4 votes

The EU could be about to ban memes and 'destroy the internet'

10 comments

  1. [4]
    Emerald_Knight
    Link
    This article has a clickbait title. Memes aren't being banned, they're just likely to be affected by a copyright law placing additional burden on platforms to take measures against infringement....

    This article has a clickbait title. Memes aren't being banned, they're just likely to be affected by a copyright law placing additional burden on platforms to take measures against infringement. Specifically, automated software to detect infringing content will likely be used and will probably incorrectly flag memes as infringing, which is the concern.

    18 votes
    1. [3]
      Algernon_Asimov
      Link Parent
      It's not only clickbait, it's sensationalist and biased. Even reading the article will give you the impression that this will lead to the end of memes and the death of free speech, and we need to...

      It's not only clickbait, it's sensationalist and biased. Even reading the article will give you the impression that this will lead to the end of memes and the death of free speech, and we need to act now to prevent this evil thing. It's almost an opinion piece rather than a news article.

      14 votes
      1. [2]
        crius
        Link Parent
        Metro is certainly not famous for its high journalism standards. Basically everyone can write a piece there.

        Metro is certainly not famous for its high journalism standards. Basically everyone can write a piece there.

        1 vote
        1. EightRoundsRapid
          Link Parent
          Metro is the free version of The Daily Mail that gets handed out at train and bus stations. Same stories from the same journalists with the same Chicken Little "the sky is falling" message.

          Metro is the free version of The Daily Mail that gets handed out at train and bus stations. Same stories from the same journalists with the same Chicken Little "the sky is falling" message.

          5 votes
  2. userexec
    Link
    Article 13 has been in place since 2001 from what I can tell, and while the EU doesn't necessarily have fair use like the US; however, they do have "fair dealing" with a predetermined list of...

    Article 13 has been in place since 2001 from what I can tell, and while the EU doesn't necessarily have fair use like the US; however, they do have "fair dealing" with a predetermined list of exemptions that can be found in the 2001 Copyright Directive from what I can see. Memes really ought to be covered under that. I genuinely doubt that platforms would be expected to filter copywritten material to such a tight standard that memes would be "banned" any more than they would be in the rest of the world. What makes this new Article 13 any different from the one from 2001?

    6 votes
  3. [4]
    Paradoxa
    (edited )
    Link
    The very idea is so sensationalist and ridiculous. I can't believe it is getting any media credibility recognition (edit) as such. What, are they going to ban text on images? Fine... meme was...

    The very idea is so sensationalist and ridiculous. I can't believe it is getting any media credibility recognition (edit) as such.

    What, are they going to ban text on images? Fine... meme was originally a coinage for a cultural reproduction that multiplies like genes. "Memes" are literally how culture spreads through society.

    When I see "ban memes" I think "attempt to suppress culture", (edited) and just to clarify, it's ridiculous that the media is portraying it as such.

    4 votes
    1. [2]
      Emerald_Knight
      Link Parent
      Please be sure to read the article. They're not banning memes, they're basically trying to force online platforms to better assist in preventing copyright infringement. The concern, however, is...

      Please be sure to read the article. They're not banning memes, they're basically trying to force online platforms to better assist in preventing copyright infringement.

      The concern, however, is that this will be handled as an automated process and that, as a result, memes will be incorrectly flagged as copyright-infringing content and subsequently removed despite being memes that are covered under fair use.

      So the EU isn't "banning memes", they're "effectively banning memes", which is a subtle but very important distinction.

      tl;dr - This is clickbait.

      7 votes
      1. Paradoxa
        Link Parent
        Sorry, that was point I was trying to make. The idea of banning memes is ridiculous, and it's unbelievable the media is playing that way.

        Sorry, that was point I was trying to make. The idea of banning memes is ridiculous, and it's unbelievable the media is playing that way.

        4 votes
    2. Eva
      Link Parent
      Because that's obviously what it is. Someone in the EU needs to take Aaron Swartz's example, raise hell over this and inspire people to flood the streets.

      Because that's obviously what it is.

      Someone in the EU needs to take Aaron Swartz's example, raise hell over this and inspire people to flood the streets.

      3 votes
  4. onyxleopard
    Link
    Relatively easy as compared to perpetual motion?

    You might think this law would be impossible to police, but in fact, it could be relatively easy. All platforms like Facebook or YouTube need to do is automatically scan all uploaded content to see if it breaks copyright law or contains banned hate speech – and then pull it down.

    Relatively easy as compared to perpetual motion?

    4 votes