- Germany edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Norway |
- Spain |
- Sweden |
- Switzerland
Köhler refuses to sign controversial internet child porn law
Published: 28 Nov 09 17:01 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20091128-23585.html
German President Horst Köhler has hammered another nail in the coffin of a controversial law to block child pornography on the internet by refusing to sign it, news magazine Der Spiegel reported Saturday.
- Rösler wants dual citizenship for IT talent (22 May 13)
- SAP to hire hundreds of autistic IT experts (21 May 13)
- No child support if dad is anonymous sperm donor (17 May 13)
The law, which critics argue would block access to other, innocent sites and therefore amounted to censorship, could breach Germany’s constitution, experts believe.
The law was written under the previous “grand coalition” government between Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and the centre-left Social Democrats and was pushed by then CDU Family Minister Ursula von der Leyen.
Merkel’s party and their new partners in government, the pro-business Free Democrats – who opposed the measure – agreed during coalition negotiations last month not to put the law into practice.
But because it had already been passed by both houses of the German parliament, it could not simply be dropped. Köhler’s refusal to sign it means it is now effectively stalled until the new government finds a constitutional way to kill it.
According to a Saturday report in business magazine Wirtschaftswoche, Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière and Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger had agreed to kibosh the law by ordering the federal police not to act upon it. However, that would leave the law hanging in place.
One possibility, the Spiegel report said, is that the parliament issue a regulation repealing the law, which Köhler can wait to sign when it crosses his desk.
DPA/The Local (news@thelocal.de)
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Hollande praises tough German reforms
French President Francois Hollande, attending the 150th anniversary celebrations of Germany's Social Democratic Party on Thursday, praised the unpopular welfare and labour reforms by former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. READ () »
Keep your socks on – autumn is in the air
Much of Germany is heading for an autumnal weekend, with chilly temperatures an at times significant rainfall – just as May draws to an end and socks should be heading for the back of the drawer. Some areas will even see snow and frost. READ () »
Brewers: 'No fracking with our German beer'
A group of brewers has raised alarm that so-called 'fracking' for natural gas could jeopardize the legendary purity of German beer by contaminating the country's water supplies. READ () »
Ten German body parts
The German language has some rather colourful terms for describing parts of the human body. Turn to The Local List this week for a few anatomical alternatives. READ () »
Hipster Berlin dogs get meaty frozen yoghurt
Healthy dogs have wet noses, but cold and creamy canine noses may be a sign that they've been treated to a doggy frozen yoghurt made in Berlin. Rather than chocolate or pistachio, flavours include salmon and beef. READ () »
Germany tops world popularity poll
Germany is the most popular country in the world, according to a poll released on Tuesday asking people to rate the positive and negative influence of 16 major nations. READ () »
Dortmund's Götze ruled out of Wembley final
A hamstring injury has ruled Borussia Dortmund's Germany midfield star Mario Götze out of Saturday's Champions League final at Wembley against Bayern Munich – the club he will join next month after activating a release clause in his contract. READ () »
Grey seals return to German Baltic shores
The small population of grey seals on the Baltic Sea has increased significantly, with hopes rising that they may start breeding soon, conservationists reported on Wednesday. READ () »
- 23/05 Hollande praises tough German reforms »
- 23/05 Social Democrats launch left-wing global network »
- 22/05 Social Democrats seek revival on 150th b-day »
- 21/05 Conservatives demand East German symbol ban »
- 21/05 Germany seeks 'visible' Kosovo-Serbia progress »
- 20/05 Hungary's Orban: Merkel policy like Nazi invasion »
- 17/05 Christian Democrats set up political donation ATM »
- 17/05 Merkel opens up privately ahead of election »
- 14/05 Schäuble pours cold water on EU bailout plans »
- 14/05 Greens to investigate old paedophilia claims »
- 23/05 A French Psy who made Cannes stars see double »
- 23/05 Diamond necklace 'worth €2m stolen' at Cannes »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
- 23/05 Minister: Stockholm riots 'not youth versus society' »
- 23/05 Firefighter to Stockholm rioters: I'll still help you »
More news from Sweden at thelocal.se
- 23/05 Swiss diamond necklace 'stolen' at Cannes »
- 23/05 Chinese premier touts trade deal with Swiss »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
See all ads | Join the Marketplace
-
PsyShrink Munich
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
Chambervelt Rooselain & Cie Ltd.
Insurance and financial planning for English speakers in Germany -
British Corner Shop
British Corner Shop - The online supermarket for expats -
PsyShrink Frankfurt
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
Weiss Institut
Free yourself from Smoking addictions, Sugar craving and Alcohol addictions -
Shiply Worldwide Ltd
Shiply the Online Transport Market Place
948 jobs available
701 new jobs this week
125 new jobs today
- FINANCE DIRECTOR (m/w)
- SENIOR ANALYST (m/w)
- Senior Account Manager (m/f) SaaS / CRM Solutions
- Production Designer Hot Runner
- Application Engineer After Market Tooling
- Senior Consultant Business Systems m/f
- Monitoring & Diagnostics Product Marketing Manager (m/f) Power Automation & Control (CH)
- KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER
- Embedded Software Engineers
- Specialist m/f for Global Deployment - Plant Maintenance Processes
- Apr/09 Touring Tempelhof – Europe’s Largest Historical Monument
- Apr/09 Spring in Berlin 2013 – Where, What Why and When!
