The European Commission has proposed a number of operational measures to monitor progress and efforts to tackle illegal content online.
The new measures to tackle illegal content online are recommended to allow member states to step up their work in this area, and cover a broad range of content types, including:
- Terrorist content;
- Incitement to hatred and violence;
- Counterfeit products;
- Child sexual abuse material; and
- Copyright infringement.
The recommendation follows a communication from the commission, in which it welcomed the progress made by online platforms to tackle illegal content online, and reaffirmed that it would increase its efforts in this area.
What areas will the new measures target?
The operational measures in the new recommendation will facilitate faster detection and removal, to better tackle illegal content online, and aim to reinforce co-operation between companies and law enforcement authorities through increased transparency and safeguards for citizens. The measures include:
- Making reporting for illegal content more transparent and using ‘trusted flaggers’;
- Introducing clear notification systems with proactive detection tools;
- Developing automated detection for use by smaller companies;
- Strengthening safeguards such as verification to protect human rights; and
- Improving co-operation with authorities if there is evidence of a criminal offence.
The recommendation also includes some additional proposals directed at preventing terrorist content online, including instituting a one hour rule, through which all reported content should be removed within hour. Further, the commission recommends member states report on their progress on a regular basis; preferably once every three months.
What did the commission say about the recommendations?
The commission’s Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip, emphasised the responsibilities that online platforms have to prevent their users from accessing illegal content, while also not infringing on their rights. The new regulations would allow companies to respond faster, he added.
Ansip said: “Online platforms are becoming people’s main gateway to information, so they have a responsibility to provide a secure environment for their users. What is illegal offline is also illegal online. While several platforms have been removing more illegal content than ever before – showing that self-regulation can work – we still need to react faster against terrorist propaganda and other illegal content which is a serious threat to our citizens’ security, safety and fundamental rights.”
