German laws criminalizing hate speech and defamation are already some of the most restrictive in Europe. This bill threatens algorithmic methods for combating hate speech - and for preserving free speech - by making their use legally and financially too risky. Online platforms already have content guidelines for their human moderators, which include requirements to block access to content in jurisdictions where it is clearly illegal. The realms of hate speech and defamation are murky, and include vast expanses of legal grey areas that arguably incorporate the majority of potential cases. The Council of the European Union recently backed proposals for a directive that would require all EU member states to force online platforms to promptly remove videos containing hate speech.

Source: The Local June 09, 2017 12:09 UTC