This story is one I nearly missed, my apologies folks, the date for the debate is today.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/12/france_music_law/The globalisation of internet law continues apace, as French legislators press ahead next week with the "loi Hadopi". The purpose of this proposed law is twofold: to clamp down on internet piracy, and to shift the responsibility for this clampdown firmly on to the shoulders of ISPs.
At this moment, the proposal is generating a lot of froth and not too much illumination. On the one side, French Culture Minister, Christine Albanel has announced that the proposal will be put before the Council of Ministers on 18 June. A fond hope is expressed that, despite heated opinions on each side, the measure can yet be law by the summer.
Backing the proposal are the usual suspects: publishers, retailers and a large chunk of ISPs.
Ranged against them is a more diverse coalition, including consumer advocates, politicians from the Greens and the Socialist Party, as well as new technology magazine SVM.
The outcome remains uncertain – but we will be keeping an eye on the unfolding debate. If this proposal becomes law, it will inevitably mean an increase in the total cost of internet service. French ISPs will be spending time and taxpayers’ money enforcing copyright on their networks. They will be using expensive deep packet inspection (DPI) to monitor traffic on their networks and look for copyrighted content.
The way ahead if the despots continue to abuse the freedoms we have given them in creating legislation is clear, firstly the usual call to oust the perpetrators and also to ensure protectionist measures are put in place to guarantee privacy is maintained, be this by increased uses of proxies and end to end encryption or other methods, once freedom is stolen by politicians with this mindset, its always a hard battle to claim it back.
We all know people in the real world who fight for freedom, lets ensure that those online are just as steadfast and firm in their resolve to defend it on the internet, to do nothing is not looking like a viable option.
