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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 27 March 2019
EU parliament backs copyright bill targeting US tech giants

By RAF CASERT lunch, and I don't know
Associated Press why the giant techs should
STRASBOURG, France (AP) carry on, you know, hav-
— European Union law- ing a free lunch on our ex-
makers approved a copy- pense," French music pro-
right bill Tuesday to give ducer Wally Badarou said.
writers and artists more In France, ever the guard-
protection of their creative ian of European culture,
rights and incomes, an in- the government greeted
tensely contentious mea- the bill's passage with relief.
sure that could have major "The EU message is clear,"
trans-Atlantic implications French Culture Minister
for American technology Franck Riester said. "Ev-
companies. eryone intervening on the
The European Parliament European market must re-
voted 348-274 to pass the spect our common prefer-
bill, and there were 36 ab- ences, whether it is copy-
stentions. It now goes to right or fiscal rules" that re-
the EU's member coun- quire America's tech com-
tries for final consideration panies to pay more taxes in
next month, but already Europe.
received provisional ap- The leader of the EU parlia-
proval. The legislation has ment's liberal ALDE group,
been in the works for three Axel Voss, Member of the European Parliament and rapporteur of the copyright bill, poses for the Guy Verhofstadt of Bel-
media at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Tuesday March 26, 2019.
years. Opponents argued Associated Press gium, countered the bill's
it would stifle freedom and critics by saying the cards
creativity online. righted material that is up- creative and digital econ- end to protest what the EU had been stacked so
German EU lawmaker Axel loaded to their platforms. omies. The details matter, sees as reforms and critics much in favor of "monopo-
Voss, who was the bill's lead "Web giants have been and we look forward to fear as changes that could listic American companies"
backer, let out a massive able to benefit from con- working with policy makers, lead to online censorship. that it was ridiculous to talk
sigh when the vote tally tent created in Europe publishers, creators and Outside parliament, a about a free internet.
flashed up on a screen in- by paying derisory taxes, rights holders as EU mem- French band performed "The only freedom you have
side the European Parlia- transferring huge profits ber states move to imple- music to push the point that is to send your data mainly
ment building in Strasbourg, to the U.S. or China," Euro- ment these new rules." artists need higher pay- to U.S. companies who are
France. pean Parliament President Tens of thousands of peo- ments and better copyright using it for their profit. That is
"We have agreed a new Antonio Tajani said. "Parlia- ple marched in cities across protection. all," Verhofstadt said during
set of rules which will do ex- ment has chosen to put an Germany over the week- "There is nothing like free Tuesday's session.q
actly the opposite of killing end to the existing digital
the internet," Voss said. Wild West,"
If the bill is enacted, com- Lobbying against the bill by
panies such as Apple, internet giants was said to
Facebook and Google be so intense even after EU
parent company Alphabet members gave their provi-
likely would have to pay sional support last month
European artists more and that the bill's passage
do more to keep work that wasn't considered a sure
appears online from being thing Tuesday.
used without permission. After the vote, Google said
The most controversial sec- in a statement that the bill
tion would make compa- "will still lead to legal uncer-
nies responsible for copy- tainty and will hurt Europe's

Austrian far-right activist

probed over ties to NZ

suspect

BERLIN (AP) — Austrian au- his apartment Monday
thorities have searched and seized electronic de-
the home of a prominent vices after he received a
far-right activist as part "disproportionately high
of a probe into his ties to donation" from a person
the alleged Christchurch named Tarrant — the same
mosque gunman, officials surname as the suspected
said Tuesday. Christchurch shooter.
Martin Sellner, head of the The group is close to sec-
white nationalist group tions of the nationalist Free-
Identitarian Movement of dom Party, which is part
Austria, said on social me- of the country’s coalition
dia that police searched government.q