NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] EU citizens: Save Internet from being turned into a TV!
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La Quadrature du Net - For immediate release
Permanent link:
http://www.laquadrature.net/fr/eu-citizens-save-internet-from-being-turned-into-a-tv
EU citizens: Save Internet from being turned into a TV!
*** Paris, Mar. 23rd 2009 - Harmful amendments to Telecoms Package 2nd
reading may be voted on March 31st in IMCO and ITRE committees. They all
have in common to give extra powers to established industries (telecoms,
entertainment, IT security) starving for control over the Internet. "Net
discrimination" amendments could allow operators to discriminate against
types of content or services, or to give preferential access to certain
services whilst blocking others. Such limitations to the websites
subscribers can visit, and to services and applications they can use
would mean the end of an open Internet as we know it. These amendemnents
would have dreadful consequences for innovation on the network as well
for citizen's Freedoms. European citizens must urge MEPs from IMCO and
ITRE to protect their freedoms by voting for safeguarding amendments and
rejecting all amendments allowing net discrimination, "three strikes"
schemes and privacy breaches. ***
The second reading on the Telecoms Package means a second round of
intense lobbying, where corporate interests try to go back on citizen's
basic freedom in order to gain more control over the network. However,
the European Parliament has a unique chance of showing citizens its
commitment into protecting freedom and equity, since it is only 3 months
until the European elections, in June.
La Quadrature du Net publishes its analysis of the tabled amendements
and voting recommendations for the votes in IMCO and ITRE committees in
Mar. 31st1, as well as a call to alert MEPs2 on the crucial stakes that
lie ahead. Here is a summary of the most important points :
* Network discrimination. The open and egalitarian model of
investment and innovation of the network, at the base of its growth, is
directly threatened by US telecoms operators looking for more control
through "network discrimination". Within those schemes, operators could
create a state of permanent bandwidth scarcity which would allow them to
prioritize content, services and applications over others. Such
practices would discourage investment in network capacity3 as well as
competition and innovation, and could pose serious threats to freedom of
speech.
IMCO MEPs must reject amendements 136=137=138, pushed by AT&T, and
the related 116, 117=118. Amendments 135, 109, 111, 115 must be voted to
prevent "net discrimination".
* "Three strikes" graduated response.Although most of the
dispositions allowing for "graduated response" schemes in Europe were
rejected in first reading, some still remain. New amendments even
reintroduce the dreadful notion of "lawful content", which turns
operators into judges of the content going through their networks.
ITRE MEPs must vote for amendment 134 and reject amendment 45.
IMCO MEPs must vote for amendment 148 .
* Protection of fundamental freedom. Dispostions protective of
citizen's rights, such as former amendment 138, voted by 88% of the
European Parliament, were suppressed by the Council during the French
presidency. MEPs must stand strong for their electors' rights and
freedoms by reintroducing them against the Council's "diplocracy".
ITRE MEPs must vote for amendements 46=135 (am.138 in 1st reading)
by Catherine Trautmann/Rebecca HARMS, Helga TRÜPEL (Verts/ALE, DE),
David Hammerstein (Verts/ALE, ES)
IMCO MEPs must vote for amendements 72=146 by Malcolm Harbour/Eva
Britt-Svensson (former am.166), and reject am.147 by Jacques Toubon
(EPP/ED, FR), that viciously reintroduces "intellectual property" into
citizen's freedom protection.
* Privacy protection. A very disturbing amendment to the ePrivacy
directive, strongly rejected by the European Data Protection Supervisor
(EDPS)4, was re-tabled by the rapporteur Malcolm Harbour (PPE/ED, UK).
It allows the telecommunications industry to collect a potentially
unlimited amount of sensitive, confidential communications data
including our telephone and e-mail contacts, the geographic position of
our mobile phones and the websites we visit on the Internet.
IMCO MEPs must reject amendement 85 and vote for am. 150 by Eva
Britt Svenson (GUE/NL, SE)
"Net discrimination is an extremely serious threat which could mean the
end of the Free and egalitarian Internet as we know it. We must react
and inform our representatives to make them understand that our
freedoms, innovation and competition are more important than corporate
control over the network. Let's altogether use the Net in order to show
them how important it is, and how we cherish it. A few weeks before the
elections, the European Parliament must show its commitment to
protecting citizens." concludes Jérémie Zimmermann, spokesperson for La
Quadrature du Net.
* Références *
1.
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Telecoms_Package_2nd_Reading_ITRE_IMCO_Amendments
2. Anyone can contribute to this wiki-based guide:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Mobilisation_Telecoms-Package_IMCO-ITRE_March31
3. Network management measures should only be used to temporarily
address network congestion and capacity constraints, when they are due
to an attack or any kind of unexpected and unusual event. If the problem
persists, the only sustainable solution, for the benefit of all, is to
buy more bandwidth. This is the investment model that should be
incentivised. More informations in La Quadrature's dossier on the topic:
http://www.laquadrature.net/files/LaQuadratureduNet-20090218_net_discrimination-dossier_and_proposals.pdf
4. More about the EDPS opinion on this issue:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eu-data-protection-authority-confirms-privacy-breach-telecoms-package
** About la Quadrature du Net **
La Quadrature du Net (Squaring the Net) is citizen group informing about
legislative projects menacing civil liberties as well as economic and
social development in the digital age.
La Quadrature du Net informs citizens, public authorities,
organizations, corporations.
It works with everyone to elaborate balanced alternative solutions.
La Quadrature du Net is supported by French, european and international
NGOs including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Open Society
Institute and Privacy International.
List of supporting organisations :
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/they-support-squaring-net-la-quadrature-du-net
** Press contact and press room **
Jérémie Zimmermann, jz@laquadrature.net, +33 (0)615 940 675
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/press-room
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