EU-Commission Plans Censorship of "Dangerous" Internet Searches

EU Commissioner Franco Frattini has proposed new measures as part of the new EU anti-terrorism plans, to block internet searches for certain terms including those leading to bomb-building instructions.

Frattini first wants to discuss with service providers the technical possibilities for "hindering searches for words such as bomb, killing, genocide or terrorism."

While his reasons for wanting to do so are understandable in this case, it seems unlikely that internet censorship on this scale will be widely accepted in the EU.

In reaction to questions whether these measures constitute limitations to freedom of opinion and freedom of information, Frattini explained that instruction on the building of bombs has nothing to do with such freedoms, and that the intention would be only to block those sites detailing exact instructions on building bombs, not historical information or opinions