Internet security
Internet securityFlash 90

The Knesset's Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Monday approved Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked's bill to give Israel Police full authority to block criminal websites.

The bill would allow the police to request a court order to shut down any criminal site, including those which sell drugs, sites which serve terrorist organizations, and gambling sites.

Internet providers would be required to block sites used for the above types of criminal activities, or to order the search engines to remove their listing. In certain situations, the law would allow a site to be removed entirely.

During the discussion, various issues came up, among them the question of how to prevent such a law from harming innocent sites not connected to such crimes. One of the solutions was to allow only a district judge to rule in these cases, and to allow public organizations to appear in court in order to protect the interests of any organization whose downfall may cause damage to their own.

"Today we closed the enforcement gap between the existing law and online crimes," Erdan said. "This has been a problem for many years, and the authority given to Israel Police will end the online legal jungle, and help us fight criminals and inciters."

"Today the internet has become a no-man's land, and it harms human life," Shaked said. "Today the internet is used for criminal purposes. The government must take the reins and say - halt!"