Pirate Party MEP Julia Reda has been touting a dubious online petition against article 13.  Despite claims to be acting on behalf of internet “users” the petition seems to be a fundraising effort by a “charity” group operating the website SaveTheInternet.Info.

SaveTheInternet.info gofund me page claims the group is a German charity. 

The problem is the  “charity” does not appear to be a charity at all.  According to our German sources the SaveTheInternet is not registered as a German charity as they clearly claim. That’s a misrepresentation.  I am not a lawyer but a plain reading of the laws in the US concerning soliciting funds for a charity would make this criminal fraud in the US.  Since the group is soliciting funds worldwide using the Redwood City California corporation (GoFund.me) I would argue this is a violation US law:

 

I suppose I could be wrong but there have been prosecutions for similar activity in the US. How is this any different?

On top of that I imagine that the German government has similar if not more strict laws on charities, solicitation of funds and misrepresentations.

Here is the GoFundMe page:

https://www.gofundme.com/save-the-internet-info