IAB Europe press release
European Parliament Committee’s approach on ePrivacy would harm European media and citizens
Brussels, 19 October 2017 -- IAB Europe regrets today’s decision by the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) to back amendments that would force news and other European websites to provide their content for free.
Over the objections of a substantial minority of MEPs, the Committee in effect voted to allow the expropriation of publishers’ work. “News and other online services rely on data-driven, ad-funded business models to finance the creation of content”, noted Townsend Feehan, IAB Europe CEO. “Content that must be given away for nothing will ultimately end up being worth nothing.“
“Well-intentioned MEPs believe they need to take these extreme measures to protect citizens. This is simply not true. Privacy rights are already expanded significantly in the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) adopted last year. And sadly, other fundamental rights, including the right to access diverse, quality information sources affordably, media freedom, and property rights, are being needlessly sacrificed.”
“More than ever, Europe needs vibrant, independent media that can hold power to account. We welcome the fact that a considerable number of Committee Members seem to share this conviction. This said, the majority view betrays a mystifying disregard for it, and by the very political groups one might have thought would be most conscious of it.”
IAB Europe calls on the Parliament not to start trilogues before all Members have been consulted via a Plenary vote.