EU to vote on internet copyright crackdown

The European Parliament is set to vote on Wednesday and Thursday on a new law to prevent the availability of copyrighted material online.

If passed, Article 13 would make large internet platforms like Facebook and Reddit introduce automated filters that captured copyrighted content uploaded by their users.

This would mean every post is scanned looking for pilfered or borrowed content which would directly affect online memes that often use images that are subject to copyright.

Important figures from the tech industry, including Tim Berners-Lee and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, wrote a letter to the European Parliament warning that Article 13 could pose dangers to the future of the internet.

"Article 13 takes an unprecedented step towards the transformation of the internet from an open platform for sharing and innovation, into a tool for the automated surveillance and control of its users," the letter read.

"We support the consideration of measures that would improve the ability for creators to receive fair remuneration for the use of their works online. But we cannot support Article 13... For the sake of the internet's future, we urge you to vote for the deletion of this proposal."

If the legislation is passed the dissenting lawmakers will force a vote at the general assembly in early July. The next step would be negotiations with the EU countries to find a common ground.