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EU Policy

European Union Tech Policy

I have been logging EU policy since 2008. The information in these blog posts is deep background on the policy battles of the 2020s. What happens now, rests on what went before.

It's often easy to forget the history of policy, as we get embroiled in the latest lobbying scam or arguments between different sets of interests. It all seems new, and so urgent and important. In fact, many of the battles are re-runs of earlier ones. We've seen before how these things get resolved. We also see the mistakes of the previous legislation, as well as the successes.

What the European Union does in tech policy matters on a global scale. It has led the world with its legislation on privacy (GDPR). It is now hoping to repeat that with new laws to regulate Internet platforms. In that regard, the jury is still out.

As a guide to my somewhat eclectic headings, the sub-section IPRED discusses the IPR enforcement directive and other IP or copyright initiatives. The sub-section on Internet Threats looks at any EU policy initiatives other than copyright which imply Internet blocking. The sub-section on Internet Freedoms has a focus on rights and freedoms and the European Convention on Human Rights.

If you are interested in EU policy for IP, you may like my book The Closing of the Net which discusses it in the light of influencing factors by States and industry stakeholders.

If you are interested in copyright policy, you may like my previous books A Copyright Masquerade: How Corporate Lobbying Threatens Online Freedoms and The Copyright Enforcement Enigma - Internet Politics and the 'Telecoms Package'

Lambrinidis report: pro-copyright changes rejected

Monica Horten
Published on 26 March 2009
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Pro-copyright amendments to the  Lambrinidis report were rejected yesterday by the European Parliament by an overwhelming majority. The result is positive for the Parliament's support of fundamental freedoms on the Internet.

 

Today in the European Parliament, a  report on strengthening fundamental freedoms on the Internet was adopted by a massive majority of 481 to 25, with 21 abstentions. Six  amendments filed by MEPs known to favour the interests of the copyright industries were rejected.

The Lambrinidis report is concerned with security on the Internet and protecting fundamental freedoms, addressing concepts such as ‘digital identity'. It condemns censorship and  concludes with a request to the Council of Ministers, to take steps to align the laws of the 27 EU countries in respect of protection of fundamental rights on the Internet  and to undertake more policy dialogue between legislators, the courts, the network operators and the users.

The result is positive for the European Parliament, which is wrestling internally with

Read more: Lambrinidis report: pro-copyright changes rejected

Medina report indefinitely abandoned

Monica Horten
Published on 22 February 2009
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The Medina report has been indefinitely postponed, and may be shelved forever, according to reports emerging from the European Parliament.

 

The controversial Medina report, which attempted to get the European Parliament to vote in favour of graduated response, has been postponed. It is understood that it has been removed from the European Parliament's agenda,  at least until after the European elections and possibly forever. The sources for this information are apparently the administrative staff in the

Read more: Medina report indefinitely abandoned

There are web hosts, herbergeurs, and theres...You Tube

Monica Horten
Published on 01 February 2009
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The latest rumour on the E-commerce directive is that there will be a consultation announced this month on the implementation of it in the Member States. And there are lobbyists, notably those who represent the rights-holders, who have been pushing for a review and can be guaranteed to pile in with their demands.

One fundamental issue for whoever takes on this thorny review, is the status of webhosting companies. In a recent conversation with one of those said lobbyists, it became clear how certain media companies perceive YouTube as a

Read more: There are web hosts, herbergeurs, and theres...You Tube

More Articles...

  1. A Net dilemma for the European Parliament
  2. EU content filtering working group to launch
  3. Enforced cut-off for ETNO director
  4. French presidency to push copyright enforcement by November
  5. Is the EU gunning for Ebay?
  6. IFPI accuses telcos of filibustering
  7. European Parliament anti-filtering vote
  8. European Parliament rejects filtering
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About Iptegrity

Iptegrity.com is the website of Dr Monica Horten. I am an  independent policy advisor, with expertise in online safety, technology and human rights. I am a published author, and post-doctoral scholar. I hold a PhD from the University of Westminster, and a DipM from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. I cover the UK and EU. I'm a former tech journalist, and an experienced panelist and Chair. My media credits include the BBC, iNews, Times, Guardian and Politico.

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The politics of copyright

A Copyright Masquerade - How corporate lobbying threatens online freedoms

'timely and provocative' Entertainment Law Review