The EU is in the midst of establishing a set of laws that will then be voted on. Part of the laws currently being proposed, specifically Article 13, would require websites to filter content proactively for copyright infringement rather than responding to the take-down request of the copyright holder.
It’s similar to Youtube’s ContentID, if you’re looking for a comparison.
Not only is this egregious censorship, it’s nigh enforceable and only serves to allow the controllers, government and corporations, more control over the last vestige of freedom — the internet at large.
You may be thinking, “Well, I don’t live in Europe so I don’t care,” however, you should. Governments across the world have a tendency to watch trial execution of new laws before they are adopted globally by the majority of world powers.
Now, as it stands, the internet is still a place where the little guy has a chance. Entrepreneurs and small businesses still have a fighting chance to succeed in a space increasingly being overtaken by giant conglomerates. It’s not a signalling of the end, but if it’s allowed to come to fruition then we might be on our last limb as far as actual freedom of speech is concerned.
Adding Net Neutrality to the mix and it’s clear what’s going on — the playing field is being made lopsided and our walls are tightening claustrophobically close.
If you’d like to know more, check out Save Your Internet. We will also update you on this breaking story as it develops.
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