The Net Neutrality Law would restrict an ISP's ability to charge more for faster service. It would also forbid mobile operators from blocking competitors apps or messages.
But a small change to one clause of the existing law that Net Neutrality would replace could increase the sharing of child pornography. Thus, Europe would be moving in the exact opposite direction from the Philippines and from all common decency.
A section that originally stated that sites could be blocked if it was necessary to "implement a legislative provision or a court order, or prevent or impede serious crimes" was shortened in the final version to refer only to court orders.
At present a UK-based organisation called the Internet Watch Foundation maintains a list of web pages containing images of child abuse so that ISPs can block the content - a process that does not involve court orders.
As far-fetched as it might seem that the EU would make it easier to share such material, some politicians do fear that the amendment in its current state could make this the case.
The Conservative Party's Vicky Ford MEP warned that the current draft was "dangerous" and said that it would have to be revised.
Labour's Richard Howitt MEP tweeted that he too opposed the proposed law, which he said "could weaken [the] fight against online child sex abuse images".
The law has to be passed by Europe's Council of Ministers, so there is time and opportunity to amend it. Let us pray that it will be properly amended.
But a small change to one clause of the existing law that Net Neutrality would replace could increase the sharing of child pornography. Thus, Europe would be moving in the exact opposite direction from the Philippines and from all common decency.
A section that originally stated that sites could be blocked if it was necessary to "implement a legislative provision or a court order, or prevent or impede serious crimes" was shortened in the final version to refer only to court orders.
At present a UK-based organisation called the Internet Watch Foundation maintains a list of web pages containing images of child abuse so that ISPs can block the content - a process that does not involve court orders.
As far-fetched as it might seem that the EU would make it easier to share such material, some politicians do fear that the amendment in its current state could make this the case.
The Conservative Party's Vicky Ford MEP warned that the current draft was "dangerous" and said that it would have to be revised.
Labour's Richard Howitt MEP tweeted that he too opposed the proposed law, which he said "could weaken [the] fight against online child sex abuse images".
The law has to be passed by Europe's Council of Ministers, so there is time and opportunity to amend it. Let us pray that it will be properly amended.
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