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 News From You
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Week ending February 22, 2014
The International Partnership Mission on the safety and protection of journalists and press freedom in Ukraine, currently in Kiev, has strongly condemned the violence that today claimed the life of Vesti correspondent Vyacheslav Veremyi and left at least 27 journalists injured. The mission has called on Ukrainian authorities to allow an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation and to bring those responsible to justice.
“More than 167 journalists have been injured since the beginning of the political crisis in Ukraine in late November 2013. Many of these journalists were deliberately targeted and none of their cases have been properly investigated. This state of impunity is unacceptable and fuels more violence,” said the mission members. “We call on all parties to facilitate de-escalation of the situation and show respect for the work and the physical integrity of media personnel, and we remind Ukrainian authorities of their responsibility to ensure journalists' safety. We call on the international community to use all leverage possible to facilitate these aims.”
Journalist Vyacheslav Veremyi (33) died of gunshot wounds in a Kiev hospital today, in the early morning. He was dragged out of his taxi by unknown assailants in the city centre, while returning home from Maidan Square. The journalist was violently beaten up, and according to witness accounts, he was shot in the stomach after he showed his press card.
At least 27 journalists were injured while covering the violent clashes in Kiev on 18 and 19 February. Most of them were attacked by members of the ‘Berkut’ special forces and unidentified assailants.
The International Partnership Mission has stated it is also very concerned by censorship attempts such as the blocking of Channel 5 broadcasts across the country that has been taking place since 18 February.
The International Partnership Mission on the safety and protection of journalists and press freedom in Ukraine includes representatives of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine (IMTU), the Ukrainian Association of Press Publishers, the European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ/IFJ), International Media Support (IMS), Open Society Foundation, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, Article19, Reporters Without Borders and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.
Its 19-20 February 2014 visit to Kiev aims to gather first-hand information about current press freedom violations in Ukraine, to show solidarity with journalists at risk, and to coordinate further responses.
Public service media (PSM) today joined voices with online content and software providers to urge Members of the European Parliament to strengthen rules on net neutrality, ahead of a crucial vote in the European Parliament (24 February) on the draft Single Telecoms Package Regulation.
The proposed Single Telecoms Package aims to enshrine the principle of net neutrality in EU law. However, the provisions in the current text would also give considerable freedom to Internet Service Providers to provide ‘specialized’, bandwidth-hungry services on closed networks running alongside the Open Internet.
The position of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) was shared at a lunch debate in the European Parliament on Internet, Innovation and Economic Growth with event hosts MEPs Sabine Verheyen, Amelia Andersdotter and Marietje Schaake.
As key industry stakeholders, the EBU and CCIA support net neutrality – the principle that Internet service providers (ISPs) should treat equivalent types of Internet data equally, whatever their source, content or destination.
BBC Head of International Policy Daniel Wilson spoke on behalf of the EBU, and expressed the shared view of European Public Service Media organizations.
“Public Service Media organizations in Europe are committed to an open, transparent and innovative Internet offering strong public and economic value. Ensuring access to our services via the Open Internet is important for the general interest, media pluralism and cultural diversity.”
Referring to the upcoming vote on the Single Telecoms Package Regulation, Mr Wilson added: “The definition of specialized services must be tight and accurate, and distinct from Internet Access Services. It should refer to their end-to-end nature. Crucially, while we accept the availability of specialized services for those who want to use them, their provision must not be at the material detriment to the quality of the Open Internet. In addition, traffic management measures must be restricted to an exhaustive list of justifications, only to be applied in a transparent, non-discriminatory, proportionate manner.”
Clearly and strictly regulating the operation of specialized services is necessary to ensure that sufficient bandwidth is available for the Open Internet to run smoothly. Hindrances to the Open Internet, which are likely if specialized services take up too much bandwidth, will have an impact on audience capacity to access the Internet content of their choice, as well as restrict competition and innovation in the digital sphere.
Microsoft Director of Policy Jean-Jacques Sahel highlighted why net neutrality is crucial for innovative business models: “Arbitrary restrictions to the use of online apps such as Skype has been a persistent problem. We need to ensure that this stops and that new innovative Internet companies don’t face the same problem. These rules will be economically beneficial to all.”
Swedish Institute of Assistive Technology Project Leader Oskar Jonsson rounded-up the discussions by underlining how net neutrality is crucial for the design and implementation of innovative social care services for the elderly and disabled.
The EBU and the CCIA maintain that it is crucial that these so-called ‘specialized’ services, such as Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) – a system through which TV services are delivered using a network such as the internet instead of traditional terrestrial and cable formats – remain an exception and the Open Internet be the norm.
The EBU makes the further point that hindrances to the Open Internet, which are likely if specialized services take up too much bandwidth, will have an impact on audience capacity to access the Internet content of their choice, as well as restrict competition and innovation in the digital sphere.
The EBU and the CCIA maintain that it is crucial that these so-called ‘specialized’ services, such as Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) – a system through which TV services are delivered using a network such as the internet instead of traditional terrestrial and cable formats – remain an exception and the Open Internet be the norm.
The European Parliament Industry, Research and Energy Committee, which leads discussions on the Single Telecom’s package, will hold a crucial vote on 24 February and has a historic opportunity to set a standard for media freedom and pluralism in the digital age.
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