Members of Parliament will be asked to discuss a bill aiming to regulate online content that is deemed to promote terrorism.
The “Prevention of the Dissemination of Terrorist Content Online Law of 2024” targets online content deemed to promote terrorism, outlining procedures for identification, removal, and penalties for sharing such material.
The bill establishes individual liability for those who knowingly spread terrorist content online. Offenders face imprisonment for up to three years or a hefty fine of up to €500,000.
Defining “terrorist content” broadly, the law encompasses material that incites violence, glorifies terrorism, provides instructions for attacks, or threatens violence.
Specifically, according to the bill, “terrorist content” refers to one or more of the following types of material:
a) Content that incites the commission of a terrorist offence by directly or indirectly advocating terrorist acts, glorifying such acts, or creating a risk of their commission.
b) Content that incites or encourages an individual or group to commit or contribute to a terrorist offence.
c) Content that incites an individual or group to participate in the activities of a terrorist group.
d) Content that provides instructions on manufacturing or using explosives, firearms, other weapons, or harmful/dangerous substances, or on other specific methods/techniques for committing or contributing to a terrorist offence.
e) Content that constitutes a threat to commit a terrorist offence.
Enforcement, penalties
Law enforcement agencies are empowered to seek court orders for the removal of identified terrorist content. Hosting service providers, like social media platforms, are obligated to remove the flagged content within one hour of receiving a court order.
Failure to comply can result in penalties of up to €170,000 or even imprisonment.
The law additionally mandates that these providers report imminent threats discovered on their platforms to the Cyprus Police.
The legislation also grants courts the authority to disable access to websites or block specific users if their content is deemed to be terrorist.
Furthermore, for repeated non-compliance, hosting service providers may face significant administrative fines of up to 4% of their annual turnover, capped at a maximum of €500,000.
While the new law signifies a proactive approach by Cyprus to tackle online terrorism content, a potential concern lies in the subjectivity of the content definition.
The broad definition of “terrorist content” could lead to challenges in consistent application, as some organisations designated as terrorist entities by the EU may not be universally viewed as such.
