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Parliament's ideas for tackling harmful or illegal content online

Find out how MEPs want to address harmful or illegal content online while protecting freedom of expression.

The EU is working on a Digital Services Act to shape the rapidly developing digital economy at EU level and set standards for the rest of the world. One of the fundamental issues that MEPs want it to address is protecting users against harmful or illegal content. Read on to find out about what Parliament proposes in three reports adopted on 20 October.

Clear distinction between illegal and harmful content

Parliament wants a clear distinction to be made between illegal and harmful content. Some types of content, for example Holocaust denial, may be illegal in some member states, but not in others. Harmful content, such as hate speech and disinformation, is not always illegal. A strict distinction is needed, as the two types of content require different approaches: illegal content should be removed, while harmful content could be tackled in other ways.

Removing illegal content while safeguarding rights and freedoms

MEPs say voluntary action by platform is not enough. They want clear, EU-wide rules for content moderation, applying the so-called notice and action mechanism. The rules should ensure that the mechanism:

  • is effective – users should be able to easily notify online intermediaries about potentially illegal online content so they can swiftly remove it
  • is not abused – in case content is flagged or taken down, affected users should be notified and have the possibility to appeal the decision to a national dispute settlement body
  • respects users’ rights and freedoms, such as freedom of expression and information, so that online intermediaries remove illegal content in a diligent, proportionate and non-discriminatory manner and do not remove content that is not illegal

MEPs want the final decision on the legality of user-generated content to be taken by an independent judiciary, not private commercial entities.

In addition to illegal online content being removed, where it is criminal, it should be followed up by law enforcement and the judiciary. The Commission should also consider obliging online platforms to report serious crime to the competent authority.

Click here for the full press release

 

Original article link: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/economy/20201022STO89919/

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