EU members reach deal on removing terror content from internet

European Union member states and lawmakers have reached a provisional deal Thursday to take down terror content online within an hour of its being posted.

“The EU is working to stop terrorists from using the internet to radicalize, recruit and incite to violence,” the EU Council says in a statement, adding that the proposed rules would apply to providers operating across the bloc, “whether or not they have their main establishment in the member states.”

Under the agreement, national authorities will be entitled to order platforms to remove content or to disable access to it in all 27 member states. Providers will be forced to act but will remain free to decide how they take down the forbidden material.

“The proposed rules also ensure that the rights of ordinary users and businesses will be respected, including freedom of expression and information and freedom to conduct a business,” the council says. “This includes effective remedies for both users whose content has been removed and for service providers to submit a complaint.”

The proposed regulation still needs to be formally approved by the EU Parliament and EU ministers.

— AP