On Tuesday, the European Parliament will vote on a request for urgent procedure aimed at reviving the previously rejected, indiscriminate mass surveillance of private communications ("Chat Control 1.0"). This move, pushed by the EPP group and EU Member States, is not only an unprecedented parliament
  • doben@lemmy.mlEnglish
    9·
    3 days ago

    German MEP Sonneborn (from die PARTEI - “The Party for Labour, Rule of Law, Animal Protection, Promotion of Elites and Grassroots Democratic Initiative”) tried to intervene.

    English Translation (the video remains in German, tho):

    I tried to stop the chat control today.

    Over the weekend, Sibylle Berg and I had to inform Parliament President Metsola in writing that pushing through the chat control via fast-track procedure unfortunately violates the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure. While Metsola then (falsely) told the interested press that everything was perfectly in order, we are still waiting for her response.

    So today, at the opening session in Strasbourg, I wanted to explain it to her once again. And I was astonished to discover that the President does know the rules after all: exactly after 60 seconds, she cut off my microphone. (in accordance with the rules, but rarely done)

    I still would have had quite a bit to say: ‘Madam President, under Article 22, you are the guardian of these rules (waving the printed Rules of Procedure) – declare the urgent motion inadmissible. We are not in Malta, after all! I would be happy to hand you the current version of the Rules of Procedure in person. In the MEP bar.’

    What happens next? Tomorrow there will be a vote on the fast-track procedure, even though this vote shouldn’t even be taking place. If the motion succeeds, the chat control will go to a plenary vote on Thursday at noon. To stop it, 361 MEPs – a qualified majority – would have to vote AGAINST it. The bad news: Thursday is the last day before the summer break, and many MEPs are likely already on their way to their holidays. One would have to be a real rogue to suspect anything sinister about this timing… Smiley!

    If the chat control passes, the platforms (i.e. the US tech bros) will be able to happily and quite legally continue scanning your messages. So be sure to write something a bit more entertaining in the coming weeks… Wink smiley!"

  • anytimesoon@piefed.socialEnglish
    6·
    4 days ago

    Man ive only just seen this and it’s after the time when the urgent motion would have been passed, if it went through. Can’t find any news on it anywhere, but I’m shocked it happened so fast