Internet Blocking
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The Domino Effect of Internet Blocking in Romania
The Council of the European Union’s decision, which came out on 1 March, to block access to the media outlets Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik, looking to stop the spread of disinformation, set forth a domino effect in Romania for internet blocking.
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Our dependency on Facebook – life-threatening?
What is your priority when a terrorist attack or a natural disaster takes place close to where your parents live or where your friend went on holidays? Obviously, you would immediately like to know how your loved ones are doing. You will call and text them until you get in touch.
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ENDitorial: YouTube puts uploaders, viewers & itself in a tough position
A pattern is emerging. After blocking a controversial video, YouTube nonpologises for doing so, and reinstates the video... just to block it again a few months later. The procedures around content moderation need to improve, but that's not all: more needs to change.
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ENDitorial: Commissioner defends nuclear attack on internet freedom
The European Commission launched its proposal for a Copyright Directive in September 2016. The legislation includes new rules on filtering of uploads to the internet, text and data mining and the so-called “link tax”.
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Turkey: “The worst menace to society” helps to defeat the coup
On 15 July 2016, coup d’état attempt against the Turkish government took place. Although tension in Turkey gradually escalated in the first half of 2016, nobody expected a military coup. The news about the the blocking of the bridges over the Bosphorus strait quickly spread via social media at about 10 pm in the evening […]
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Terrorism and internet blocking – is this the most ridiculous amendment ever?
After months of closed-door, secret negotiations, the European Parliament’s civil liberties committee will vote tomorrow, on 21 June, on the planned Directive “on combating terrorism”. Although internet blocking was not part of the initial proposal and appears to fall outside the purpose of the Directive (harmonisation of criminal law), the committee will vote on a […]
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CoE study: Blocking content has to respect fundamental rights
Several European countries lack clear legal provisions and transparent procedures when it comes to blocking and removal of online content. A comparative study published by the Council of Europe stresses that any restriction on the right to freedom of expression must be provided for by law, be proportionate and follow legitimate objectives. Blocking should only […]
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CETA to get priority ahead of EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
CETA will undermine EU Charter of Fundamental Rights In February 2016, the European Commission and Canadian government published the final draft text of the EU – Canada trade agreement (CETA), prior to its approval or rejection by the Council, European Parliament and, possibly, national parliaments. The Court of Justice of the EU in October 2015 […]
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Do privacy and the open Internet cause gambling debt in Sweden?
In the middle of January, a mid-sized Swedish Internet Service Provider (ISP) called attention to access blocking proposals made by a Swedish government committee on gambling regulation. The gambling committee was created to deal with recent legal challenges by the European Commission to Swedish gambling legislation. Access blocking is one of several measures to prevent […]
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Internet censorship redux – under the guise of regulating gambling
On 12 June 2015 a law came into effect requiring the providers of networks and electronic communication services in Romania to block access to gambling sites as well as sites advertising gambling activities that are unauthorised in the country. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will now be obliged to implement a website blocking system and use […]
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A new wave of Internet blocking in Turkey
On 25 July, the Turkish government ordered the blocking of 65 popular dissident and Kurdish websites and temporarily slowed down Twitter and Facebook access. This follows the government’s air attack against the Islamic State (Isis) and Kurdish forces in Syria. A few days earlier, Twitter was blocked entirely for a few hours. On 20 July, […]
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Austrian Internet users to pay for intransparent web blocking scheme
On 27 March 2014, the European Court of Justice (CJEU) ruled that national jurisdiction can order an injunction against an Internet Service Provider (ISP) requiring it to restrict its customers from accessing a website that is placing protected content online without the consent of the rights holder. Since last year, Austrian ISPs have thus started […]
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