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"Amendment 138/46 adopted again. Internet is a fundamental right in Europe"

by J.C. DE MARTIN

Amendment 138/46 adopted again. Internet is a fundamental right in Europe. Submitted by pi on 6 May, 2009 - 11:07. http://www.laquadrature.net/en/amendment-138-46-adopted-again Strasbourg, May 6 2009 − The debates on the Telecoms Package, thanks to a remarkable citizen mobilization, led to an extremely strong recognition of the access to internet as a fundamental right with the re-adoption of amendment 138/46 in second reading by a qualified majority. It is the final blow against three-strike laws such as Nicolas Sarkozy's HADOPI law, which are explicitely banned. The European Parliament nevertheless adopted a soft compromise on issues of network equity: no strong protection against “net discrimination” was adopted. La Quadrature warmly thanks the numerous European citizens who have contributed to the possibility of this new and stronger than ever statement for fundamental rights. Even on issues connected to network offers, the worst provisions introduced since the beginning of the legislative process were not adopted. Thanks to the public debate, the ill-intended co-operation between ISPs and right holders and discrimination of Net services and contents will not be forced, even though doors are still open for introducing it in Members States. “A formidable campaign from the citizens put the issues of freedoms on the Internet at the center of the debates of the Telecoms Package. This is a victory by itself. It started with the declaration of commissioner Viviane Reding considering access to Internet as a fundamental right1. The massive re-adoption of amendment 138/462 rather than the softer compromise negotiated by rapporteur Trautmann with the Council is an even stronger statement. These two elements alone confirm that the French ‘three strikes’ scheme, HADOPI, is dead already.” explains Jérémie Zimmermann, co-founder of La Quadrature du Net. To safeguard these provisions, the European civil society will have to be strongly mobilized during a conciliation phase that would proceed with a newly elected Parliament and a new Presidency. Furthermore, some provisions in the compromise amendments to the Harbour directive adopted today allow telecoms operators to alter the Internet as we know it. Nothing will forbid them to turn the Internet away from a neutral zone where people have equal access to all content applications and services. As these provisions have been negotiatied with the Council, they are likely to become law. Citizens will have to be particularly attentive to the transposition and implementation of the adopted provisions. It would be disastrous for the Internet to stop being a space where all can create innovative services and contents without permission from gatekeepers. In order for consumers to be in a position to endorse equitable network offers and reject the discriminatory offers, it is essential for at least some of the offers to be non-discriminatory. We will call the regulatory authorities and the Commission to ensure it by all policy means. “The strong statement for the access to the Internet as a fundamental right demonstrates that the Parliament can be courageous and reject the pressure to compromise when essential values are at stake. Unfortunately, on issues that appear more technical such as the absence of discrimination of services and contents on the Internet, the Parliament did not take the full measure of what it is at stake yet. Citizens must remain mobilized on these crucial questions.”, concludes Gérald Sédrati-Dinet, analyst for La Quadrature. 1. 1. “The fourth element I would like to underline is the recognition of the right to Internet access. The new rules recognise explicitly that Internet access is a fundamental right such as the freedom of expression and the freedom to access information. The rules therefore provide that any measures taken regarding access to, or use of, services and applications must respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of natural persons, including the right to privacy, freedom of expression and access to information and education as well as due process?”, Commissioner Viviane Redding: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sce/data/cre/doc/S0006346.doc. 2. 2. 404 votes for, 57 against. 88% of the European Parliament approved again the amendment

May 6, 2009

The Economist, online debate (5-15 May): "Copyright and wrongs. This house believes that existing copyright laws do more harm than good."

by J.C. DE MARTIN

http://www.economist.com/debate/days/view/310 The Economist is holding on online debate asking if copyright is holding back creativity and progress? And does the system favour content owners above the public, for which it was designed? Join the debate on Economist.com or here on Facebook and share your views. Motion: 'This house believes that existing copyright laws do more harm than good.' The moderator's opening remarks May 5th 2009 | Mr Kenneth Cukier The proposer's opening remarks May 5th 2009 | Professor Terry Fisher The opposition's opening remarks May 5th 2009 | Professor Justin Hughes cool! juan carlos

