Why ACTA and TPP may be more dangerous than SOPA...
SOPA and PIPA were defeated, but other less obvious threats to online freedom of speech are moving forward.
The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) was signed yesterday by the European Commission, leading to protests across Europe but especially in Poland where thousands of citizens took to the streets over concerns of online censorship.
Some EU leaders are unhappy as well. Kader Arif, the European Parliament’s rapporteur for ACTA, resigned over the issue on Friday, saying he had witnessed “never-before-seen manoeuveres” by the officials responsible for crafting the treaty.
In a statement, Arif said: “I condemn the whole process which led to the signature of this agreement: no consultation of the civil society, lack of transparency since the beginning of negotiations, repeated delays of the signature of the text without any explanation given, reject of Parliament’s recommendations as given in several resolutions of our assembly.”
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US Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) a leading opponent of SOPA, has called the agreement more dangerous than the bills stalled in congress.
“As a member of Congress, it’s more dangerous than SOPA,” he said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“It’s not coming to me for a vote. It purports that it does not change existing laws. But once implemented, it creates a whole new enforcement system and will virtually tie the hands of Congress to undo it.”
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Find out more at these sources:
(i) On ACTA and how the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) being negotiated in complete secrecy may attempt to use the tactic of being a global trade agreement to 'hide' provisions related to internet censorship: HERE.
(ii) ACTA moves forward despite protests - what it means for our freedom online: HERE.
(iii) ACTA is more dangerous than SOPA: HERE.
(iv) European Parliament rapporteur quits in ACTA protest: HERE.
(I selected the 'request a tag' tag because we may need an acta/tpp tag?? Thanks!!)
The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) was signed yesterday by the European Commission, leading to protests across Europe but especially in Poland where thousands of citizens took to the streets over concerns of online censorship.
Some EU leaders are unhappy as well. Kader Arif, the European Parliament’s rapporteur for ACTA, resigned over the issue on Friday, saying he had witnessed “never-before-seen manoeuveres” by the officials responsible for crafting the treaty.
In a statement, Arif said: “I condemn the whole process which led to the signature of this agreement: no consultation of the civil society, lack of transparency since the beginning of negotiations, repeated delays of the signature of the text without any explanation given, reject of Parliament’s recommendations as given in several resolutions of our assembly.”
(...)
US Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) a leading opponent of SOPA, has called the agreement more dangerous than the bills stalled in congress.
“As a member of Congress, it’s more dangerous than SOPA,” he said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“It’s not coming to me for a vote. It purports that it does not change existing laws. But once implemented, it creates a whole new enforcement system and will virtually tie the hands of Congress to undo it.”
----------------
Find out more at these sources:
(i) On ACTA and how the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) being negotiated in complete secrecy may attempt to use the tactic of being a global trade agreement to 'hide' provisions related to internet censorship: HERE.
(ii) ACTA moves forward despite protests - what it means for our freedom online: HERE.
(iii) ACTA is more dangerous than SOPA: HERE.
(iv) European Parliament rapporteur quits in ACTA protest: HERE.
(I selected the 'request a tag' tag because we may need an acta/tpp tag?? Thanks!!)