Policy Observatory
New Danish law can lead to substantial internet censorship
On 12 January 2017, the Danish Ministry of Justice presented a draft law on website blocking for public consultation. Despite the official focus on online extremism and radicalisation, the draft law takes a very broad view on website blocking. The proposed new section in the Administration of Justice Act provides that a website can be blocked if there is reason to assume that a violation of the Danish penal code takes place on the website. Any violation of the penal code, including a new very broad anti-harassment provision for public employees in Section 119a which goes considerably beyond insult and defamation, can be grounds for blocking.
Country: Denmark
Domains: IG
Stakeholder: Government
Tags: draft law, public consultation, Denmark, online extremism, website blocking