This
2001 article indicates that questions of EU dictatorship and
censorship go back at least 15 years.
Euro-court outlaws criticism of EU
Ambrose Evans- Pritchard
7 March, 2001
THE European Court of Justice ruled yesterday that the European Union can lawfully suppress political criticism of its institutions and of leading figures, sweeping aside English Common Law and 50 years of European precedents on civil liberties.
The EU's top court found that the European Commission was entitled to sack Bernard Connolly, a British economist dismissed in 1995 for writing a critique of European monetary integration entitled The Rotten Heart of Europe.
The ruling stated that the commission could restrict dissent in order to "protect the rights of others" and punish individuals who "damaged the institution's image and reputation". The case has wider implications for free speech that could extend to EU citizens who do not work for the Brussels bureaucracy.
The court called the Connolly book "aggressive, derogatory and insulting", taking particular umbrage at the author's suggestion that Economic and Monetary Union was a threat to democracy, freedom and "ultimately peace".
However, it dropped an argument put forward three months ago by the advocate-general, Damaso Ruiz-Jarabo Colomer, which implied that Mr Connolly's criticism of the EU was akin to extreme blasphemy, and therefore not protected speech.
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Mr Connolly, who has been told to pay the European Commission's legal costs, said the proceedings did not amount to a fair hearing. He said: "We're back to the Star Chamber and Acts of Attainder: the rights of defendants are not respected or guaranteed in any way; the offence of seditious libel has been resurrected."
Mr Colomer wrote in his opinion last November that a landmark British case on free speech had "no foundation or relevance" in European law, suggesting that the European Court was unwilling to give much consideration to British legal tradition.
Mr Connolly now intends to take his case to Europe's other court, the non-EU European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
European Union Declares War On Internet Free Speech
3
June, 2016
- Opponents counter that the initiative amounts to an assault on free speech in Europe. They say that the European Union's definition of "hate speech" and "incitement to violence" is so vague that it could include virtually anything deemed politically incorrect by European authorities, including criticism of mass migration, Islam or even the EU itself.
- Some Members of the European Parliament have characterized the EU's code of online conduct -- which requires "offensive" material to be removed from the Internet within 24 hours -- as "Orwellian."
- "By deciding that 'xenophobic' comment in reaction to the crisis is also 'racist,' Facebook has made the view of the majority of the European people... into 'racist' views, and so is condemning the majority of Europeans as 'racist.'" — Douglas Murray.
- In January 2013, Facebook suspended the account of Khaled Abu Toameh after he wrote about corruption in the Palestinian Authority. The account was reopened 24 hours later, but with the two posts deleted and no explanation.
The
European Union (EU), in partnership with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
and Microsoft, has unveiled a "code of conduct" to combat
the spread of "illegal hate speech" online in Europe.
Proponents
of the initiative argue that in the aftermath of the recent terrorist
attacks in Paris and Brussels, a crackdown on "hate speech"
is necessary to counter jihadist propaganda online.
Opponents
counter that the initiative amounts to an assault on free speech in
Europe. They
say that the EU's definition of "hate speech" and
"incitement to violence" is so vague that it could include
virtually anything deemed politically incorrect by European
authorities, including criticism of mass migration, Islam or even the
European Union itself.
Some
Members of the European Parliament have characterized the EU's code
of online conduct — which requires "offensive" material
to be removed from the Internet within 24 hours, and replaced with
"counter-narratives" — as "Orwellian."
The
"code of conduct" was announced on May 31 in a statement by
the European Commission, the unelected administrative arm of the
European Union. A summary of
the initiative follows:
"By signing this code of conduct, the IT companies commit to continuing their efforts to tackle illegal hate speech online. This will include the continued development of internal procedures and staff training to guarantee that they review the majority of valid notifications for removal of illegal hate speech in less than 24 hours and remove or disable access to such content, if necessary.
"The IT companies will also endeavor to strengthen their ongoing partnerships with civil society organisations who will help flag content that promotes incitement to violence and hateful conduct. The IT companies and the European Commission also aim to continue their work in identifying andpromoting independent counter-narratives [emphasis added], new ideas and initiatives, and supporting educational programs that encourage critical thinking."
"The IT Companies share the European Commission's and EU Member States' commitment to tackle illegal hate speech online. Illegal hate speech, as defined by the Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA of 28 November 2008 on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law and national laws transposing it, means all conduct publicly inciting to violence or hatred directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to race, color, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin....
