On Wednesday 17 April, MEPs completed their first reading of the European regulation to require platforms to remove violent terrorist content online in less than an hour.
They did so by 308 votes to 204 with 70 abstentions and confirmed the vote in the Civil Liberties Committee (see EUROPE 12231/8). On Wednesday, the Greens/EFA wanted to delete the reference to one hour and to insist instead on removing the content as soon as possible. The EPP wanted to strengthen the aspects related to the mandatory nature of proactive measures, which other groups prefer to see assimilated to a generalised monitoring of the Internet.
In the end, the text approved by Parliament on Wednesday retains the withdrawal within the hour of violent terrorist content (on the basis of an injunction from a competent authority), but automated filters will be excluded from the specific measures that companies will be encouraged (and not obliged) to implement in the event of recurring problems with violent content. The definition of 'terrorist content' has also been clarified. Exceptions are also provided for smaller platforms.
The Greens/EFA Group expressed its satisfaction with the Parliament’s work, which, in its view, has significantly improved the Commission's proposal, which is considered to curb freedom in some respects. The rapporteur was the British Daniel Dalton (ECR), and his entourage confirmed his intention to participate in the European elections if they take place in the United Kingdom, as well as his wish to remain involved in the negotiations that will open with the EU Council under Parliament’s next mandate. In any case, it is under the next parliamentary term that negotiations with the EU Council will begin. Link to the text: https://bit.ly/2DiWMCq. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)