Justice, Freedom and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini had
previously outlined a plan to make it a crime to publish
bomb-making instructions on the internet because of the perceived
increased threat of terrorist attacks in the wake of attacks in New
York, Washington, Madrid and London in recent years.
Justice and interior ministers from the EU's member states have
approved the plan to harmonise laws on criminal terrorism to
include online publishing. Under the Commission-proposed plans
which received ministers' approval, three new offences will be
included in laws, "public provocation to commit a terrorist
offence, recruitment, and training for terrorism".
"The internet is used to inspire and mobilise local terrorists,
functioning as a virtual training camp," said ministers in an
agreed statement. "Each member state shall take the necessary
measures to ensure that terrorist-linked offences include public
provocation to commit a terrorist offence, recruitment for
terrorism, training for terrorism."
The plans have angered some civil liberties activists who claim
that any new laws could be used to suppress free speech.
UK Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford told a round table
discussion at the Parliament that she was worried that the measures
could be used to silence legitimate protest.
She cited recent news reports that UK police threatened
anti-China protestors at the display of the Olympic Torch with
arrest under anti-terror laws as evidence that such laws could be
abused.
The ministers agreed to a Commission-proposed amendment to a
2002 Council Framework Decision on combating terrorism.
"The amendment … is intended to harmonise national provisions on
public provocation to commit a terrorist offence, recruitment for
terrorism and training for terrorism, so that these forms of
behaviour are punishable, also when committed through the internet,
throughout the EU, and ensure that existing provisions on
penalties, liability of legal persons, jurisdiction and prosecution
applicable to terrorist offences, apply also to such forms of
behaviour," said a Commission statement.
The proposal must be discussed at a national level before being
confirmed again by ministers.
It is already illegal in the UK to incite terrorism, and this
law applies to internet activity regardless of the location of the
server carrying the information.
