Brussels, 28 September 2017

The Alliance for IP informs us that The European Commission has today published proposals to improve and harmonise processes to proactively detect, remove and prevent the reappearance of illegal and infringing content. They are presenting guidelines and principles for online platforms to increase the proactive prevention, detection and removal of illegal content inciting hatred, violence and terrorism online.

President Juncker in his Letter of Intent accompanying his State of the Union speech of 13 September, the European Commission is presenting today guidelines and principles for online platforms. The increasing availability and spreading of terrorist material and content that incites violence and hatred online is a serious threat to the security and safety of EU citizens. It also undermines citizens’ trust and confidence in the digital environment – a key engine of innovation, growth and jobs.

Online platforms are important drivers of innovation and growth in the digital economy. They have enabled an unprecedented access to information and exchanges as well as new market opportunities, notably for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Online platforms also provide the main access point to information and other content for most people on the internet today, be it through search engines, social networks, micro-blogging sites, or video-sharing platforms. The business models of platforms have also evolved recently towards closer links between users and content – notably for targeted advertisement. These platforms connect billions of users with vast quantities of content and information1 and provide innovative services to citizens and business.

Read press release here.

Read Proposal, background etc here.

This looks at the liability of online intermediaries (duty of care) and the proposal gives practical guidance for intermediaries based on the e-Commerce Directive and also refers to Article 13 of the Copyright Directive.