Regulation (EU) 2021/784 on addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online

Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2021/784 - formally signed by the co-legislators on 29 April 2021 - concerning the dissemination of terrorist content online. This is a text with EEA relevance.

Further information:

This Regulation lays down uniform rules to address the misuse of hosting services for the dissemination to the public of terrorist content online. It applies to hosting service providers offering services in the European Union (EU), irrespective of their place of main establishment, insofar as they disseminate information to the public.

The draft law was adopted by the European Commission on 12 September 2018, and first announced during the annual State of the European Union (SOTEU) address. It aimed at establishing a clear and harmonised legal framework, providing clarity as to the responsibility of hosting service providers in taking all appropriate, reasonable and proportionate actions necessary to ensure the safety of their services and to swiftly and effectively detect and remove terrorist content online, taking into account the fundamental importance of the freedom of expression and information in an open and democratic society.

The Council of the European Union adopted a general approach on this file on 6 December, followed by the plenary of the European Parliament on 17 April 2019. An informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text was reached on 10 December 2020. It was formally endorsed by the Council on 16 March 2021, and by the Parliament on 27 April. The Act was formally signed by the co-legislators on 29 April 2022 and published in the Official Journal on 17 May 2021. The Regulation entered into force on 7 June 2022.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

CloudFlare: Blog, 04/12/2018: EU Terrorist Content Online proposal – political haste and unintended consequences https://blog.cloudflare.com/eu-terrorist-content-online-proposal-political-haste-and-unintended-consequences/

Article 19: Joint letter on European Commission regulation on online terrorist content, 6 December 2018 https://www.article19.org/resources/joint-letter-on-european-commission-regulation-on-online-terrorist-content/

Verfassungsblog, 30/01/2019: The EU Regulation on Terrorist Content: An Emperor without Clothes https://verfassungsblog.de/the-eu-regulation-on-terrorist-content-an-emperor-without-clothes/

EPRS: Briefing, February 2019: Preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online - Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)631731

EFF, 05/02/2019: The EU's Proposal to Curb the 'Dissemination of Terrorist Content' Will Have a Chilling Effect on Speech https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/02/eus-proposal-curb-dissemination-terrorist-content-will-have-chilling-effect-speech

Mozilla: Blog, 13/02/2019: Mozilla Foundation fellow weighs in on flawed EU Terrorist Content regulation https://blog.mozilla.org/netpolicy/2019/02/13/terrorist_content_regulation/

ASPI: The Strategist, 20/02/2019: Serious flaws in EU plan to automate detection of terror material online https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/serious-flaws-in-eu-plan-to-automate-detection-of-terror-material-online/

EUCRIM: The European Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation on Preventing the Dissemination of Terrorist Content Online https://doi.org/10.30709/eucrim-2018-024

CISPE: #WrongPlayer https://cispe.cloud/WrongPlayer/

EurActiv: Special Reports: Regulating against radicalisation https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/special_report/regulating-against-radicalisation/

Mozilla: Blog, 17/04/2019: Mozilla reacts to European Parliament plenary vote on EU Terrorist Content regulation https://blog.mozilla.org/netpolicy/2019/04/17/mozilla-reacts-to-european-parliament-plenary-vote-on-eu-terrorist-content-regulation/

CPJ: Alerts, 11/03/2020: EU online terrorist content legislation risks undermining press freedom https://cpj.org/2020/03/eu-online-terrorist-content-legislation-press-freedom/

EurActiv: Opinion, 24/03/2020: Misguided ‘solution’ to terrorist content will have bad consequences for our rights https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/opinion/misguided-solution-to-terrorist-content-will-have-bad-consequences-for-our-rights/

Article 19: Resources, 14/10/2020: EU: German Presidency Proposal for Terrorist Content Online Regulation fails to protect freedom of speech https://www.article19.org/resources/eu-german-presidency-proposal-terrorist-content-online-fails-freedom-of-speech/

Statewatch: News, 10/11/2020: Open letter on behalf of civil society groups regarding the proposal for a Regulation on Terrorist Content Online https://www.statewatch.org/news/2020/november/open-letter-on-behalf-of-civil-society-groups-regarding-the-proposal-for-a-regulation-on-terrorist-content-online/

Human Rights Watch: News, 16/11/2020: Draft EU Regulation on 'Terrorist Content' Online Threatens Rights https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/11/16/draft-eu-regulation-terrorist-content-online-threatens-rights#

KU Leuven: CiTIP Blog, 24/11/2020: All eyes riveted on the trilogue closed doors of the Proposal for a Regulation on preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online [Part I] https://www.law.kuleuven.be/citip/blog/all-eyes-riveted-on-the-trilogue-closed-doors-of-the-proposal-for-a-regulation-on-preventing-the-dissemination-of-terrorist-content-online-part-i/

