EU Parliament Passes Controversial Copyright Law Requiring Upload Filters
The European Parliament approves a major copyright update that makes online platforms liable for user infringements, effectively forcing large sites to use upload filters. Despite massive protests and expert warnings about free speech, the directive moves to national implementation by 2021.
The European Parliament passes a sweeping update to its copyright rules, making online platforms liable for copyright infringements committed by their users. This controversial measure requires all but the smallest platforms to install automated upload filters to detect potential violations before content goes live.
Digital rights groups, tech companies, and millions of citizens fiercely oppose the legislation, previously known as Article 13 and now renamed Article 17. Protesters point to immature filtering technology that inevitably blocks legitimate content, prompting warnings from the United Nations and massive public demonstrations across Europe.
Critics call the final vote a severe blow to free expression and an ignored rejection of expert advice, noting the razor-thin five-vote margin that defeated a last-minute attempt to remove the filter mandate. The directive now requires each EU member state to implement these strict rules into national law by 2021.