European Union's counter-terrorism coordinator wants power to 'remove undesirable websites' from the internet.

European Union's counter-terrorism coordinator wants power to 'remove undesirable websites' from the internet.(Breitbart).by RAHEEM KASSAM

Gilles de Kerchove, the European Union’s counter-terrorism coordinator, has publicly stated that he wishes for the European super-state to be able to remove not just websites that promote illegal content, but also those which he calls “undesirable.”

The statement from de Kerchove, who was recently speaking on the topic of how to curtail the threat of terrorist activity online, has alerted freedom of speech campaigners and those concerned with net neutrality to the overbearing nature of the European Union (EU), which has for decades whittled powers away from national governments across Europe.

Now it seems the EU wants the power to block websites it arbitrarily decides are “undesirable.” Setting out the action being taken by the EU, de Kerchove said, “The Commissioner for Home Affairs will set up a forum to discuss with the big players – Google, Facebook, Twitter – how we can improve the way one removes from the internet the illegal and, if not illegal, undesirable websites.”

The UK-based freedom of speech campaigners of Big Brother Watch wrote earlier this week:

Freedom of speech, and of the press, are essential parts of a free and democratic society. It should not be in the gift of politicians to decide what we read or who can write it and absolutely not on the basis of what some may consider undesirable. If content is to be blocked, it should be a decision taken by a court of law and only when a clear criminal test has been met establishing the content is illegal.

Big Brother Watch also pointed to an EU report from 2013 which discussed how “Media councils should have real enforcement powers, such as the imposition of fines, orders for printed or broadcast apologies, or removal of journalistic status.”

The worryingly Orwellian phraseology goes even further in the EU publication, ironically entitled A Free and Pluralistic Media to Sustain European Democracy. 

The report states, “The national media councils should follow a set of European-wide standards and be monitored by the Commission to ensure that they comply with European values.”

Precisely what “European values” are, and who would be the arbiter of such things, is left intentionally vague.Read the full story here.

EU Commissioner Füle to meet with Turkish EU minister over judiciary bill.

EU Commissioner Füle to meet with Turkish EU minister over judiciary bill.(Taz).

The European Union's Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle is to meet with Turkish EU Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu Jan. 14 in Strasbourg over the government's bill on the judiciary that has stirred much controversy for providing the executive more control on a key judicial body amid a graft scandal Hurriyet Daily News reported.

During the meeting the EU will voice its concern about "the recent developments," Füle said via Twitter late Jan. 13.

The announcement of the meeting comes only a day after Brussels asked Turkey to be consulted to ensure its judicial bill was in line with EU legislation.

After taking over from his outspoken predecessor Egemen Bagis, who was among the graft probe casualties of the Cabinet, Cavusoglu had urged the EU to refrain from "unilateral and impatient statements via the media."

The judicial bill is expected to overturn the reform of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) in line with Turkey's harmonization with the EU acquis.

Criticism regarding the move in Europe is also increasing as a professional judges association issued a statement condemning Ankara's intentions.

"The bill is contrary to the minimum standards on the independence of the judiciary foreseen by many European institutions (European Union, European Council)," MEDEL (Magistrats Européens pour la démocratie et les libertés) said in the statement, urging Turkey to "remain a country that respects the rule of law."

"MEDEL strongly condemns the Turkish government's attempt to exert dominance over the judiciary," the statement added.

The HSYK is at the center of the battle over control of the judiciary as its acting head has already condemned the current bill as "unconstitutional."Hmmm......There has been no direct criticism or statement [from the EU] directed towards us. I have had no contact [with EU officials],” said Davutoğlu.
 

"I'm Not A Dictator" - "Turkish Ministers Will Be Able to Give Internet Censor Orders Directly”

"I'm Not A Dictator" - "Turkish Ministers Will Be Able to Give Internet Censor Orders Directly”(bianet).

Bianet interviewed Serhat Koç, an advocate and telecommunications lawyer for Turkey’s Pirate Party, on the Draft Bill No 5651 on the internet services in Turkey.

