Operators of publicly accessible wireless networks in Germany will no longer be liable for the illegal activities of their users, thanks to new legislation passed in the Bundestag on Friday.

Before the new legislation passed, operators of wireless internet hotspots faced fines and legal action if people used the network to download copyrighted content. That liability greatly hindered the rollout of Wi-Fi networks as businesses feared liability.

As a result Germany severely lags behind other countries when it comes to providing free internet, with just two wireless hotspots for every 10,000 people. The problem frustrated locals as well as the rising number of foreign visitors who are left scratching their heads at the difficulty of finding an internet connection outside of their hotel.

Providers will no longer have to password-protect their networks or require users to register when the legislation comes into effect later this year, Minister of Economic Affairs Brigitte Zypries said.

The ruling grand coalition agreed to the changes after lengthy negotiations aimed at enforcing the rights of copyright holders while still relaxing the laws.

Copyright holders retain some power

Rights holders can still demand wireless network operators block individual and specifically named pages to prevent repeat copyright infringements, Zypries said. Such blocks are generally possible "simply and without prior technical knowledge," the minister said.

Read: Berlin public and corporate Wi-Fi block LGBT-friendly websites

Read: Germany to invest 100 billion into national gigabit internet network

Industry association Bitkom and the Green party said that clause would hamper the rollout of hotspots, saying operators could face financial risk from legal action.

Fighting for the internet: Social media, governments and tech companies Free speech or illegal content? Whether hate speech, propaganda or activism, governments across the globe have upped efforts to curb content deemed illegal from circulating on social networks. From drawn-out court cases to blanket bans, DW examines how some countries try to stop the circulation of illicit content while others attempt to regulate social media.

Fighting for the internet: Social media, governments and tech companies Social media law After a public debate in Germany, a new law on social media came into effect in October. The legislation imposes heavy fines on social media companies, such as Facebook, for failing to take down posts containing hate speech. Facebook and other social media companies have complained about the law, saying that harsh rules might lead to unnecessary censorship.

Fighting for the internet: Social media, governments and tech companies Right to be forgotten In 2014, the European Court of Justice ruled that European citizens had the right to request search engines, such as Google and Bing, remove "inaccurate, inadequate, irrelevant or excessive" search results linked to their name. Although Google has complied with the ruling, it has done so reluctantly, warning that it could make the internet as "free as the world's least free place."

Fighting for the internet: Social media, governments and tech companies Blanket ban In May 2017, Ukraine imposed sanctions on Russian social media platforms and web services. The blanket ban affected millions of Ukrainian citizens, many of whom were anxious about their data. The move prompted young Ukrainians to protest on the streets, calling for the government to reinstate access to platforms that included VKontakte (VK), Russia's largest social network.

Fighting for the internet: Social media, governments and tech companies Safe Harbor In 2015, the European Court of Justice ruled that Safe Harbor, a 15-year-old pact between the US and EU that allowed the transfer of personal data without prior approval, was effectively invalid. Austrian law student Max Schrems launched the legal proceedings against Facebook in response to revelations made by former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, Edward Snowden.

Fighting for the internet: Social media, governments and tech companies Regulation In China, the use of social media is highly regulated by the government. Beijing has effectively blocked access to thousands of websites and platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Instead, China offers its citizens access to local social media platforms, such as Weibo and WeChat, which boast hundreds of millions of monthly users.

Fighting for the internet: Social media, governments and tech companies Twitter bans Russia-linked accounts Many politicians and media outlets blame Russia's influence for Donald Trump's election victory in 2016. Moscow reportedly used Facebook, Twitter, Google, and Instagram to shape public opinion on key issues. In October 2017, Twitter suspended over 2,750 accounts due to alleged Russian propaganda. The platform also banned ads from RT (formerly Russia Today) and the Sputnik news agency.

Fighting for the internet: Social media, governments and tech companies Facebook announces propaganda-linked tool With social media under pressure for allowing alleged Russian meddling, Facebook announced a new project to combat such efforts in November 2017. The upcoming page will give users a chance to check if they "liked" or followed an alleged propaganda account on Facebook or Instagram. Meanwhile, Facebook has come under fire for not protecting user data in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Author: Lewis Sanders IV (dj)



"The right to block pages means a lot of effort for the hot spot operators, be it a student accommodation block, a café or a telecommunications company," Bitkom chief executive Bernhard Rohleder said in a statement.

"We therefore demand that illegal content be deleted, instead of requiring hot spot operators to block queries - especially as blocks are usually technically easy to circumvent," says Rohleder.

The German Association of Cities welcomed the decision, saying city dwellers would benefit.

"Fast, free WLAN hotspots are useful for city tourism, urban business promotion, access to cities' digital services, and much more," chief executive Helmut Dedy said in a statement.

Sony sues German shopkeeper

The amendment to the Telemedia Act was prompted by a recent decision by the European Court of Justice, which stated that while wireless network providers should not be liable for violations by third parties, "a court or a national authority can issue an order against a wireless network provider to prevent the repetition of an infringement."

The case was heard after Sony brought legal proceedings against a shopkeeper in Germany in 2010 after a customer used free internet access to illegally download a music album covered by Sony's copyright.

aw/jm (dpa, AFP, Reuters)