"The IT Companies support the European Commission and EU Member States in the effort to respond to the challenge of ensuring that online platforms do not offer opportunities for illegal online hate speech to spread virally. The spread of illegal hate speech online not only negatively affects the groups or individuals that it targets, it also negatively impacts those who speak out for freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination in our open societies and has a chilling effect on the democratic discourse on online platforms.
"While the effective application of provisions criminalizing hate speech is dependent on a robust system of enforcement of criminal law sanctions against the individual perpetrators of hate speech, this work must be complemented with actions geared at ensuring that illegal hate speech online is expeditiously acted upon by online intermediaries and social media platforms, upon receipt of a valid notification, in an appropriate time-frame. To be considered valid in this respect, a notification should not be insufficiently precise or inadequately substantiated.
"The IT Companies, taking the lead on countering the spread of illegal hate speech online, have agreed with the European Commission on a code of conduct setting the following public commitments:
"The IT Companies to have in place clear and effective processes to review notifications regarding illegal hate speech on their services so they can remove or disable access to such content. The IT companies to have in place Rules or Community Guidelines clarifying that they prohibit the promotion of incitement to violence and hateful conduct.
"The IT Companies to review the majority of valid notifications for removal of illegal hate speech in less than 24 hours and remove or disable access to such content, if necessary.
"The IT Companies and the European Commission, recognising the value of independent counter speech against hateful rhetoric and prejudice, aim to continue their work in identifying and promoting independent counter-narratives, new ideas and initiatives and supporting educational programs that encourage critical thinking."
The
agreement also requires Internet companies to establish a network of
"trusted reporters" in all 28 EU member states to flag
online content that "promotes incitement to violence and hateful
conduct."
The
EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, V?ra
Jourová, has defended the
initiative:
"The recent terror attacks have reminded us of the urgent need to address illegal online hate speech. Social media is unfortunately one of the tools that terrorist groups use to radicalize young people and racists use to spread violence and hatred. This agreement is an important step forward to ensure that the internet remains a place of free and democratic expression, where European values and laws are respected. I welcome the commitment of worldwide IT companies to review the majority of valid notifications for removal of illegal hate speech in less than 24 hours and remove or disable access to such content, if necessary."
Others
disagree. The
National Secular Society (NSS) of the UK warned that the EU's plans
"rest on a vague definition of 'hate speech' and risk
threatening online discussions which criticize religion."
It added:
"The agreement comes amid repeated accusations from ex-Muslims that social media organizations are censoring them online. The Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain has now begun collecting examples from its followers of Facebook censoring 'atheist, secular and ex-Muslim content' after false 'mass reporting' by 'cyber Jihadists.' They have asked their supporters to report details and evidence of any instances of pages and groups being 'banned [or] suspended from Facebook for criticizing Islam and Islamism.'"
"Far from tackling online 'cyber jihad,' the agreement risks having the exact opposite effect and entrapping any critical discussion of religion under vague 'hate speech' rules. Poorly-trained Facebook or Twitter staff, perhaps with their own ideological bias, could easily see heated criticism of Islam and think it is 'hate speech,' particularly if pages or users are targeted and mass reported by Islamists."
"Hate speech laws are already too broad and ambiguous in much of Europe. This agreement fails to properly define what 'illegal hate speech' is and does not provide sufficient safeguards for freedom of expression.
"It devolves power once again to unelected corporations to determine what amounts to hate speech and police it — a move that is guaranteed to stifle free speech in the mistaken belief this will make us all safer. It won't. It will simply drive unpalatable ideas and opinions underground where they are harder to police — or to challenge.
"There have been precedents of content removal for unpopular or offensive viewpoints and this agreement risks amplifying the phenomenon of deleting controversial — yet legal — content via misuse or abuse of the notification processes."
A
coalition of free speech organizations, European Digital Rights and
Access Now, announced their decision not to take part in future
discussions with the European Commission, saying that "we do not
have confidence in the ill-considered 'code of conduct' that was
agreed." A statement warned:
"In short, the 'code of conduct' downgrades the law to a second-class status, behind the 'leading role' of private companies that are being asked to arbitrarily implement their terms of service. This process, established outside an accountable democratic framework, exploits unclear liability rules for online companies. It also creates serious risks for freedom of expression, as legal — but controversial — content may well be deleted as a result of this voluntary and unaccountable take-down mechanism.
"This means that this 'agreement' between only a handful of companies and the European Commission is likely in breach of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (under which restrictions on fundamental rights should be provided for by law), and will, in practical terms, overturn case law of the European Court of Human Rights on the defense of legal speech."
