Adopt your MP today!

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it elsewhere, if so, apologies for repetition, but please have a look at this link, its the EU Telecoms Reform which passed its final reading in the EU Parliament yesterday:

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/513&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

I'd like to draw your attention to these sentences in particular:

Entry into force of the whole telecoms reform package with its publication in the EU's Official Journal (December 2009);

So it becomes law in the UK within the next few weeks.

And:

3 . Protecting citizens' rights relating to internet access by a new internet freedom provision: Following the strong request of the European Parliament, and after long negotiations on this point, the new telecoms rules, in a new Internet freedom provision ( see Annex 1 ), now explicitly state that any measures taken by Member States regarding access to or use of services and applications through telecoms networks must respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, as they are guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and in general principles of EU law. Such measures must also be appropriate, proportionate and necessary within a democratic society. In particular, they must respect the presumption of innocence and the right to privacy. With regard to any measures of Member States taken on their Internet access (e.g. to fight child pornography or other illegal activities), citizens in the EU are entitled to a prior fair and impartial procedure, including the right to be heard, and they have a right to an effective and timely judicial review.



I dont know what else needs to be said. Mandelson's proposal is surely, clearly, unequivocably illegal and will fall at the first legal challenge.

Cheers

Aidan