EU elections 2019: We will only vote for politicians who vote against Article 13(pledge2019.eu)
pledge2019.eu
EU elections 2019: We will only vote for politicians who vote against Article 13
https://pledge2019.eu
48 comments
You are not required to pledge which politician you are going to vote in the next EU elections.
The purpose for this is to facilitate contact between you and a local politician who has not publicly declared his/her vote intentions on article 13 yet.
Your job is to convince him/her to vote against article 13.
I understand that the title is a little misleading, but come on!
P.S. I'm italian too.
I understand that the title is a little misleading, but come on!
P.S. I'm italian too.
I will never vote for somebody who's opposing to a free EU
Besides, as a long time activist for internet freedom, I agree that something like article 13 is urgently needed.
There is no freedom without protection.
What EU is trying to do is to protect the small local EU actors against the tech giants from outside EU.
Besides, as a long time activist for internet freedom, I agree that something like article 13 is urgently needed.
There is no freedom without protection.
What EU is trying to do is to protect the small local EU actors against the tech giants from outside EU.
How is Article 13 helping small local EU actors?
> Platforms run by startups (small and micro-sized businesses) are exempted from the law.
> Licenses that platforms take out cover uploads by their users, as long as they act non-commercially or “don’t generate significant revenues”
> Uploaders can complain about blocked uploads and request impartial, human review. (it means real justice, not Facebook's justice or Twitter justice or youTube's justice)
Believe it or not, the platforms are already liable in case of legal infringement, it's not really different from before.
Right now YouTube just get away with it because "we have too much content to check".
The small players don't because, well, they are too small to even get a chance to fight.
> Licenses that platforms take out cover uploads by their users, as long as they act non-commercially or “don’t generate significant revenues”
> Uploaders can complain about blocked uploads and request impartial, human review. (it means real justice, not Facebook's justice or Twitter justice or youTube's justice)
Believe it or not, the platforms are already liable in case of legal infringement, it's not really different from before.
Right now YouTube just get away with it because "we have too much content to check".
The small players don't because, well, they are too small to even get a chance to fight.
> Platforms run by startups (small and micro-sized businesses) are exempted from the law.
Are they? From what I understand, in the latest proposal they're not except. Or maybe only when they're less than 3 years old, which isn't very helpful.
The real problem is that the technology for this doesn't even exist, and if it exists, it exists only in the hands of Facebook and Google, forcing everybody else into their arms, giving Facebook and Google even more power.
> Licenses that platforms take out cover uploads by their users, as long as they act non-commercially or “don’t generate significant revenues”
So that means every single blog has to get licenses with an unlimited number of potential rights holders on the off chance that a commenter might quote something from them. That's completely unreasonable.
> Believe it or not, the platforms are already liable in case of legal infringement, it's not really different from before.
It is different, because after this passes, platforms are required to filter using technology that doesn't exist, and will probably err on simply blocking nearly everything from the EU, just to be safe.
Has any of the supporters of this law considered that in order to check all uploads against copyrighted material, every single platform needs access to a database containing every single copyright work? Nowhere have I seen any reasonable explanation of how this is supposed to work.
Are they? From what I understand, in the latest proposal they're not except. Or maybe only when they're less than 3 years old, which isn't very helpful.
The real problem is that the technology for this doesn't even exist, and if it exists, it exists only in the hands of Facebook and Google, forcing everybody else into their arms, giving Facebook and Google even more power.
> Licenses that platforms take out cover uploads by their users, as long as they act non-commercially or “don’t generate significant revenues”
So that means every single blog has to get licenses with an unlimited number of potential rights holders on the off chance that a commenter might quote something from them. That's completely unreasonable.
> Believe it or not, the platforms are already liable in case of legal infringement, it's not really different from before.
It is different, because after this passes, platforms are required to filter using technology that doesn't exist, and will probably err on simply blocking nearly everything from the EU, just to be safe.
Has any of the supporters of this law considered that in order to check all uploads against copyrighted material, every single platform needs access to a database containing every single copyright work? Nowhere have I seen any reasonable explanation of how this is supposed to work.
No, platforms run by startups are not exempted. The criteria for exception are:
Available to the public for less than 3 years AND
Annual turnover below €10 million AND
Fewer than 5 million unique monthly visitors
So, the Open Source site we've been putting together in our spare time over the last few years (dbhub.io)... probably won't be exempted. Ugh.
It might, if it does not found as "for profit". Where this line will be drawn is unknown.
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> I will never vote for somebody who's opposing to a free EU
I would count anyone who supports article 13 as opposed to a free EU.
I would count anyone who supports article 13 as opposed to a free EU.
Do you get the option to vote blank? I'd go for that instead; choosing the lesser evil (or greater in this case?) should never be mandatory.