Janice
Atkinson, an independent MEP for the South East England
region, summed it
up this way: "It's
Orwellian. Anyone who has read 1984 sees its very re-enactment live."
Even
before signing on to the EU's code of conduct, social media sites
have been cracking down on free speech, often at the behest of
foreign governments.
In
September 2015, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was overheard on
a live microphone confronting Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on what he
was doing to prevent criticism of her open-door immigration policies.
In
January 2016, Facebook launched an
"Online
Civil Courage Initiative"
aimed at Facebook users in Germany and geared toward "fighting
hate speech and extremism on the Internet."
Writing
for Gatestone Institute, British commentator Douglas
Murray noted that
Facebook's assault on "racist" speech "appears to
include anything critical of the EU's current catastrophic
immigration policy." He wrote:
"By deciding that 'xenophobic' comment in reaction to the crisis is also 'racist,' Facebook has made the view of the majority of the European people (who, it must be stressed, are opposed to Chancellor Merkel's policies) into 'racist' views, and so is condemning the majority of Europeans as 'racist.' This is a policy that will do its part in pushing Europe into a disastrous future.
Facebook
has also set its sights on Gatestone Institute affiliated writers. In
January 2013, Facebook suspendedthe
account of Khaled Abu Toameh after he wrote about corruption in the
Palestinian Authority. The account was reopened 24 hours later, but
with the two posts deleted and no explanation. Abu Toameh wrote:
"It's still a matter of censorship. They decide what's acceptable. Now we have to be careful about what we post and what we share. Does this mean we can't criticize Arab governments anymore?"
In
June 2016, Facebook suspended the
account of Ingrid Carlqvist, Gatestone's Swedish expert, after she
posted a Gatestone video to her Facebook feed — called "Sweden's
Migrant Rape Epidemic." In
an editorial,
Gatestone wrote:
Gatestone wrote:
"After enormous grassroots pressure from Gatestone's readers, the Swedish media started reporting on Facebook's heavy-handed censorship. It backfired, and Facebook went into damage-control mode. They put Ingrid's account back up — without any explanation or apology. Ironically, their censorship only gave Ingrid's video more attention.
"Facebook and the EU have backed down — for now. But they're deadly serious about stopping ideas they don't like. They'll be back."
This
week, the EU, in partnership with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and
Microsoft, unveiled a "code of conduct" to combat the
spread of "illegal hate speech" online in Europe. The next
day, Facebook suspended the account of Ingrid Carlqvist, Gatestone's
Swedish expert, after she posted a Gatestone video to her Facebook
feed — called "Sweden's Migrant Rape Epidemic."
Merkel Panics! Tells British Voters That They Would Be
Punished If They Vote Brexit German Chancellor Angela Merkel accused of trying to bully Britain into staying in the EU.
3
June, 2016
Three
weeks to go until the Brexit referendum on June 23, and once
again Angela Merkel was messing things up in what has become habitual
for the train wreck that is the German Chancellor.
Following
her mentor Obama’s lead, the German Chancellor sparked a backlash
after saying the UK could not expect favourable trade deals if it was
‘outside the room’. This is of course verbatim of what Obama said
just a few weeks ago. Originality
is obviously not one of the Chancellors’ strong points.
Panic
is clearly setting in as Obama, followed by Merkel, are both trying
to bully Britain into staying in the EU… warning that the UK would
be punished if voters go for the Brexit option. This can only mean
that it is clearly in the UK’s best interest to get the hell out of
Brussels.
You
know when Barry and friends push hard to get your country do
something, it is best to do the exact opposite.
The
Daily Mail has
more on Angela’s threats to the British public…
German Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed for Britain to stay in the EU during a press conference in Berlin
Boris Johnson accused the Foreign Office of orchestrating the threats, and said it suggested EU leaders had ‘hit the panic button’ as polls shifted in favour of the Leave camp.
‘The Foreign Office is now desperately wheeling out foreign leaders to threaten the British people with retaliation if they dare to vote to leave and take back control,’ said the former London mayor.
‘The Germans and the Dutch must be worried that if we stop sending Brussels £350million a week they will have to pick up our tab for the EU’s largesse. Angela Merkel’s claims that we will have more negotiating influence if we stay in the EU are completely hollow. David Cameron tried to get reforms to free movement but she blocked them.
‘The In campaign are panicking because they can see that people are turning against them and simply do not believe their relentless campaign of doom and gloom.’
