Results

In reaction to the enormous success a young German YouTuber had with a pre-election clip in which he harshly criticised the governing CDU, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the party's new leader, has suggested "regulation of the digital sector".

The draft law is intended to tackle hateful comments on online forums, but digital rights advocates and opposition politicians call it a direct attack on fundamental rights and the freedom of the internet.

The European Parliament has passed a new copyright regulation promising to give content creators fair pay for their work, but a controversial part of the law also threatens free speech and the free and open internet in Europe.

After half of the EU countries refused to accept the Romanian presidency’s compromise text for the draft Copyright Directive, talks seemed to reach a halt mid-January. Early this week a new compromise was found – but it maintains the threat of censorship.

The Lithuanian Parliament has started the new year by making fresh attempts to restrict the freedom of the media and the public to express their views.

Looking back at 2018, domestic violence against women was in focus, limits the media freedom were pushed, and the state moved to increase interference with our private lives. Public resistance helped to avaoid most negative consequences.

Free assembly is vital to democracy. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, then, that authoritarian governments in Europe are restricting this right in illegitimate ways.

Human rights and digital rights NGOs call on Justice and Home Affairs ministers of the EU to reconsider the proposed terrorist content regulation, as its current form it will harm free speech, journalism, and access to information.

EU decision-makers should ensure that the new regulation on copyright complies with human rights including specific safeguards to protect free speech.

Reforms to outmoded and restrictive laws are underway in Spain after Unidos Podemos calls for change.