“If the draft will be implemented, the life will harder for internet users in Turkey. Censors on citizen journalism, scientific research and social media will be a routine,” he said.

He also added that new institutions will allows authorities to implement Censors in skyrocket speed.

“Due to censorship, service providers will enhance their auto-censor mechanisms and alternative methods like DNS change will no longer work,” he added.

Bill increases the likelihood of censor.

The draft bill also put hate speech in the category for internet ban. This is the most problematic aspect of the bill, maybe.

Because Turkish Penal Code interprets hate speech towards “Islam, Muslims, Turkish-ness, Sunni sect”.

As a result, we observe cases like the ones of Fazıl Say and Sevan Nişanyan who have been convicted of charges related to freedom expression. Websites like “yenidonem.com” (newera.com) are closed down. Even though hate speech is important, I am pretty skeptical about how it will be interpreted on the internet. Some many website might be closed down because of that.

What else is in there?

The new draft compels judges to respond to internet-based “right violations complaints” in 24 hours. 

Considering that most of our judges have little idea about the internet, it is highly doubtful how they will make their decisions. We have faith on them! It is also up to İnternet Geliştirme Kurulu (Internet Improvement Institution) to decide on situations like monitoring, restriction, application or inspection.

It is something like National Security Agency in the U.S. It will also enable ministers and telecommunication authorities to be compatible on giving internet censor orders directly.Hmmm.......Erdogan : "I'm not a dictator. It's not even in my blood,"Read the full story here.

Video - OBAMACARE PROVISION: “Forced” Home inspections.

Video - OBAMACARE PROVISION: “Forced” Home inspections.HT: BenSwann.

“Clearly, any family may be visited by federally paid agents for almost any reason.”

According to an Obamacare provision millions of Americans will be targeted.

The Health and Human Services’ website states that your family will be targeted if you fall under the “high-risk” categories below:

Families where mom is not yet 21.

Families where someone is a tobacco user.

Families where children have low student achievement, developmental delays, or disabilities.

Families with individuals who are serving or formerly served in the armed forces, including such families that have members of the armed forces who have had multiple deployments outside the United States.

There is no reference to Medicaid being the determinant for a family to be “eligible.”Read the full story here.

Obamacare Is About Power.

Obamacare Is About Power.HT: Heritage.

Members of the House of Representatives are scheduled to vote Thursday to repeal all of Obamacare. Given that the House voted to repeal the law last year, some commentators and observers have questioned the need for another repeal vote.
However, the scandals coming to light over the last week perfectly make the case for why Congress must eradicate the law from the statute books.
On Friday, the Internal Revenue Service finally disclosed that it had spent years targeting tea party and other conservative groups, delaying their applications for non-profit status and giving those applications additional scrutiny — solely because of those groups’ political beliefs.
Also on Friday, The Washington Post revealed that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius personally asked health industry groups to contribute to Enroll America, a pro-Obamacare front group working to “educate” the public about the law’s supposed benefits.
While we don’t yet know all the details about these scandals, we do know that the IRS grossly abused its power at a time when Obamacare grants it massive new authority. The Treasury Department’s Inspector General has said Obamacare represents “the largest set of tax law changes in 20 years,” with at least 42 provisions adding to or amending the tax code.
Obamacare taxes most people with health insurance, and most people without health insurance. Likewise, the law taxes many employers who provide health insurance, and most employers who don’t provide health insurance.
Obamacare’s heavy reliance on the IRS seems somehow fitting, as the entire law relies on a scheme of government controls and regulations to work its will on the health care system. The law imposes price controls on insurance companies and extends a system of price controls for pharmaceutical companies. Obamacare also places a board of unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats at the center of its plans to control health care costs.
A 2010 Congressional Research Service report found that the number of new bureaucracies “that will ultimately be created” by Obamacare “is currently unknowable.” Little wonder that Vice President Biden boasted shortly before the law was passed, “We’re going to control the insurance companies.”
That’s what Obamacare is about. It’s not about health care. It’s about government control and power. And the record of this Administration shows its willingness to use this power in arbitrary and harmful ways.
Secretary Sebelius’s recently disclosed fundraising campaign tried to make an end-run around Congress, forcing private companies to give money for a pro-Obamacare marketing campaign that Congress itself has refused to fund.
It isn’t the first time the secretary has skirted the law, either. HHS’s infamous waivers, the majority of which went to individuals in union health plans, weren’t mentioned in Obamacare. And in recent weeks, Democrats who support the law have criticized the secretary for taking funds from other programs to fund Obamacare implementation.
Just like the IRS, HHS has also targeted the First Amendment rights of private organizations. In 2009, the department applied an infamous “gag order” on Medicare Advantage plans, ordering them not to communicate with seniors about how Obamacare’s cuts to Medicare Advantage would affect their coverage.
If past experience is any guide, IRS and HHS could use their newfound Obamacare powers to target their political opponents. Will individuals who choose not to buy insurance under Obamacare’s mandate find themselves subjected to government audits?
Will corporations who choose not to “donate” to Sebelius’s fundraising campaign find themselves targeted by Obamacare regulators — or even the IRS itself? Given the events of the past week, few can answer these questions with an unequivocal “no.”
There’s one easy way to stop the rot, and that’s to repeal Obamacare once and for all. At a time when this week’s revelations show how the government has abused its existing powers, it’s exactly the wrong time to give the government yet more authority. Congress should instead focus on repealing Obamacare and restoring freedom.
This piece originally appeared in The Washington Examiner.

