Topic: Council Of Europe

A 2010 Channel 4 News report details accusations by the Council of Europe's health chief against pharmaceutical companies for inciting a "campaign of panic" during the 2009 swine flu pandemic. The investigation explores how the World Health Organization lowered pandemic thresholds, leading European nations to purchase millions of unwanted vaccine doses. Countries including France, Germany, and the Netherlands attempted to cancel massive contracts for the H1N1 vaccine and Tamiflu following the scandal.

The Council of Europe is embroiled in a "caviar diplomacy" corruption scandal involving millions of euros in payments from Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, the European Union releases a promotional video outlining its global strategy for foreign policy and security.

The Council of Europe is identified as a lobbying body distinct from the formal EU governance structure that influences the unelected European Commission. The discussion outlines the "yellow card" and "orange card" system used by member states to challenge laws that breach national sovereignty. This non-democratic legislative process is cited as a primary driver for the Brexit movement.

A conference in Strasbourg held by the Council of Europe focuses on stopping the spread of "hate speech" on the internet. Participants discuss tougher penalties and government monitoring of website operators. The hosts argue that "hate speech" is a subjective term used to implement "newspeak" and silence critics of social policies.

The Budapest Convention on Cybercrime includes protocols that criminalize "insulting publicly" through a computer system based on race, religion, or national origin. The treaty also forbids the "gross minimization" of specific historical events or groups. The definition of xenophobia—an irrational dislike of people from other countries—is discussed as being overly broad and a threat to online freedom of speech.

A report from the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) alleges that scientists at the World Health Organization (WHO) had undisclosed ties to pharmaceutical companies during the H1N1 pandemic. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan defended the organization, dismissing critics as "armchair quarterbacks." The hosts argue that the pandemic threat was manufactured to benefit manufacturers of vaccines and Tamiflu.