URGENT - LOBBY MEP's?MPs: YOUR INTERNET FREEDOM THREATENED

[Frazzel]

Net neutrality is the principle that Internet Service Providers should treat all data on the Internet equally. It's about minimising the restrictions on which parts of the Internet you can access. And it's about allowing startups to compete with big Internet firms and supporting innovation in the digital economy.
Shortly before the European Parliament elections last May, MEPs voted with a large majority in favour of net neutrality. The vote was a major step towards protecting the open internet in Europe.

But then the European Council - which is made up of the Member states of the EU hammered out their version of what net neutrality rules they wanted. And it turns out that their version of net neutrality is not worthy of that name.
The Council's text could allow Internet Service Providers to charge customers and companies extra for receiving and delivering different types of online services.
Only those who pay more will have easy access to an audience online. It would also authorise blocking of lawful content. This is completely counter to net neutrality and contradicts the Parliament's position.
The Council and the Parliament have been negotiating the final text of the new net neutrality rules for the last few months. And we've seen the Parliament give in to the Council's demands time and again while the Council has given up almost nothing.
The Parliament have even conceded on the definition of net neutrality. The phrase net neutrality isn't even in the most recent working text. The Council has successfully replaced it with a vague "open internet" which suggests there is a"non-open" Internet, which is worrying. If the Council gets their way then net neutrality in Europe will be under extreme threat.
The next negotiations are set for 29th June. Until now MEPs haven't heard a lot from European citizens about why they need to stand up for their previous position in support of net neutrality. They need to hear from us now so they know that this is something European citizens care about.
Can you email and tweet the MEPs who are negotiating on net neutrality?
https://savetheinternet.eu/en/#act
You can choose to contact an MEP from the UK using the 'Filter by country' menu.
Thank you very much for your support.

________________
Ed Paton-Williams
Campaigner
Find out more here: https://edri.org

[outsider]

Just received this from 'Open Media':

'This is unbelievable. On the heels of a major victory, powerful anti-Internet forces have redoubled their efforts and won’t rest until they’ve imposed their backwards vision for the future of the Web on all of us.

We stopped their link censorship scheme last vote1 because people like you spoke out in huge numbers. But anti-Internet ranks are growing. First we had Cavada,2 now a dangerous new coalition of anti-Internet forces pushing for this ‘link tax’ that could ruin the Internet we love.

We can't stand for it. If we let this amendment pass, many of your favourite websites could be saddled with paying this discriminatory and unfair tax–just for linking.

Share this campaign on Facebook and Twitter to sound the alarm now. If enough of us speak out in the next 24 hours they will drop their outrageous ‘link tax’ ambush.

This anti-Internet coalition is bringing their bad policy back for a crucial full plenary vote. Scared by our victory, they’re ramping up their efforts and using every trick in the book to ram through anti-Internet amendments that could set the stage for the ‘link tax’.

We need to show that we have staying power, and that we won’t be ambushed. We have a positive vision for free expression online and will work to see it implemented.3 Share this campaign to make sure as many people as possible hear about the ‘link tax’ ambush.

Last vote, a huge majority voted against this scheme,4 but a powerful anti-Internet coalition has now raised this issue from the dead, and is now trying to force this unpopular scheme on the EU, affecting the entire Internet.

This is the final vote before this plan will be adopted,5 and we will either see new rules adopted for a vibrant, inclusive digital future, or a backwards anti-Internet plan. Which would you prefer?

We held them off last time so we know it’s working. We also know that the more people learn about the right to link and dangerous link censorship schemes the more they speak out and push back. Share this image on Facebook and Twitter to amplify our voices.

We have 24 hours: stand together with us today, and Save the Link.

Let’s remain connected through links,

-Meghan, on behalf of the OpenMedia team

PS: Our fight to stop link censorship is powered by concerned Internet users like you. Your support makes our campaign possible -- power up our fight to stop a regressive link tax by chipping in today with a donation. Your support enables us to keep speaking out against threats to the open Internet.

Footnotes
[1] A victory in our fight to Save the Link. Source.
[2] Anti-Internet MEP Jean-Marie Cavada has proposed *literally dozens* of terrible amendments on the Reda report. Learn more about them here. (He’s also at the centre of a debate about the right to freely take and share outdoor photos.)
[3] The Our Digital Future report was shaped by over 300,000 Internet users from 155 countries across the globe. Read more about it here.
[4] The Controversial Ancillary Copyright For Press Publishers Takes Two Big Hits. Source: CCIA.
[5] Last-minute attempt to sneak “snippet tax” into copyright report. Source: Julia Reda.

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