I'm not sure what I'm voting yet, but I'm sure I'll vote for a stronger EU, not a weaker EU.
The blank option is of course possible, but I do not like it.
I consider it the lesser evil.
The blank option is of course possible, but I do not like it.
I consider it the lesser evil.
"BTW they are only opposing to article 13 because Putin asked them to do so" I am really curious why Putin would care about that? How this law affects Russia?
FWIW, at least in the US, Russia has been seen promoting both sides of conflicts that get people riled up politically online. The goal may not be "to support Article 13", but "cause discord and strife regarding Article 13".
Easy: they are winning the information warfare and don't want to be stopped.
Fake news and propaganda are one obvious target of article 13.
Fake news and propaganda are one obvious target of article 13.
You sold me
>they are only opposing to article 13 because Putin asked them to do so
The technical term for what happened here is "jumping the shark" [1]. Accusations of this or that worldview or tendencies is one thing, but injecting conspiracy theories into serious discussion is entirely different ballpark.
Especially when it's already well documented how terrible Article 13 is.
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[1] https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jumping%20th...
The technical term for what happened here is "jumping the shark" [1]. Accusations of this or that worldview or tendencies is one thing, but injecting conspiracy theories into serious discussion is entirely different ballpark.
Especially when it's already well documented how terrible Article 13 is.
--
[1] https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jumping%20th...
It's not.
There are many proofs about contacts between Lega or 5 star movement and Putin's emissaries.
Unfortunately many of them are in Italian.
Just look for Jacobo Iacoboni articles, that might have been translated and published in english.
His book 'the experiment' is also worth reading.
There are many proofs about contacts between Lega or 5 star movement and Putin's emissaries.
Unfortunately many of them are in Italian.
Just look for Jacobo Iacoboni articles, that might have been translated and published in english.
His book 'the experiment' is also worth reading.
I don't doubt that Lega and 5 star have a connection with Putin, but what is Putin's interest in opposing Article 13?
If anything, I'd expect him to support it, hoping to ruin European internet access.
If anything, I'd expect him to support it, hoping to ruin European internet access.
Ugh, yet another bullshit website trying to turn people into single-issue voters on an election that's far more complex and wide-reaching than just who bears the responsibility of content filtering.
Single-issue voting hurts everyone including yourself.
Single-issue voting hurts everyone including yourself.
I could not disagree more.
Regardless of the article itself, I think this mechanism is the future of citizens taking control of politics.
The point is, by a large group of people picking their most important issue, and pledging to be single-issue publicly, it puts REAL and VISIBLE pressure on those politicians to represent them on those issues.
Once the issue is fixed, people can move on to the next-most important issue they would like to be represented on.
Regardless of the article itself, I think this mechanism is the future of citizens taking control of politics.
The point is, by a large group of people picking their most important issue, and pledging to be single-issue publicly, it puts REAL and VISIBLE pressure on those politicians to represent them on those issues.
Once the issue is fixed, people can move on to the next-most important issue they would like to be represented on.
There are multiple parties opposing Article 13. You can still let other issues determine that choice. But surely internet freedom is a really big issue on the EU level. I can't think of any other current issue that's so clear cut. Well, Brexit, I suppose, but that's mostly up to the UK.
If they at least turn people into voters they’d have achieved a lot. Most people don’t care about European politics at all, that’s why they get away with ridiculous crap like this article.
But article 13 is a single issue thing for me. If article 13 passes then nothing else the EU can do will ever make up for it other than repealing it. Repealing anything in the EU is virtually impossible though.
I think the long-term implications of article 13 are bad enough that if it were financially possible for me, I would move out of the EU. A free and open internet is one of the few nice things in life for me.
I think the long-term implications of article 13 are bad enough that if it were financially possible for me, I would move out of the EU. A free and open internet is one of the few nice things in life for me.
Can we push political pledges onto the top of HN? This isn't a news article or anything of substance.
I don't like Article 13, but I don't believe there are many people whose only or even top priority is Article 13. There are many issues to vote on.
I'm actually on the fence on article 13, I actually like the fact that commercial operators will be liable for the content on their platform under art. 13.
For me, article 11 is way more important, making publishers liable for content on someone else's server, that's just insane.
Hoo boy, ContentID for the Internet. Man, once upon a time I remember when we'd make a website for our friends and then just share it with more people if they were interested. Everyone would accept that this is a caveat emptor product and go along with it.
This particular one has exemptions for small groups but we know the cost of compliance is non-zero. When I have to hire a lawyer for my personal website, I'm already in trouble.
I guess we just need to maxmind our way out of the EU. So be it.
This particular one has exemptions for small groups but we know the cost of compliance is non-zero. When I have to hire a lawyer for my personal website, I'm already in trouble.
I guess we just need to maxmind our way out of the EU. So be it.
