(ANSA) - Rome, September 12 - Deputy Premier and Labour and
Industry Minister Luigi Di Maio on Wednesday blasted the
European Parliament's approval of a controversial overhaul of
copyright law that could force tech giants to install filters
that prevent copyright-protected content from being uploaded.
"An all-European disgrace," said the leader of the
anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S).
"The European Parliament has introduced the censorship of
content of Internet users. We are officially entering a scenario
worthy of Orwell's Big Brother".
He said the M5S would fight "in the negotiations between
governments, at the European parliament and on the European
Commission" against the controversial directive.
He vowed that "at the next vote in the assembly the directive
will be blocked again".
European Parliament President Antonio Tajani on Wednesday
called Di Maio's criticism of the EP's approval of the directive
"shameful" and urged Premier Giuseppe Conte to distance himself
from his deputy's statements.
"I ask Premier Conte to immediately distance himself from the
shameful statements of Deputy Premier Di Maio against the
European Parliament," Tajani said.
"Threatening the only directly elected EU institution is
something you would expect from people who know nothing of
democracy," Tajani said.
Lawmakers in Strasbourg voted on Wednesday in favor of the
European Union's revamped directive, which is aimed at bringing
the bloc's rules on copyright into the 21st century.
The copyright reform was passed with 438 votes in favour, 226
against and 39 abstentions.
Critics say such a law would normalize censorship and
restrict Internet freedom, preventing users from being able to
post content ranging from memes to links to articles from news
outlets.
Di Maio blasts EP copyright directive OK
'Disgrace, ready to fight' says deputy PM