ACTA has continued to be a widely debated topic. People have taken to the streets to express their views against the ratification of ACTA for their voice to be heard "...citizens protesting the treaty marched over 4,000 strong into the capital city Sofia in protest, calling on the government not to sign it. Similar demonstrations were also held elsewhere in Europe, most notably in France, Germany and Ireland."1 Freedom of speech and expression infringement in the Internet, violation of personal privacy, human rights are some of the main reasons as to why ACTA should not be passed. Protests in many European cities have made governments of countries to reconsider their position on ACTA. Some claim that neither the group Anonymous nor the peoples protests have been the reason for their "change of heart", "Prime Minister Tusk announced Tuesday that the government’s U-turn on the ratification of ACTA was not the result of public pressure or demonstrations in the matter."2
Whether this is true or not is uncertain, but what is certain is that people care and they are not willing to bypass a matter which could have serious consequences in their lives now and in the future. Following on recent news has shown that together we can make a difference, "Bulgaria and the Netherlands join Poland and Germany in refusing to ratify Acta, citing privacy and human rights issues."3 Is this accurate? From what I have read they did not clearly refuse to ratify Acta but have put it on hold "Hopefully Germany goes all the way and refuses to sign ACTA, not just put the agreement on hold"4, "Bulgaria will freeze its participation in the controversial ACTA trade agreement...This means that our country will not undertake any actions, including a ratification of the agreement, until the stance of the other EU member states is made clear," the Minister explained."5
What I get from this, reading between the lines, is countries looking for a way out, all in order to maintain stability and power. If one bill or treaty doesn't get passed then try it again under different name and different context but pertaining to the same goal (e.g. SOPA,PIPA then ACTA). Governments will keep trying to enact a law until they manage "to slip one past you". Don't get me wrong, I also believe that people's work/ideas should be acknowledged and they should be credited for it, but this is not the way. These new proposal's set forth by governments and political unions(e.g. European Union) with regards to the protection of intellectual property, personal information and freedom of expression create more confusion in the public, rather than comprehensibility/clarity.
What is the current standing on ACTA?
The Commission has decided to refer the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement to the European Court of Justice, halting for now ratification of ACTA by 22 EU countries. The Commission's moved was welcomed by leading European political parties that fear the international accord would trample rights and freedoms.6
The European Commission is going to ask the EU's highest court to assess whether ACTA is incompatible with the EU's fundamental rights - such as freedom of expression and information, protections of personal information and intellectual property.6
If ACTA is given a "green light", will
countries who refused to ratify it ,by freezing it, become inclined to side
with the decision of the EU's highest courts, as the idiom says: if you
can't beat them, join them, or will they follow their own "path"/constitution/laws?
1. http://www.techspot.com/news/47472-bulgaria-and-the-netherlands-withdraw-support-for-acta.html
2. http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/90889,PM-Tusk-says-ACTA-suspension-%E2%80%9Cnot-caused-by-external-pressure%E2%80%9D
3. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/feb/15/acta-loses-more-support-europe?newsfeed=true
4. http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/02/10/germany-wont-sign-acta-at-least-not-yet/
5. http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=136640
6. http://www.euractiv.com/infosociety/eu-suspends-acta-ratification-news-511054
No comments:
Post a Comment