A European Union law to reinforce freedom on the Internet would be unnecessary and put operators in a difficult position, the bloc's top telecoms and media regulator said on Tuesday. The US Congress has drafted a Global Online Freedom Act.
Some European Parliament members want the EU to follow suit, saying authoritarian nations are increasingly censoring the Web by blocking sites and intimidating users with "cyber police". Such actions violate human rights, the EU lawmakers say.
The American law would promote freedom of expression on the Web and protect US companies from coercion to participate in repression. "Should the EU have specific legislation on Internet freedom? I am not convinced so far that hard law is the best way to deal with the challenge," EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding told a meeting in the European Parliament.
Instruments sought by some campaigners such as export controls, civil and criminal penalties, and the creation of a specific EU body controlling European Internet companies with operations abroad were "heavy", she said.
Reding said the US State Department and Department of Justice were cautious about the Global Online Freedom Act as even democratic countries in Western Europe could be subject to restrictions foreseen in the draft bill.
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