Press release: EU's chilling copyright crackdown an 'attack on openness'

EU's chilling copyright crackdown an 'attack on openness'

Feb. 14, 2019

NEWS FROM OPEN KNOWLEDGE INTERNATIONAL

EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE

EU’s CHILLING COPYRIGHT CRACKDOWN AN ‘ATTACK ON OPENNESS’

EU negotiators have struck a deal over copyright reform that is an ‘attack on openness’, the new chief executive of Open Knowledge International has warned. Catherine Stihler, a former MEP and vice-chair of the European Parliament’s consumer protection committee, said the changes will restrict internet freedoms for millions of users. The agreement will require platforms such as Youtube, Twitter or Google News to take down user-generated content that could breach intellectual property and install filters to prevent people from uploading copyrighted material. That means memes, GIFs and music remixes may be taken down because the copyright does not belong to the uploader. It could also restrict the sharing of vital research and facts, allowing ‘fake news’ to spread. The proposed changes will now head to the European Parliament for a vote among all MEPs in March or April. Open Knowledge International is a non-profit organisation which fights for open data and helps groups access and use data to address social problems.

Catherine Stihler, chief executive of Open Knowledge International, said: “This deeply disappointing deal is an attack on openness. “The copyright crackdown will lead to a chilling effect on freedom of speech across the EU. “Open data and content must be freely used, modified, and shared by anyone, and this move goes against that principle. “It does not enhance citizens’ rights, and could lead to Europe becoming a more closed society – restricting how we share research that could lead to medical breakthroughs or how we share facts to combat the spread of ‘fake news’. “I urge MEPs to vote down this proposal and fight for a future where our world is more open.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Open definition: http://opendefinition.org/

Agreement reached on digital copyright rules: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190212IPR26152/agreement-reached-on-digital-copyright-rules

Contact: Alan Roden at alan.roden@okfn.org or +44 07753 904 531

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