The European Court of Justice rejects the global filtering of the social networks

20^th February 2012

In a dispute between the Belgian company of authors/composers, Sabam, with the Belgian social network, Netlog, Sabam has been demanding that Netlog immediately stop providing music and audiovisual productions illegally in its repertoire. The European Court stresses that a measure like this would mean Netlog undertaking a global filtering of the content exchanged by its users, which would infringe European citizens' fundamental rights. "A filtering system would force Netlog to undertake the global surveillance of the information stored which is prohibited under the eletronic trade directive", says the Court. It pleads for "a fair balance between the protection of copyright and free enterprise, the right to personal data protection and the freedom to receive and communicate information."

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