New EU Legislation on Terrorist Content
October 12, 2016
Balancing counterterrorism with digital rights continues to be a point of discussion. An article, EU parliament pushes ahead with plans to block, remove terrorist content online from Ars Technica reiterates the . Now, national authorities are required to ensure action are taken to remove illegal content hosted from within their territory that “constitutes public incitement to commit a terrorist offence”. If this is not feasible, they may take the necessary measures to block access to such content. Parliament’s chief negotiator, German MEP Monika Hohlmeier’s perspective is shared,
Hohlmeier said that the proposal strikes the right balance between security on the one hand and data protection and freedom of expression on the other. “It’s not so much a question of whether terrorists are using particular ways to hide on the Internet, or encryption, but they very often have perfect propaganda machinery. Our approach is to try to close websites, and if this is not possible to block these Internet websites,” she said. She added that enhanced cooperation was needed between police and justice authorities as well as private actors.
European digital rights organisation EDRi asserts that speed of action is taking undue priority over “legislation fit for the purpose.” Perhaps there is an opportunity for cyber security technology developed by justice authorities and the private sector to hit the mark on balancing the fine line between censorship and counterterrorism.
Megan Feil, October 12, 2016
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, publisher of the CyberOSINT monograph
Google vs. Europe Becomes Three-Front War
September 2, 2016
The article titled European Commission Files Third Antitrust Charge Against Google on The Guardian discusses the most recent accusation against Google by the European Commission. This time, they took aim at AdSense advertising. The antitrust commissioner Margrethe Vestager announced that Google is preventing the visibility of competitors and favoring its own shopping service as well. The article states,
The EU regulator accuses Alphabet’s Google of abusing its dominance in search to benefit its own advertising business, which has historically been the company’s main revenue stream. The EC also reinforced its existing charge against Google’s shopping service…The EU’s concerns around Google’s adverts relate to the company’s AdSense for Search platform, in which Google acts as an intermediary for websites such as those of online retailers, telecoms operators or newspapers, with searches producing results that include search ads.
Alphabet’s Google has been given 10 weeks to answer the commission’s statement of objections. If the company is found guilty, its fines will consist of up to 10% of its global turnover. While Google works on its response to the charges, another investigation by the EU continues. The latter involves Google’s preferential treatment of its own products such as Google Chrome through its Android system.
Chelsea Kerwin, September 2, 2016
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, publisher of the CyberOSINT monograph
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