European Parliament condemns “3 strikes” approach

Posted by Becky in Copyright, Intellectual Property, Net Neutrality, Privacy at April 10th, 2008

This morning, the European Parliament has voted to condemn member state plans to disconnect suspected illicit filesharers from the internet. In a fairly narrow vote, MEPs adopted an amendment to the so-called Bono Report on the Cultural Industries, which

“Calls on the Commission and the Member States to recognise that the Internet is a vast platform for cultural expression, access to knowledge, and democratic participation in European creativity, bringing generations together through the information society; calls on the Commission and the Member States, therefore, to avoid adopting measures conflicting with civil liberties and human rights and with the principles of proportionality, effectiveness and dissuasiveness, such as the interruption of Internet access.”

The report is not legally binding, but it does signifiy resistance among MEPs to measures currently being implemented in France to disconnect suspected illicit filesharers. This is especially relevant as France will take over the European presidency in July, and many fear that President Sarkozy would use the opportunity to push the so-called “Oliviennes” strategy Europe-wide.

The UK government will consult UK citizens on their plans to tackle illicit filesharing this Spring. We’ve already blogged about ORG’s objections to UK proposals here. In short, and as the European Parliament have recognised today, they are disproportionate, they lack consumer safeguards and they won’t stop illicit filesharing.

12 Responses to “European Parliament condemns “3 strikes” approach”

  1. European Parliament Condemns Plans To Disconnect File-Sharers | TorrentFreak Says:

    [...] according to an Open Rights Group report, Members of the European Parliament have voted this morning to adopt an amendment to the Guy Bono [...]

  2. Zwartbaard.nl » Blog Archive » European Parliament Condemns Plans To Disconnect File-Sharers Says:

    [...] to an Open Rights Group report, Members of the European Parliament have voted this morning to adopt an amendment to the Guy Bono [...]

  3. GadgetsArabia » البرلمان الأوروبي يرفض فصل الانترنت عن من يقوم بمشاركة المواد المقرصنة Says:

    [...] الملفات و لكني في الواقع أجده نصرا للحريات, فقد أيد البرلمان الأوروبي بأغلبية بسيطة قرارا يدين الإجراءات التي تحاول [...]

  4. Golpe al ‘modelo Sarkozy’ contra el P2P | Mangas Verdes Says:

    [...] Fuente: Open Rights Group [...]

  5. El parlament europeu en contra la desconnexió d’internet | Arnau Says:

    [...] Vist a Mangas Verdes i a Open Rights Group. [...]

  6. Europaparlamentet avvisar drakoniska straff för fildelare | Bloggtidningen Says:

    [...] Open Rights Group, i England, påpekar att denna lag saknar skydd för konsumenten och inte hindrar illegal [...]

  7. dave Says:

    I can’t believe this have only gotten 6 comments. Please spread information about these reports. I do.

  8. Tom Says:

    Now on /. via Info world

    http://news.slashdot.org/news/08/04/11/0017234.shtml

  9. tinter Says:

    Any idea when/where we can get the vote break down for this? Would be intresting to see which way the European blocks went, though I expect it is somewhat predictable.

  10. European Parliament Condemns Plans To Disconnect File-Sharers at IDTorrent Blog Says:

    [...] to an Open Rights Group report, Members of the European Parliament have voted this morning to adopt an amendment to the Guy Bono [...]

  11. Lipator » Blog Archive » EU condemns plans to cut off P2P file sharers Says:

    [...] MEPs to measures currently being implemented in France to disconnect suspected illicit filesharers.read more | digg [...]

  12. The Open Rights Group : Blog Archive » Write to your MEP: say no to “3 strikes” through the backdoor Says:

    [...] be drafting a new law to disconnect suspected filesharers from the internet? MEPs have already signalled their condemnation of this approach. But last-minute amendments to telecommunications legislation could bring the so-called “3 [...]

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