- Mar/12 Living Like a Local – Tell us what you think and win a weekend in Berlin!
- Feb/04 Escaping the City – Our Recommended Suburban Getaways
- Feb/04 Berlin Tegel Airport Transfers – How to get into the City
Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your
style? Find a German sweetheart here.
Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather
section.
Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.
Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of
charge.
Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
- Food trucks – meals on wheels
Small mobile restaurants are starting to catch on in Germany and they are often far more than your average snack wagons with Currywurst and Pommes. - “Preserve the proven, shape the new” – the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart
For more than thirty years, Helmuth Rilling shaped the international Bach Academy; now he is succeeded by Hans-Christoph Rademann. - ‘Open Mike’ – Fireworks with the Buddha
The Berlin ‘Open Mike’ entered this year its twentieth edition. - On the Stage, the Spoken Word Prevails
In January 2013 the annual meeting of the Dramaturgical Society took place in Munich; its theme: “Speaking on Stage – and about Theatre”... - The Magician of Images – Klaus Ensikat
With the technique of an Old Master and subtle humour, the award-winning graphic designer and illustrator Klaus Ensikat has for fifty years produced ingenious illustrations for literary classics and children’s books....
- So You Want to Be an Artist
The tradition of hands-on training in the arts is alive and well in Germany. Interested in studying visual, performance, or sound arts? Keen to pursue graphic and product design, textiles, or typography? Germany is home to many exceptional art schools as well as a rich history of excellence in and support for the arts. - Frankfurt's Skyscrapers: A Guide
Frankfurt is known for banks and skyscrapers. So what is behind the colossal glass, steel, and stone facades of the city’s buildings? Meet Frankfurt’s tallest. - Conference - Pioneers on Dual Training Abroad
Germany‘s system of dual training is one of the foundations of its economic strength. - The all-German final in Wembley
Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund are playing in the final of the Champions League at London’s Wembley Stadium. - German first feature film in Cannes
A directorial debut from Germany makes it to the competition “Un Certain Regard” at the famous film festival on the Côte d’Azur.
- Theatre festival between the Saar and the Mosel
The Festival Perspectives in the German-French region around Saarbrücken is staging European theatre, dance and music productions. - The European Year of Citizens
2013 is the European Year of Citizens. - Europe Day, Robert Schuman and Class 4a
Enthusiasm for the idea of Europe – in the 60th European Competition, schoolchildren from Germany show what this could look like. - Relief organizations
The portals presented here provide information on the help programs offered by different organizations.
- ADMINISTRATION COORDINATOR (German and English proficiency)
- Design Engineer Aerospace in Toulouse
- Design Feasibility Engineer / Craftsmanship Engineer (m/f)
- Instrument Developer in Research and Development (m/f)
- Java Developer (m/w) for Search Engine (Lucene)
- Junior/Senior Controller (w/m) Service/Vetriebscontrolling
- Patent Attorney (m/f)
- Praxisstudent/-in Fleet Management Project
- Product Manager / Engineer (m/w) for our Search Engine
- Research Scientist, Scouting HVAC, Building Technology & Energy Management
- 19/05 Car Boot Sale Herford
- 17/05 paid internship
- 17/05 Stop Smoking & Addiction Support
- 17/05 Florida resident seeks job in baden Baden Germany
- 17/05 Berlin Writing Group
- 17/05 cheap car hire
- 19:05 More questions reg relocation to Freiburg
- 19:03 I just can't seem to find...
- 19:00 Saturday Night Meetup
- 18:59 EU will protect us from rogue olive oil
- 18:41 Phobias - what are you scared of?
- 18:27 Amazon Kindle in Germany
- 18:14 Meetup for Uni Students (or not)
- 18:11 Translators' meetup, monthly networking event
- 18:10 A tale of domestic violence.
- 17:29 Hiking in Rhein-Main-Gebiet
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Your comments about this article:
Most internet childporn is not distributed by websites but by file sharing networks which cannot be blocked in such a simple and easy to circumvent way.
The politicians know the expert's reports on that very well so why do they put so much effort into applying such a law nonetheless?
There is a simple answer. Blocking child porn websites is only a excuse for a much wider goal which lobbyists have on their wish list since years.
Setting a precedent for establishing internet filters.
First there is only a childporn blacklist.
Once it is there it is easier for lobbyists and pressure groups to demand expanding the law to :
-a illegal movie and computer game sharing blacklist
-a illegal music download blacklist
-a hacker websites blacklist
-a internet gambling blacklist
-a unbeloved political content blacklist
-a marketing brand violation blacklist
And suddenly Germany becomes little China.