Big Tech and Takedowns<\/h2>\n
The Digital Services Act (DSA) is the official successor to the E-Commerce Directive. The new package aims to bring EU legislation into line with the current state of the digital age, which has changed dramatically over the past several years.<\/p>\n
The official text includes new rules for big tech and also touches on some copyright issues. These include several passages that can change how online services handle takedown notices, without being held liable for user uploads.<\/p>\n
Not all copyright holders were pleased with the first draft, as some believed that it didn\u2019t go far enough. They proposed to further increase liability for online services providers, for example, to ensure that infringing content can\u2019t reappear online after it\u2019s been removed.<\/p>\n
Others believed that the DSA proposals already went too far. For example, several digital rights groups called for a ban on voluntary upload filters that can\u2019t take context, such as fair use, into consideration.<\/p>\n
EU Parliament Adopts DSA<\/h2>\n
This suggestion was turned into an amendment by the LIBE Committee which was on the line yesterday when the European Parliament voted on the final text of the Digital Services Act.<\/p>\n
The DSA itself was approved by a broad majority. However, the amendment which would have effectively banned dumb upload filters, did not pass. With 242 votes in favor and 434 against, the\u00a0proposal was rejected<\/a>.<\/p>\n This decision came as a major disappointment to the Parliament\u2019s Committee on Civil Liberties, including Pirate Party MEP Patrick Breyer.<\/p>\n \u201cInternet corporations use unreliable upload filters against supposedly illegal content \u2013 with much collateral damage. The majority won\u2018t even limit automated censorship to content that is manifestly illegal irrespective of its context,\u201d\u00a0he tweeted<\/a>.<\/p>\n The LIBE Committee also submitted an amendment that should put an end to court orders that require ISPs to block websites, including pirate sites. These broad blockades can potentially harm free speech, it argued, adding that content should be removed from the source.<\/p>\n This proposal didn\u2019t get approval in Parliament either. The overwhelming majority, 524 of all MEPs,\u00a0voted against<\/a>\u00a0the anti-blocking amendment while only 146 were in favor.<\/p>\n These setbacks aside, the LIBE Committee also booked some major successes. For example, an amendment to protect people\u2019s right to use and pay for online services anonymously passed with a small majority.<\/p>\n This anonymity right doesn\u2019t apply to porn platforms, however. These will face stronger regulation with the requirement to verify the phone numbers of uploaders and commenters.<\/p>\n The DSA text adopted by the European Parliament is not final yet. It will serve as the starting point for the trilogue negotiations with the European Council and Commission, which could result in further changes.<\/p>\n Source: \u00a0![\"\"](\"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/EU-DCA-filtervote.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSite Blocking Ban Strands<\/h2>\n
![\"TorrentFreak\"](\"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/torrentfreak.png\")
<\/a> TorrentFreak.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"