>Man, once upon a time I remember when we'd make a website for our friends and then just share it with more people if they were interested.
You can't just do that right now anyway. GDPR already puts a bunch of burdens on you that you must handle.
You can't just do that right now anyway. GDPR already puts a bunch of burdens on you that you must handle.
Yup, I definitely count that as a recent development that interferes.
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How about vote no on the EU altogether. This entity is too large, too powerful and has a track record of passing terrible laws around internet usage.
How about vote no on the EU altogether. This entity is too large, too powerful and has a track record of passing terrible laws around internet usage.
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!
The EU provides considerable benefits for Europe, arguably the most important, but also the most invisible, being peace. World War II ended only 74 years ago. To be a little dramatic: As a German, I'll gladly pay bureaucracy for peace.
There's trade benefits inside the EU, free travel for all citizens, and, recently added, no more roaming fees for mobile phones. This is just what comes to mind right now.
There's plenty to criticize and reform in the EU, but I disagree that leaving would improve things for any country.
>As a German, I'll gladly pay bureaucracy for peace. There's trade benefits inside the EU, free travel for all citizens, and, recently added, no more roaming fees for mobile phones.
Of course brain drain has been hugely beneficial for Germany. It also helps Germany that weaker economies are tied to the euro which keeps the euro's exchange rate down.
I used to be pro-EU, but time and time again they create regulations and directives that are simply harmful for our future or don't consider collateral damage. Furthermore, Germany and France seem to be pushing hard on becoming rulers whether the other members want it or not.
>but I disagree that leaving would improve things for any country.
Of course leaving won't improve things because the EU will try to punish any leavers as much as possible. The entire EU situation is just depressing, because you can't leave, it won't improve and bad decisions keep being made and you're forced to abide by them. And what makes it even worse is that the pro-EU people are telling me that I should be happy because of these bad decisions.
Of course brain drain has been hugely beneficial for Germany. It also helps Germany that weaker economies are tied to the euro which keeps the euro's exchange rate down.
I used to be pro-EU, but time and time again they create regulations and directives that are simply harmful for our future or don't consider collateral damage. Furthermore, Germany and France seem to be pushing hard on becoming rulers whether the other members want it or not.
>but I disagree that leaving would improve things for any country.
Of course leaving won't improve things because the EU will try to punish any leavers as much as possible. The entire EU situation is just depressing, because you can't leave, it won't improve and bad decisions keep being made and you're forced to abide by them. And what makes it even worse is that the pro-EU people are telling me that I should be happy because of these bad decisions.
> Of course leaving won't improve things because the EU will try to punish any leavers as much as possible. The entire EU situation is just depressing, because you can't leave, it won't improve and bad decisions keep being made and you're forced to abide by them.
Ultimately all bad decisions must be paid for. This is the hidden cost of letting the EU exist. Unfortunately, the longer it exists the more painful it will be to leave.
Ultimately all bad decisions must be paid for. This is the hidden cost of letting the EU exist. Unfortunately, the longer it exists the more painful it will be to leave.
> The EU provides considerable benefits for Europe, arguably the most important, but also the most invisible, being peace. World War II ended only 74 years ago. To be a little dramatic: As a German, I'll gladly pay bureaucracy for peace.
The EU is not associated with peace and of course cannot guarantee it. Citizens of EU countries are better off with their own country's rule of law than to succumb to the generality of all of Europe.
> There's trade benefits inside the EU, free travel for all citizens, and, recently added, no more roaming fees for mobile phones.
These all come at a cost you don't yet realize.
The EU is not associated with peace and of course cannot guarantee it. Citizens of EU countries are better off with their own country's rule of law than to succumb to the generality of all of Europe.
> There's trade benefits inside the EU, free travel for all citizens, and, recently added, no more roaming fees for mobile phones.
These all come at a cost you don't yet realize.
I agree that the EU cannot guarantee peace, of course. However, it really pushed European integration forward. It's a bit mundane, but all the cultural exchange through trade, travelling, student exchange programs and so on has made the kind of war enthusiasm people had in pre-war Europe pretty unlikely. Afterall, I've been to Paris and can confirm that the French are actually people, not baby eaters (classic WW1 propaganda). Though they eat snails. Weird.
Of course, there's also the economic argument: I'm definitely no expert in economics, so I'm talking in very broad and simple terms here (and open to arguments), but the European economies are heavily intertwined through the single market. At least, that makes it institutionally more complicated and more expensive to go to war, which is an achievement, I think.
A heavily intertwined single market is not something to celebrate or look forward to. It's something to reverse before it's too late.
Optionality is king. I'd rather have twelve options than one.
Optionality is king. I'd rather have twelve options than one.
> World War II ended only 74 years ago
NATO was founded 70 years ago
The EU as we know it was established 27 years ago
NATO, despite its faults, has done more for European integration and peace than the EU. It carried Europe together through the stark darkness of the Cold War; how would the EU fare against such an existential threat?