Former Tory defence secretary Liam Fox hit out at the ‘veiled threats’ from Mrs Merkel and other EU leaders, saying: ‘When will they understand we will not be bullied into staying?’ Labour MP and Leave campaigner Kate Hoey said the German leader would be ‘well advised to stay out of what is a very, very important vote for British democracy’.
Former Tory defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth said Mrs Merkel’s refusal to offer serious concessions during David Cameron’s renegotiation showed Britain had no influence inside the EU. ‘Britain was instrumental in rebuilding Germany after the war and helping to restore democracy,’ he said. ‘To be lectured by them for wanting to reclaim our own democracy is a bit rich, and very disappointing.
He added: ‘The idea that we have influence inside the EU is for the birds.’
Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg suggested the veiled threat to punish Britain was bogus, as any attempt at a trade war would hit the economies of EU member states hard.
He said: ‘Does Mrs Merkel want to punish German car manufacturers from whom we import billions of pounds of cars each year?’
Mrs Merkel has so far kept out of the EU referendum debate because of fears that a German Chancellor lecturing British voters would backfire.
But with the polls this week suggesting support for Brexit is gathering, she has waded in.
Speaking in Berlin, Mrs Merkel said Britain would have far more influence ‘at the bargaining table’ – and suggested it would struggle to strike a good trade deal. ‘You will never get a really good result in negotiations, particularly on very important issues, when you’re not in the room and giving input,’ she said.
Via: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3621972/Now-Merkel-wades-EU-referendum-debate-warning-Britain-won-t-good-result-vote-leave.html
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Admits Plans To Censor Anti-Migrant Posts
Mark Zuckerberg was heard saying Facebook "need[s] to do some work" on censoring anti-immigrant posts regarding the refugee crisis.
While talking to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Mark Zuckerberg was overheard discussing his website's censorship of a wave of anti-immigrant posts. (Photo : Twitter Photo Section)
Over the weekend, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was overheard discussing with German Chancellor Angela Merkel his website's censorship of a wave of anti-immigrant posts appearing on the social network as Europe continues to deal with the largest refugee crisis since World War II, reported Bloomberg.
During a Saturday luncheon on the sidelines of a United Nations summit in New York, Merkel was caught on a hot mic asking Zuckerberg how his site is working to curtail incendiary comments that are critical of "the wave of Syrian refugees entering Germany,"according to CNBC. As participants took their seats, the pair could be heard on a live transmission broadcast on the U.N. website.
Zuckerberg was heard responding that Facebook "need[s] to do some work" on censoring the anti-immigrant posts regarding the refugee crisis.
It begins: Facebook deletes page of critic of Muslim migrant invasion
2 June, 2016
Yesterday I wrote that the new initiative of Twitter and Facebook to eliminate so-called “hate speech” would be directed not at jihad terrorists, or at least not solely, but also at foes of jihad terror and related issues. Now it begins. This kind of action is the death knell of free society.
Dear Readers,
On Tuesday, the European Union (EU) announced a new online speech code to be enforced by four major tech companies, including Facebook and YouTube.
On Wednesday, Facebook deleted the account of Ingrid Carlqvist, Gatestone’s Swedish expert.
It’s no coincidence.
Ingrid had posted our latest video to her Facebook feed — called “Sweden’s Migrant Rape Epidemic.” As you can see, Ingrid calmly lays out the facts and statistics, all of which are meticulously researched.
It’s a video version of this research paper that Gatestone published last year. The video has gone viral — racking up more than 80,000 views in its first two days.
But the EU is quite candid: it is applying a political lens to their censorship, and it now has teams of political informants — with the Orwellian title of “trusted reporters” — to report any cases of “xenophobia” or “hate speech” to Facebook for immediate deletion.
It’s political censorship. It’s outrageous. And it’s contrary to our western values of free speech, political freedom and the separation of mosque and state. But in another way, it’s a tremendous compliment — the world’s censors think that Gatestone Institute’s work is important enough and persuasive enough that it needs to be silenced.
Well, not if we have anything to say about it. We raised such a ruckus about this attack that the Swedish media started reporting on Facebook’s heavy-handed censorship. It backfired, and Facebook went into damage-control mode. They put Ingrid’s account back up — without any explanation or apology. Ironically, their censorship only gave Ingrid’s video more attention.
Facebook and the EU have backed down — for today. But they’re deadly serious about stopping ideas they don’t like. They’ll be back….
Read the rest here.
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