OpenMedia is joining a huge global coalition to defend strong encryption.

Experts warn that today’s heavy-handed European Commission proposals will stifle free expression and people’s ability to share news and access information online.

November 17, 2015 – Civil society and digital rights groups are sounding the alarm about a public consultation run by the European Commission on the role of online platforms, the result of which could be new copyright rules that would effectively shut down people’s right to freely link online. The 75,000-strong Save The Link network has created an Internet Voice Tool to send feedback to the Commission as part of their consultation. A recently leaked draft communication on copyright reform reveals that the European Commission is considering copyrighting the act of linking to content freely available elsewhere online. Earlier this year, the European Parliament firmly rejected a proposal that could have resulted in a new EU-wide ‘Link Tax’, and this leaked document appears to be an attempt to raise the issue once more.

For Immediate Release Agreement includes provisions to censor the Internet, rob the public domain, undermine data privacy, and force TPP countries to import draconian copyright rules November 5, 2015 – Over a month since a deal was first announced, the full text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement has finally been revealed. The text, published today by the New Zealand government, will force the 12 participating TPP nations to import draconian copyright rules. It also threatens to undermine data privacy, rob the public domain, and induce Internet providers to censor websites.

Confirmed: 20-year copyright term extensions, new rules that would induce ISPs to block websites, and criminal penalties for the circumvention of digital locks October 9, 2015 – This morning, WikiLeaks released the final version of the TPP’s Intellectual Property Chapter, just days after the 12 participating TPP countries finalized the agreement. Internet freedom group OpenMedia warns that the leak confirms Internet advocates greatest fears, including: new provisions that would induce Internet Service Providers to block websites without a court ruling, 20-year copyright term extensions, and new criminal penalties for the circumvention of digital locks. Reacting to the leak, OpenMedia’s Digital Rights Specialist Meghan Sali had this to say:

75,000-strong Save The Link Campaign welcomes the rejection of proposal that could have resulted in severe repercussions for free speech online

On Thursday, the European Parliament will hold its final vote on a key report on the Harmonization of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the Information Society. The report recognises that copyright reform is needed to improve the Digital Single Market and to facilitate access to knowledge and culture for all Europeans. Its recommendations have been broadly welcomed by pro-Internet organizations across the European Union and the world, although they were watered down since the report’s original drafting in order to gain consensus. A last-minute amendment tabled by German MEP Angelika Niebler could pave the way for an introduction of an EU-wide ancillary copyright law - more commonly known as a ‘Link Tax’ - that would have devastating consequences on people’s right to express themselves freely online, and universal access to knowledge. This proposal had already been rejected by the Legal Affairs Committee where the report originated.

May 6, 2015 – A large network of over 50 organizations from 21 countries is coming together to “Save The Link”. Today, the network is launching a multilingual international campaign aimed at pushing back against efforts by powerful media conglomerates to censor links and stifle free expression on the Internet. One of the proposals being advanced could make users personally liable for the content of websites they link to online. The campaign launches as legislators in the EU are considering a major copyright review, including amendments to the European Union’s Copyright Directive that experts say would fundamentally undermine the right to link. In addition, a recent leak from the European Commission reveals measures that could force online companies to monitor the activities of Internet users in order to block content in other countries. In tandem with the launch of the campaign, organizers have set up a Thunderclap social media amplification tool demanding that legislators protect the right to link. The message will reach over 1.4 million people.