Legislation on monitoring the circulation of terrorist propaganda videos

12.6.2017

Question for written answer P-003912-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
David-Maria Sassoli (S&D)

Following the terrible attack in Manchester on 22 May, the issue of the circulation of propaganda videos celebrating terrorism and the radicalisation of young people has come to the fore. It has become a very delicate issue, because it often takes a very long time before the content in question is removed. This loophole makes it easy for those who are conducting a terror strategy to use a very widespread media tool in order to proselytise and glorify hatred. We are aware of the difficulty in taking action, given that the spreading of such content is intertwined with issues relating to the internal market, fundamental rights and freedoms and the protection of children.

How, in the Commission’s view, can we look into and implement forms of close cooperation between Member States to make it easier to remove dangerous content?

Does it not think that the revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive could be the right tool, in the hands of Parliament and the Member States, to close this loophole, empower stakeholders and strengthen monitoring and synergies with the platforms and, more generally, the operators of the audiovisual system in Europe and worldwide?