ICJ: News, 07/12/2020: European Union: independent judiciary and effective remedies must be at the core of the EU Regulation on “Terrorist Content Online”, warns ICJ https://www.icj.org/european-union-independent-judiciary-and-effective-remedies-must-be-at-the-core-of-the-eu-regulation-on-terrorist-content-online-warns-icj/

EDRi: Our Work, 16/12/2020: Terrorist Content Online: Is this the end? https://edri.org/our-work/terrorist-content-online-is-this-the-end/

RUSI: Commentary, 26/01/2021: Against the Clock: Can the EU’s New Strategy for Terrorist Content Removal Work? https://rusi.org/commentary/against-clock-can-eu-new-strategy-terrorist-content-removal-work

Human Rights Watch (HRW): News, 25/03/2021: Joint Letter to EU Parliament: Vote Against Proposed Terrorist Content Online Regulation https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/25/joint-letter-eu-parliament-vote-against-proposed-terrorist-content-online

EUCRIM: News, 07/07/2021: Regulation Addressing the Dissemination of Terrorist Content Passed https://eucrim.eu/news/regulation-addressing-the-dissemination-of-terrorist-content-passed/

EPRS: Briefing, July 2021: Terrorist content online: Tackling online terrorist propaganda https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)649326

KU Leuven: CiTiP Blog, 14/09/2021: The new Regulation on addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online: a missed opportunity to balance counter-terrorism and fundamental rights? https://www.law.kuleuven.be/citip/blog/the-new-regulation-on-addressing-the-dissemination-of-terrorist-content-online/

European Digital Rights (EDRi): Resources, 09/03/2022: French deputies must reject online censorship without a judge in one hour https://edri.org/our-work/french-deputies-must-reject-online-censorship-without-a-judge-in-one-hour/

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News

BBC News, 20/08/2018: Social media faces EU fine if terror lingers for an hour https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-45247169

Politico, 24/08/2018: EU to tighten screws on internet giants to remove terrorist content https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-regulation-on-removal-of-terrorist-content-set-for-mid-september/

The Irish Times, 12/09/2018: EU to give tech giants just 60 minutes to take terrorist content offline https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/eu-to-give-tech-giants-just-60-minutes-to-take-terrorist-content-offline-1.3626712

The Guardian, 13/09/2018: Remove terror content or be fined millions, EU tells social media firms https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/sep/13/social-media-firms-could-face-huge-fines-over-terrorist-content

EurActiv, 13/09/2018: ‘This is not censorship’ says King, amid online terrorist content crackdown https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/this-is-not-censorship-says-king-amid-online-terrorist-content-crackdown/

Intellectual Property Watch, 06/12/2018: EU Members Push For Private Censorship Of Terrorist Content On The Internet http://www.ip-watch.org/2018/12/06/eu-members-push-private-censorship-terrorist-content-internet/

EurActiv, 07/12/2018: Ministers clamp down on online terrorist content despite wave of opposition https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/ministers-clamp-down-on-online-terrorist-content-despite-wave-of-opposition/

Politico, 21/03/2019: Europe’s struggle against viral terrorist content https://www.politico.eu/article/how-europe-plans-to-fight-christchurch-style-viral-content-its-complicated-fake-news-social-media-facebook-twitter-eu-terrorism/

EurActiv, 22/03/2019: EU institutions at loggerheads over online terrorist content https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/eu-institutions-at-loggerheads-over-online-terrorist-content/

The Guardian, 28/03/2019: Tory MEP's motives for delaying EU terror legislation questioned https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/28/tory-meps-motives-for-delaying-eu-terror-legislation-queried

EurActiv, 09/04/2019: EU lawmakers back one-hour deadline to remove online terrorist content https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/eu-lawmakers-back-one-hour-deadline-to-remove-online-terrorist-content/

Reuters, 17/04/2019: EU parliament votes to fine internet firms for not removing extremist content quickly https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1RT2CF

Euronews, 17/04/2019: MEPs votes in favour of strict new rules on online terrorist content https://www.euronews.com/2019/04/17/eu-plans-to-regulate-online-terrorism-content-protecting-people-or-stifling-free-speech

BBC News, 17/04/2019: EU struggles over law to tackle spread of terror online https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47962394

EurActiv, 01/04/2020: EU under pressure to broker online terrorist content agreement https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/eu-under-pressure-to-broker-online-terrorist-content-agreement/

BBC News, 14/05/2020: France gives online firms one hour to pull 'terrorist' content https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-52664609

Politico, 10/11/2020: Reality lags behind rhetoric in EU leaders’ push on terrorism https://www.politico.eu/article/reality-lags-behind-rhetoric-in-eu-leaders-push-on-terrorism/