"Cosa Nostra" Director of IRS Tax-Exempt Determinations Office Is Obama Donor.

"Cosa Nostra" Director of IRS Tax-Exempt Determinations Office Is Obama Donor.(NR).

The director of the Office of Rulings and Agreements, which oversees the determinatons of tax-exempt organizations, is a donor to Barack Obama. Holly Paz donated $2,000 to Obama’s 2008 campaign, according to Open Secrets, which maintains a database of individual political donations.

An inspector general’s report released yesterday concluded that the IRS improperly targeted Tea Party and other conservative groups for undue scrutiny, and Paz heads the office in which the wrongdoing is said to have occurred. National Review Online reported earlier today that agency officials are currently copying the hard drives of every employee on Paz’s watch. That data will be made available to investigators working on a second IG investigation into whether individual agency employees engaged in criminal activity. Hmmmm......'Our cause - Cosa nostra'.Read the full story here.

AG Holder "The Just US" Department Also Tapped House of Representatives Cloak Room.

AG Holder "The Just US" Department Also Tapped House of Representatives Cloak Room.HT: GatewayPundit.
Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA) went on the Hugh Hewitt Show tonight and dropped this bombshell. The Holder-Obama Justice Department tapped the House of Representatives Cloak Room.

Via the Hugh Hewitt website, via The Green Room:

HH: The idea that this might be a Geithner-Axelrod plan, and by that, the sort of intimation, Henry II style, will no one rid me of this turbulent priest, will no one rid me of these turbulent Tea Parties, that might have just been a hint, a shift of an eyebrow, a change in the tone of voice. That’s going to take a long time to get to. I don’t trust the Department of Justice on this. Do you, Congressman Nunes?
DN: No, I absolutely do not, especially after this wiretapping incident, essentially, of the House of Representative. I don’t think people are focusing on the right thing when they talk about going after the AP reporters. The big problem that I see is that they actually tapped right where I’m sitting right now, the Cloak Room.
HH: Wait a minute, this is news to me.
DN: The Cloak Room in the House of Representatives.
HH: I have no idea what you’re talking about.
DN: So when they went after the AP reporters, right? Went after all of their phone records, they went after the phone records, including right up here in the House Gallery, right up from where I’m sitting right now. So you have a real separation of powers issue that did this really rise to the level that you would have to get phone records that would, that would most likely include members of Congress, because as you know…
HH: Wow.

The cloakrooms serve as a place for members to socialize, eat, and take naps without leaving the building. These rooms are closed to all except for Senators and Representatives, and a few of their trusted staffers, and even have their own phone numbers.Hmmmm.........Just try Google for the search term 'Totalitarian state'.Read the full story here.