In an article by Athina Evagorou, an Associate at our firm, it was noted that in October 2024, Cyprus enacted Law 116(I)/2024 on the Prevention of the Dissemination of Terrorist Content Online, aligning with EU Regulation 2021/784. The Law aims to curb the spread of terrorist content online to enhance public safety and security. It applies to all hosting service providers operating in Cyprus, mandating cooperation with EU member states. Terrorist content is defined as material that incites or promotes terrorism or provides instructions for such activities. Hosting service providers must remove or disable access to content within one hour of receiving a Removal Order from the Courts upon the Police’s request and take measures to prevent re-uploads.
Cross-border Removal Orders enable coordinated actions across member states, with scrutiny provisions to safeguard rights. Non-compliance carries penalties, including imprisonment and fines. The Ministry of Energy, Commerce, and Industry may impose fines up to 4% of a provider’s global turnover for persistent violations. The Law stresses transparency and cooperation with EUROPOL, balancing enforcement with protecting freedom of expression. Questions remain about its effectiveness in preventing content migration to less conventional platforms.
The full article on this topic can be viewed on Mondaq.
For more information, please reach out to Athina Evagorou.