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But some opponents of the legislation have warned that the

Sept. 24, 2017 by Carolyn Mueller

But some opponents of the legislation have warned that the Internet's reputation could be at risk if it becomes too broadly applied in the United States and European Union.

"This is a huge blow to Europe," said the author of the original Article 13, Alexander Stromberg. "If we give up on the Internet, it could cost us $10 billion a year in lost income to the government," he added.

Article 13 will also allow Internet service providers to block content that contains "cyberbullying" or "harassment" in the name of protecting copyright.

"This is a huge blow to Europe."

In a statement posted on the website of the International Pirate Foundation, which represents European Internet users, the authors of the article said the Internet's reputation could be at risk if it becomes too broadly applied in the United States and European Union and could lead to a "huge rise in piracy, cyber-bullying and abuse."

Article 13 also would make it easier for companies to share stolen content online to discourage online piracy in the United States and European Union, according to the paper. The proposal may have a big uphill climb, however, in countries like Poland, where a group of German lawmakers wants to force online platforms to adopt anti-piracy technologies.

"The Internet is a social media site, and it has a great deal of power over everybody else. If the Internet is being sold as a free media platform, it's not a free media platform, and if it's being sold as a copyright platform, it's a copyright platform," said Polish Deputy Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. "I think it's a very important step."

The authors of the original Article 13, Alexander Stromberg and Andreas Schöffler, also called the proposed deal "one of the most difficult agreements with a single government in world history."

They also criticized the Internet's potential for "harmful, intrusive, and counterproductive" activities such as child pornography.

Article 13 "will allow [Internet service providers] to block content that is not appropriate for the Internet," the authors of the article wrote.

The European Parliament has also passed a proposal to regulate Internet services on "the basis of the 'national security' and the 'security of individual freedom,'" the paper said.

But it has yet to become clear whether the proposed legislation will be agreed by the European Parliament and the European Parliament for the proposed bill to be introduced into law.