Host: Christofer Fjellner, MEP, EPP-ED,

Time: 14.00-17.00 August 27, 2008

Place: A3E-2, European Parliament, Rue Wiertz 60, Brussels

www.joinfjellner.nu

Europe's legislative framework governing electronic communication technologies is currently undergoing a full scale review by lawmakers.

The European Parliament has put forward several amendments to the proposed directives with language that suggests the consideration of filtering mandates. One consequence could see Internet Service Providers (ISPs) controversially forced to apply filtering measures to prevent copyright infringement.

Policymakers have recognized that efforts to police copyright infringement must be balanced with other important values. The Swedish government made it clear that it would not support the denial of Internet services to consumers due to allegations of copyright infringement. In May 2008 the European Parliament deemed that automatic termination of subscribers would be a threat to the freedom of speech and right to information.

The provisions of the Telecoms Package related to network filtering potentially raise similar concerns. At this seminar on the Telecoms Package and network filtering we will explore the implications of filtering mandates for Europe's consumers and for the creative and technology industries as well as discuss potential unintended consequences for European innovation.

The seminar will focus on the following areas of discussion:

• Protection of the innovation space - how might filtering of content effect innovation?
• Growth of the creative and Internet economy in Europe: What could result from the suggested policy? What are the potential benefits? What are the costs?
• Freedom of expression and right to information - how does a potential change affect consumer rights? Is there a risk that a filtering infrastructure enables political censorship? Are there any consumer benefits that outweigh the risks?

Tentative programme, speakers include:

Jon Karlung, CEO, Bahnhof AB, Sweden

Niels Huijbregts, Public Affairs, XS4ALL Internet bv, Netherlands

Monica Horten, University of Westminster, Communications and Media Research Institute, United Kingdom

Eddan Katz/ Gwen Hinze, Electronic Frontier Foundation, United States of America

Jeffrey Lawrence, Director Content Policy, Intel Corporation

Nuria Rodriguez Murillo, Legal Officer BEUC/ Levi Nietvelt, Economic Officer BEUC