05 October 2022
Filtering fundamental rights
On platforms, the protection of fundamental rights is increasingly provided by algorithms. With the Digital Services Act (DSA) at the door, algorithms used for copyright protection were probably only the first step in regard to automated decision-making. Indeed, the DSA, conceived by the Union legislator as the new constitution of the Internet, presupposes the use of algorithmic filtering. Human pre-examination has become impossible due to the sheer amount of user-generated content. Filters are an effective moderation tool that is cost-effective compared to human review. But being fast is easier than being right: the usual method of applying European fundamental rights hangs heavily on the proportionality test, which at least at the current technological level escapes automation: fundamental rights cannot be filtered. Continue reading >>
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16 May 2022
Between Filters and Fundamental Rights
On 26 April 2022 the CJEU delivered its much-awaited judgement in Case C-401/19 – Poland v. Parliament and Council. The case concerns the validity of Article 17 of the Copyright in the Digital Single Market Directive in light of fundamental rights. The judgment marks the climax of a turbulent journey in the area of copyright law, with potential implications for the future of platform regulation and content moderation in EU law. Continue reading >>
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18 November 2020
In zwei Stunden von Luxemburg nach Brüssel spazieren
Vor anderthalb Jahren gingen knapp 200.000 Menschen gegen die EU-Urheberrechtsreform auf die Straße. Stein des Anstoßes war Artikel 17 der Urheberrechtsrichtlinie, der bestimmte Online-Plattformen für die Urheberrechtsverletzungen ihrer Nutzer:innen in Haftung nimmt. Um dem zu entgehen, müssen Plattformen auf Wunsch von Rechteinhaber:innen den Zugang zu deren Werken sperren. Die Befürchtung, dass auch legale Nutzungen den Uploadfiltern zum Opfer fallen werden, trieb die Menschen auf die Straße. Zwar sind die Proteste nach der Verabschiedung der Richtlinie zunächst verebbt, während die Mitgliedstaaten mit der komplizierten Aufgabe betraut sind, Artikel 17 in ihr nationales Urheberrecht zu überführen. Es wäre jedoch ein Fehler, die relative Ruhe als Zeichen für die Lösung der grundlegenden Probleme rund um Artikel 17 zu interpretieren. Der Konflikt wurde stattdessen nur von den Straßen in den Gerichtssaal getragen. Continue reading >>16 November 2020
Walking from Luxembourg to Brussels in two hours
A little over a year ago, close to 200,000 people took to the streets to protest the European copyright reform. At the core of the controversy about the Copyright Directive lies Article 17, which makes certain online platforms directly liable for copyright infringements of their users. Protests have died down after the adoption of the directive, as Member States are engaged in the difficult task of transposing Article 17 into national law. It would be a mistake, however, to take this relative calm for an indication that the conflict has been resolved. While the implementation deadline for the Member States is coming closer, the conflicts have been taken to court. Continue reading >>25 June 2018