BBC News, 13/11/2020: New EU drive to remove extremist web content https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54937793

Euronews, 13/11/2020: EU interior ministers pledge to take down terrorist content, boost border security https://www.euronews.com/2020/11/13/eu-pushes-terror-threat-to-top-of-domestic-agenda

Associated Press, 13/11/2020: Attacks spur EU to tighten borders, boost policy agency https://apnews.com/article/paris-islamic-state-group-france-austria-europe-52f577a74937bfe9377c6ed7d832fd39

Deutsche Welle, 25/03/2021: Rights groups slam EU online terrorist content law https://p.dw.com/p/3r5kk

Reuters, 25/03/2021: Civil rights groups urge EU lawmakers to rebuff online terrorist content law https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2BH0G3

EurActiv, 28/04/2021: EU adopts law giving tech giants one hour to remove terrorist content https://www.euractiv.com/section/cybersecurity/news/eu-adopts-law-giving-tech-giants-one-hour-to-remove-terrorist-content/

Reuters, 29/04/2021: Online terrorist content law wins EU lawmakers' backing amid rights concerns https://www.reuters.com/technology/online-terrorist-content-law-wins-eu-lawmakers-backing-amid-rights-concerns-2021-04-29/

Politico, 07/06/2022: Online platforms now have an hour to remove terrorist content in the EU https://www.politico.eu/article/online-platforms-to-take-down-terrorist-content-under-an-hour-in-the-eu/

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Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2018)640: Proposal for a Regulation on preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2018:640:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2018)408: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact assessment https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2018:408:FIN

EUR-Lex: SWD(2018)409: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive summary of the impact assessment https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2018:409:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online (2018/0331(COD)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=&reference=2018/0331(COD)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online http://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-area-of-justice-and-fundamental-rights/file-preventing-the-dissemination-of-terrorist-content-online

European Commission: Home Affairs: Internal Security: Terrorist content online https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/policies/internal-security/counter-terrorism-and-radicalisation/prevention-radicalisation/terrorist-content-online_en

European Commission: Press Release, 12/09/2018: State of the Union 2018: Commission proposes new rules to get terrorist content off the web https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_18_5561

European Commission: Fact Sheet, 12/09/2018: State of the Union 2018: Commission takes action to get terrorist content off the web - Questions and Answers https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/MEMO_18_5711

Finland: Interior Ministry: News, 15/11/2018: EU to tackle terrorist content online through legislation https://intermin.fi/en/article/-/asset_publisher/eu-haluaa-puuttua-terroristiseen-verkkosisaltoon-lainsaadannolla

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 06/12/2018: Terrorist content online: Council adopts negotiating position on new rules to prevent dissemination https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/12/06/terrorist-content-online-council-adopts-negotiating-position-on-new-rules-to-prevent-dissemination/

UN: OHCHR: News, 12/12/2018: UN human rights experts concerned about EU’s online counter-terrorism proposal https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24013&LangID=E

ECR Group: News, 04/02/2019: ECR MEP’s report tackles terrorist content online https://ecrgroup.eu/article/ecr_meps_report_tackles_terrorist_content_online

European Parliament: Press Release, 17/04/2019: Terrorist content online should be removed within one hour, says EP http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190410IPR37571/

European Parliament: Press Release, 24/09/2019: Terrorist content online: MEPs agree to start negotiations with EU countries https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190923IPR61743/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 10/12/2020: Terrorist content online: Council presidency and European Parliament reach provisional agreement https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/12/10/terrorist-content-online-council-presidency-and-european-parliament-reach-provisional-agreement/

European Commission: Press Release, 10/12/2020: Security Union: Commission welcomes political agreement on removing terrorist content online https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_20_2372

Renew Europe Group: Newsroom, 10/12/2020: Terrorist Content Online: Renew Europe helps file over the finish line https://reneweuropegroup.eu/en/news/1738-terrorist-content-online-renew-europe-helps-file-over-the-finish-line/

German Council Presidency: News, 11/12/2020: Fight against terrorism on the internet: Political agreement reached on EU Regulation https://www.eu2020.de/eu2020-en/news/pressemitteilungen/fight-terrorism-internet-eu2020/2426232

European Parliament: Press Release, 12/01/2021: Civil Liberties Committee endorses deal with the Council to prevent terrorist content online https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210111IPR95316/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 16/03/2021: Terrorist content online: Council adopts new rules https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/03/16/terrorist-content-online-council-adopts-new-rules/

European Parliament: Press Release, 28/04/2021: New rules adopted for quick and smooth removal of terrorist content online https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210422IPR02621/

European Commission: Press Release, 07/06/2022: Security Union: Rules on removing terrorist content online become applicable https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_3479

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