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Terrorist Content Regulation: Document Pool

Although the fear of the general public of terrorist attacks certainly puts considerable pressure on policy makers, politicians also strategically use the climate of diffuse anxieties to increase the securitisation of the internet and present themselves as capable, tough leaders.

By EDRi · January 21, 2019

Terrorist networks have grown highly prone to the use of the internet for spreading their propaganda and recruiting followers in recent years. Although the fear of the general public of terrorist attacks certainly puts considerable pressure on policy makers, politicians also strategically use the climate of diffuse anxieties to increase the securitisation of the internet and present themselves as capable, tough leaders. The latest example of such election-motivated policy making is the proposal for a Regulation on preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online, with which the European Commission continues its trend of producing a watershed of “solutions” to terrorist propaganda on the internet.

The proposal contains three main measures to address alleged “terrorist” content:

  1. First, it creates orders issued by (undefined) national authorities to remove or disable access to illegal terrorist content within an hour.
  2. Second, competent authorities can choose to make referrals of terrorist-related potential breaches of companies’ terms of service that would be subject to the voluntary consideration of the companies themselves.
  3. Third, it legislates on (undefined) proactive measures that can lead to an authority requesting a general monitoring obligation.

A major concern for the functioning and freedom of the internet is the extension of the upload filter regime the EU is currently about to introduce for copyright to terrorist content. Requiring internet companies to monitor everything we say on the web does not only have grave implications for the freedom of speech, but it also follows a dangerous path of outsourcing and privatising law enforcement.

EDRi followed the developments of the Terrorist Content Regulation closely and critically and provided input to policy makers to ensure that human rights are fully respected in the proposal for the past three years. Unfortunately, the Regulation, which still includes very dangerous measures, was adopted by the Council in March 2021 and the European Parliament on 29 April 2021. It will apply from 7 June 2022.

EDRi’s analysis and recommendations
Legislative documents
EDRi’s blogposts and press releases
Other
Key Policy Makers

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EDRi’s analysis and recommendations:

Legislative documents:

EDRi’s blogposts and press releases:

Other:

Key Policy Makers:

Opinion Committees:

Key Dates*:

*(note that these dates are TBC and subject to changes):

    • Approval in Plenary: 29 April 2021

    • LIBE Committee (Lead Committee)
      • Deadline for Amendments: 15 February
      • Consideration of AMs: 7 March
      • Shadow meetings: 5-6 March or 11-12 March
      • Date updated on 29 March! Vote in LIBE Committee of the Report
      • Vote in Plenary (1st reading): 15-18 April 2019
      • Vote on provisional agreement with the Council: 11 January 2021
    • CULT Committee
      • Consideration of Draft Opinion:; : 4 February
      • Deadline for amendments: 6 February
      • Vote of the Opinion: 11 March
    • IMCO Committee
      • Consideration of Draft Report: 21 January
      • Deadline for amendments: 23 January  (noon)
      • Consideration of amendments: 20 February
      • Vote of the Opinion: 4 March