February 2, 2006

German Wikipedia back on the Internet

The German version of the worldwide encyclopaedia Wikipedia was offline for three days, after a legal complaint filed by the parents of a hacker who’s real name was mentioned online. Tron was a German hacker and phreaker who found a controversial death in 1998. Amongst other things, Tron broke the security of the German phonecard […]

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January 31, 2007

Results of the WIPO’s SCCR Special Session 1

(Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar) The broadcast treaty was the only item on the agenda of the three-day special session of WIPO’s standing committee on copyright and related rights. (SCCR). At the meeting it became clear that no-one really knew how to proceed with the negotiations. The chairman Jukka Liedes (Finland) tried […]

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May 27, 2020 · On the ground | Information democracy | Freedom of expression online

Hungary: “Opinion police” regulate Facebook commentaries

There have been a number of critical news reports from around the world stating that Hungary’s COVID-19 state-of-emergency legislation is “creating a chilling effect”. Such headlines miss the mark somewhat, as chilling effects are far from new.

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July 3, 2013 · Blogs

ECJ Advocate General: Google shouldn't be forced to block results

In a case opposing the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) and Google Spain, Niilo Jaaskinen, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ ), issued on 25 June 2013 his opinion that, on the basis of the Data Protection Directive, search engine service providers are, in principle, not responsible of personal data appearing […]

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May 17, 2017 · Blogs

AVMSD: European Parliament set to vote whether it’s allowed to vote

On 18 May 2017, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will vote on whether they want to work on the Audiovisual Media Services Directive reform now, or let a handful of MEPs represent over 500 million EU citizens in the so-called “trilogue” negotiations between the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the EU, representing the […]

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May 18, 2016 · Blogs

Looking back through the French anti-terror arsenal

Following the publication of the Action Plan Against Terrorism and Radicalisation by the French Government, summarising the whole anti-terror strategy of France, built up law by law during the past years, it is important to look back on the main measures presented in this report, especially those affecting civil rights and liberties on the Internet. […]

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June 3, 2015 · Blogs

ENDitorial: From copywrong to copyright?

“I’ve got two 12-year-old criminals in my kitchen and that can’t be right” (Jonathan Worth, professional photographer) The first round of debates surrounding the copyright reform in the European Parliament are reaching their last stages. Pavel Svoboda’s report on Intellectual Property Right (IPR) enforcement was published on 19 May. The report contains a mixture of […]

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September 10, 2013 · Blogs

Leak: Damning analysis of Kroes’ attack on net neutrality

Fundamental rights are at risk from the draft Regulation on the “completion of the European single market for electronic communications” that may be finally approved by the European Commission this lunchtime. This is made clear from a leaked internal document (pdf) of the European Commission. There is huge opposition in the European Commission to the […]

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September 26, 2012 · Blogs

EDRi responds to Commission “self-regulation” consultation

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [EDRi-Stellungnahme zur EU-Konsultation zur Selbstregulierung | https://www.unwatched.org/EDRigram_10.18_EDRi_Stellungnahme_zur_EU-Konsultation_zur_Selbstregulierung?pk_campaign=edri&pk_kwd=20120928] The Commission is asking for feedback on a draft “code” for what it describes as “multistakeholder actions”. The intention is to use the final text as a blueprint for future self- and co-regulatory actions, in order to ensure that certain best […]

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September 26, 2018 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Online tracking industry / AdTech | Privacy and confidentiality | Surveillance and data retention

Five reasons to be concerned about the Council ePrivacy draft

The amendments improve the original proposal by strengthening confidentiality requirements for electronic communication services, and include a ban on tracking walls, legally binding signals for giving or refusing consent to online tracking, and privacy by design requirements for web browsers and apps.

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July 12, 2016 · Blogs

Alliance for broadband competition sets out benchmarks for EU’s telecommunications update

On 12 July, EU and US telecommunications experts issued a clear warning: to ensure investment in broadband and to give consumers high-speed access to the internet, efficient competition has to be guaranteed. EU policy-makers, academics, civil society and internet providers gathered at #NetCompetition’s high-level forum to lay down the yardstick for the upcoming telecommunications review. […]

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June 18, 2014 · Blogs

Freedom of information: EU Commission creates barriers for access to documents requests

It is crucial to know what the European institutions are up to in order to ensure that citizens’ fundamental rights are respected. Democracy requires vigilance and vigilance requires access to information. It is precisely for this reason that freedom of information legislation exists. Since the entry in force of Regulation 1049/2001 setting up the EU […]

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