarify if the European Union’s Rental and Lending Rights Directive covers the lending of electronic books. […]
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Following the money – easy to say, hard to do
On 21 June, the European Commission organised an event about its “follow the money” approach to combating counterfeit goods. In the event, the first of a series of memoranda of understanding between the Commission and private sector actors was presented. The Commission has gone at great lengths to involve all stakeholders, including civil society, in […]
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