May 6, 2009

SAVE THE DATE: conferenza annuale NEXA, 28.11.2009

by J.C. DE MARTIN

L'incontro pubblico del Centro NEXA su Internet & Società del Politecnico di Torino si terrà sabato 28 novembre 2009 L'incontro sara' un momento di presentazione dei principali risultati prodotti dal Centro NEXA nell'anno in corso nonche' di approfondimento e confronto con esperti, policy makers, professionisti e appassionati. L'incontro includera' anche una sessione sullo stato di Creative Commons in Italia, riprendendo la tradizione degli incontri annuali CC-IT, con -se possibile- festa conclusiva in serata. Maggiori informazioni verrano rese disponibili nei prossimi mesi alla URL: http://nexa.polito.it/conf2009 Si segnala infine che il giorno precedente, venerdi' 27 novembre 2009, il Sistema Bibliotecario del Politecnico di Torino terrà nell'Aula Magna di Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24 un incontro nazionale sul tema del Open Access (http://biblio.polito.it/openaccess) Cordiali saluti, juan carlos de martin marco ricolfi prof. juan carlos de martin prof. marco ricolfi co-directors / nexa center for internet & society politecnico di torino http://nexa.polito.it

May 5, 2009

Telecom Package: cosa fare, come e quando

by J.C. DE MARTIN

Vi segnalo che la Quadrature du Net ha creato una pagina di rara efficacia con istruzioni su cosa fare, come e quando: http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Mobilisation_vote_Citizen_Rights_Amendment… juan carlos

May 4, 2009

R: Benvenuti / Welcome

by Fiorello Cortiana

:-) -----Messaggio originale----- Da: nexa-bounces(a)server-nexa.polito.it [mailto:nexa-bounces@server-nexa.polito.it] Per conto di J.C. DE MARTIN Inviato: sabato 2 maggio 2009 17.38 A: nexa(a)server-nexa.polito.it Oggetto: [nexa] Benvenuti / Welcome Buongiorno a tutti, benvenuti alla lista "nexa", creata per connettere tra loro nexiani, simpatizzanti e semplici curiosi. Sulla lista, che ci aspettiamo a basso traffico, circoleranno principalmente reminders su eventi/progetti NEXA, nonche' segnalazioni di URL, libri, articoli, ecc. La lista e' pubblica sia nel senso che gli archivi saranno liberamente accessibili da chiunque, sia nel senso che chiunque sara' libero di iscriversi. Ancora benvenuti, a presto! juan carlos prof. juan carlos de martin co-director / nexa center for internet & society politecnico di torino http://nexa.polito.it _______________________________________________ nexa mailing list nexa(a)server-nexa.polito.it https://server-nexa.polito.it/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nexa

May 4, 2009

"Telecoms Package: When rapporteurs betray EU citizens"

