EU adopts controversial copyright reforms despite intense opposition

Member of European Parliament Axel Voss takes part in a voting session on copyright in the Digital Single Market during a plenary session at the European Parliament on March 26, 2019 in Strasbourg, eastern France. (Photo by FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP)

STRASBOURG (AFP): The European Parliament on Tuesday (March 26) adopted controversial copyright reforms championed by news publishers and the music business, delivering a blow to the tech giants such as Google and Facebook that lobbied furiously against it.

Despite an intense debate in parliament, MEPs meeting in Strasbourg ended up passing the draft law with 348 votes in favour, 274 against, and 36 abstentions.