Dossier reveals proposals for EU-wide content blocking
By Stewart Mitchell
Posted on 12 May 2011 at 16:14
Details have emerged of the EU's controversial discussions about forming a European-wide firewall-style system to block illegal content.
The details of a presentation made at a February meeting of the Law Enforcement Working Party (LEWP) of the Council of the European Union, were revealed under a Freedom of Information request made by civil liberties group Article 19.
The document comes branded with the Hungarian presidency logo, but came with a warning that said it did not necessarily represent the official line of European regulators.
However, the document Toward the single European cyberspace does show that top-level politicians are discussing a wider remit for blocking co-operation in the EU, where some countries, including Germany already block content.
“We propose a joint solution for the governmental (law enforcement) and non-governmental sectors and NGOs,” said the report, by an author whose name was removed from the documents to protect their privacy.
“The transfer of the illegally published content into the EU can be prevented by a safety net, a virtual 'Schengen-border' set up in cyber space. At the 'virtual access points' of the ISPs of the EU, illicit content can be stopped if it violates EU norms.”
The system would rely on a blacklist that would be imposed on ISPs to enforce, the document proposed. The system would mirror the IWF's child porn blocking efforts in the UK, but could have wider implications.
Although the initial use would be to block the publicly indefensible content, the document said the firewall was ripe for function creep once it was established.
"This is only the first step to block paedophile content within the EU – upon the agreement of the member states - it is possible in the future to broaden the cooperation of the blocking process (by involving other types of crime," it read.
From around the web
doh
Are these guys really this dumb?
Can some 14 year old please explain to them how impossible the task is?
China can't do it, the oppressive dictators with all of that control can't do it...
Awe forget it... its all been said here before. Yawn... Got to go and log into my SSL VPN now... Onions to them!
By Kevin000 on 12 May 2011 
impossible task
It will work well enough to allow censoring the vast majority of EU citizens.
Don't forget, the politicians only want to be seen to be doing something and if they can gain some control over what is on 'their' network (and that's how many of them see it) then they'll be happy - especially if they can spend lots of money to do it as well.
By greemble on 12 May 2011
It will just drive people to alternative means.
Back in my old school we had web filters, we used to bypass them ALL the time.
While this one would probably be more advanced, I still doubt it will be that effective for those who really want to do anything.
By tech3475 on 12 May 2011
yet More Taxpayer Money Wasted
(Rhetorical question)
Why will idiot, lying politicians never learn?
Answer: Because spending (read wasting) other peoples money is easy.
This is impossible to do as anyone with a bit of tech savvy will easily work around it. It will be yet another black hole into which vast amounts of taxpeyers money will be thrown. Don't believe me. Then just reflect on how absolutely useless the expensive UK Information Commissioners Office is.
By jontym123 on 13 May 2011
Not got high hopes
They can't operate a real EU wide border, a virtual one will be no different. This is a clear sign that the EU is out of touch with reality. Early in the week is was a plan to phase of petrol and diesal cars by 2050, now it's a plan to control internet access.
By stuscott1978 on 13 May 2011
"onions to them"
@Kevin000
I suspect that Tor traffic would be on the blacklist.
*
*
To be honest I don't think this is such a bad thing, it will be a throw back to days gone by where you needed to know what your doing to enable you to do as you please online.
*
As has been said already though, if china can't do it, I think it is laughable to think that the EU are going to be able to beat them.
*
I wont be losing any sleep over it.
By Anonymouse on 14 May 2011
"onions to them"
@Kevin000
I suspect that Tor traffic would be on the blacklist.
*
*
To be honest I don't think this is such a bad thing, it will be a throw back to days gone by where you needed to know what your doing to enable you to do as you please online.
*
As has been said already though, if china can't do it, I think it is laughable to think that the EU are going to be able to beat them.
*
I wont be losing any sleep over it.
By Anonymouse on 14 May 2011
EU Creeps
I agree with most of the statements already presented.
The aspect becomes mind control bureaucracy by mission creep until when ANY political views might be deemed "unreasonable".
If the paedophile content is blocked, they will find some other way to re-distribute their disturbing material and be harder to track in going "underground".
By lenmontieth on 14 May 2011
advertisement
- Laptop bag reviews: nine tested
- Sony VAIO T Series Ultrabook review: first look
- Revealed: the military standards and robots HP uses to test its laptops
- Windows 8: multi-monitors and double standards?
- Why is TalkTalk's year-old porn filter suddenly big news?
- Why are laptop screens so far behind mobiles?
- HP EliteBook Folio review: first look
- The shoebox-sized all-in-one printer
- Forget the Ultrabook: here comes the HP Sleekbook
- HP Spectre XT review: first look
- Why you have to be left in the dark on OS patches
- Is Microsoft mismanaging Windows on ARM?
- Dealing with spam surrogates
- Why 3G broadband can be better and cheaper than ADSL
- Is Twitter bad for business?
- Publishing your email address isn't a security disaster
- Why you'll need a fax machine to develop iOS apps
- Learning to adapt to the mobile web
- Why you shouldn't use WPS on your Wi-Fi network
- Disabled users suffer when software breaks the rules
advertisement