NATO was founded 70 years ago
The EU as we know it was established 27 years ago
NATO, despite its faults, has done more for European integration and peace than the EU. It carried Europe together through the stark darkness of the Cold War; how would the EU fare against such an existential threat?
That's a fair point about the NATO! Didn't mean to marginalize it, but there's only so many words to a sufferable HN comment.
It's true that today's EU was only established in 1992/93, but it is the result of a very long process of European integration starting in ECSC in 1951 and the EEC in 1957. Cooperation between Germany and France started remarkably early after World War II. A few years earlier, they could not have been more bitter enemies.
I agree with you and would say that the EU is utterly useless in a military conflict, precisely because there has always been the NATO to fall back on. This might change in the future as the US is becoming less reliable and more isolationist from a German standpoint at least, then again, there might be no political power capable of reforming the EU further right now.
In short, I think the EU helps Europe have internal peace. For everything else, I am glad to sit under a nuclear umbrella.
It's true that today's EU was only established in 1992/93, but it is the result of a very long process of European integration starting in ECSC in 1951 and the EEC in 1957. Cooperation between Germany and France started remarkably early after World War II. A few years earlier, they could not have been more bitter enemies.
I agree with you and would say that the EU is utterly useless in a military conflict, precisely because there has always been the NATO to fall back on. This might change in the future as the US is becoming less reliable and more isolationist from a German standpoint at least, then again, there might be no political power capable of reforming the EU further right now.
In short, I think the EU helps Europe have internal peace. For everything else, I am glad to sit under a nuclear umbrella.
> How about vote no on the EU altogether
How about you just leave EU?
It's full of countries out there that are waiting for you and don't care about protecting your data.
You're free.
How about you just leave EU?
It's full of countries out there that are waiting for you and don't care about protecting your data.
You're free.
That's what I'm promoting. Not individuals like myself but countries should leave the EU so individuals can have more freedom.
He will stay where he is, and he will vote for politicians who either support or oppose staying in the EU, as it's his right.
I can access the internet with no additional cost throughout the EU thanks to them, that's not a terrible law around internet usage?
Not many governments have a good track record with regards to regulating IT. My local government (Denmark) cannot even respect basic human rights in their IT laws, and even when said laws are deemed a human rights violation, they refuse to remove them, instead leaving them in place while claiming they'll be "revised".
There are also many other issues where EU does better than IT. Food safety, environment regulations and trade agreements, just to mention a few.
While smaller units are almost universally better (imagine how different history would have been if the provinces of China had been independent countries), but does mean that each individual country must make many more agreements on their own, and have to shape their own regulations for things like food safety and environmental efforts, which might not turn out as well if they are not forced by the collective.
There are also many other issues where EU does better than IT. Food safety, environment regulations and trade agreements, just to mention a few.
While smaller units are almost universally better (imagine how different history would have been if the provinces of China had been independent countries), but does mean that each individual country must make many more agreements on their own, and have to shape their own regulations for things like food safety and environmental efforts, which might not turn out as well if they are not forced by the collective.
> While smaller units are almost universally better
I completely agree. In my opinion it should go down to the individual level.
Let's say China had independent states/countries per province. And, they all agreed to a set of laws individually but disagreed as a collective set of laws.
This would mean that most citizens would suffer as the laws are (at best) an average of the opinions of all citizens of China.
Being an average, most people would have at least one disagreement on how a particular law should or should not be. There will be of course some some people that lie on the exact average. These lucky people would be 100% fairly represented.
In order to be fair ultimately law needs to favor the individual, not a country, state, or other larger group.
I completely agree. In my opinion it should go down to the individual level.
Let's say China had independent states/countries per province. And, they all agreed to a set of laws individually but disagreed as a collective set of laws.
This would mean that most citizens would suffer as the laws are (at best) an average of the opinions of all citizens of China.
Being an average, most people would have at least one disagreement on how a particular law should or should not be. There will be of course some some people that lie on the exact average. These lucky people would be 100% fairly represented.
In order to be fair ultimately law needs to favor the individual, not a country, state, or other larger group.
An anti Euro party, anti EU, anti migration, pro Italian Exit, racist, omophobic, whose leader, who's also interior minister of Italy, has been wearing neo-fascist brands in public, hugging a drug dealer hooligan or recently visited a man who shot in the back an unarmed alleged thief romanian and killed him, declaring him a martyr who deserves pardon.
Or their allies, the 5 star movement, who are just incompetent jackasses.
Thanks, but NO thanks.
BTW they are only opposing to article 13 because Putin asked them to do so.
Italian original article: http://espresso.repubblica.it/plus/articoli/2019/02/21/news/...
In english: https://euobserver.com/foreign/144253