by J.C. DE MARTIN

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/telecoms-package-when-rapporteurs-betray-eu-… Telecoms Package: When rapporteurs betray EU citizens. By pi Created 30 Apr 2009 - 20:46 On both parts of the Telecoms Package, rapported by Malcolm Harbour (IMCO report) and Catherine Trautmann (ITRE report), agreements have been found with the Council of the EU to destroy or neutralize major protections of the citizens against graduated response, "net discrimination" and filtering of content on the Internet. There is little time left, but the Parliament has a last chance with the plenary vote on May 6th to reaffirm its commitment to protecting EU citizens. Both rapporteurs of the main directives of the Telecoms Package, Malcolm Harbour [1] (IMCO report [2]) and Catherine Trautmann [3] (ITRE report [4]) sacrificed the effective protection of citizens fundamental rights. They bent before the Council of the EU [5], under high pressure from France and UK, in shadowy trialogue negociations... Pressure was too high on them so they preferred finishing the Telecoms Package without risking to spend three more months negociating with the Council in a conciliation procedure1 [6]. These undemocratic practices lead to frightening compromise amendments that will be put to vote on the second reading plenary on Wednesday, May 6th in Strasbourg : * In the IMCO report [2] by M. Harbour [1], article 32(a) (former am. 166) protecting against arbitrary content filtering on the Internet, was totally neutralized [7]. On the topic of "net discrimination" [8], a safeguard that was already very weak (recital 26) was turned into a useless blurb. It's not a surprise that Harbour [1] gave up to the pressure of the UK government [9] and companies such as AT&T. But it's a shame for European citizens who deserve their right to communication, information and education, when used through the Internet, to be protected. * In the ITRE report [4] by C. Trautmann [3], amendment 138/46, adopted by 88% of the EP in first reading, and by 40 to 4 in committee last week [10], was abandoned. This article was crucial for protecting EU citizens against parallel arbitrary justice. Three-strike schemes against filesharers such as the HADOPI law proposal in France are not clearly forbidden by the new compromise. Even though these schemes remain contrary to the due process of law, one will wait years to have it confirmed in front of a court. In this clear attempt to please to N. Sarkozy, C. Trautmann [3] agreed to a major step back in citizens' rights protection. Citizens from all the EU must phone their MEPs to explain to them how crucial these stakes are for the future of our societies and our economies. MEPs have a chance to correct their colleagues' mistakes by voting for the "Citizen Rights amendments" package, which includes the original amendments 138 [11], 130 [12] (ITRE), and 166 [13] (IMCO) from first reading, along with clear protections against "net discrimination" [8], and removal of all remaining traces of "graduated response". "A few weeks away from the elections, this is the only chance for the Members of European Parliament to correctly protect their electors' fundamental rights and freedoms over the Internet, against the will of greedy and obsolete industries." states Jérémie Zimmermann, co-founder and spokesperson of La Quadrature du Net. La Quadrature calls all citizens of the EU to mobilize their friends and networks to be ready to act from Monday 4 May to Wednesday 6 May. 1. 1. [14] The conciliation is a kind of negociated "third reading" in the codecision procedure Attachment Size Voting list Harbour Report-A6-0257-2009.pdf [15] 91.93 KB Voting list Trautmann Report-A6-0272-2009.pdf [16] 89.52 KB (CC)BySa - La Quadrature du Net - 2008 Source URL: http://www.laquadrature.net/en/telecoms-package-when-rapporteurs-betray-eu-… Links: [1] http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/MalcolmHarbour [2] http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Telecoms_Package_Diff_COD_2007_0248_Commis… [3] http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/CatherineTrautmann [4] http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Telecoms_Package_Diff_COD_2007_0247_Commis… [5] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/new-version-of-amendment-138-46-agreed-europ… [6] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/telecoms-package-when-rapporteurs-betray-eu-… [7] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/council-of-eu-imposing-net-discrimination-in… [8] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/who-wants-net-discrimination-in-europe [9] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/uk-government-pushes-for-discriminated-inter… [10] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/victory-for-eu-citizens-amendement-138-was-v… [11] http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Telecoms_Package_Plenary_Amendments#Amendm… [12] http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Telecoms_Package_Plenary_Amendments#Amendm… [13] http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Telecoms_Package_Plenary_Amendments#Amendm… [14] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/telecoms-package-when-rapporteurs-betray-eu-… [15] http://www.laquadrature.net/files/Voting list Harbour Report-A6-0257-2009.pdf [16] http://www.laquadrature.net/files/Voting list Trautmann Report-A6-0272-2009.pdf

May 3, 2009

Posting to Nexa list

by Corrado Druetta

I would like to post to this list. Regards, Corrado Druetta

May 3, 2009

Benvenuti / Welcome

by J.C. DE MARTIN

Buongiorno a tutti, benvenuti alla lista "nexa", creata per connettere tra loro nexiani, simpatizzanti e semplici curiosi. Sulla lista, che ci aspettiamo a basso traffico, circoleranno principalmente reminders su eventi/progetti NEXA, nonche' segnalazioni di URL, libri, articoli, ecc. La lista e' pubblica sia nel senso che gli archivi saranno liberamente accessibili da chiunque, sia nel senso che chiunque sara' libero di iscriversi. Ancora benvenuti, a presto! juan carlos prof. juan carlos de martin co-director / nexa center for internet & society politecnico di torino http://nexa.polito.it

May 2, 2009