Stop Killing the Internet
The website "Stop Killing the Internet" serves as a platform opposing internet regulations that threaten online freedom and openness. It advocates against policies that could lead to censorship, surveillance, or a fragmented web, urging users to take action to preserve a free and accessible internet.
Background
- "Stop Killing the Internet" is a campaign / advocacy site opposing EU proposals that would require telecom companies, ISPs, and tech platforms to filter or block certain content at the network level (e.g., upload filters for copyrighted material, or mandatory scanning for illegal content).
- Critics argue these "upload filters" break end-to-end encryption, force general monitoring of private communications, and undermine the 2000 e-Commerce Directive's "no general obligation to monitor" principle — a cornerstone of EU internet law.
- The site is run by a coalition of digital rights groups, including EDRi (European Digital Rights), and is a response to the European Commission's Anti-Terrorism Regulation (including CSAM / "chat control" proposals) and the Copyright Directive's Article 17.
- Why it matters: If passed in current form, these laws could require services like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, or YouTube to scan private messages or uploads before or at the point of transmission, effectively banning strong encryption in practice and creating a mandatory, automated censorship infrastructure across Europe.