Brussels, BELGIUM — European Civil Society and Technology Industry Associations sent a letter to European Commission leaders today asking them to live up to their role as guardian of the European Union treaties by providing a detailed opinion to the German government on its proposal.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association, EDiMA, EDRi, AccessNow and Digital Rights Ireland said the sort of internet filtering that would be required is unprecedented in democratic countries, is incompatible with EU law and would result in over take down, thus chilling free speech.
A national measure such as this would also have the effect of fragmenting Europe’s single market as the rules would be different in other European countries.
The following can be attributed to CCIA Europe Vice President James Waterworth:
“This proposal has clearly not been thought out properly and should be withdrawn to allow for greater thought to be given to these important questions. The European Commission should provide German with its opinion on the proposal, explaining how it contradicts European law.”
“The fact the Chancellor Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union came out publicly against the proposal last week means that the governing party, civil society and industry are all against this measure. It is clear the Commission needs to act.”