“applying the principle that no restriction may be imposed on the rights and freedoms of end-users notably in accordance with Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union on freedom of expression and information without a prior ruling by the judicial authorities save when public security is threatened”

A few days later President Sarkozy wrote to President Barroso a letter in which he begs Barroso to reject Bono/Cohn-Bendit/Roithova amendment (138) explaining that the amendment would prohibit the “gradual response” policy against piracy strongly encouraged by Sarkozy himself. On the 6th of October (two days ago) the Commission in just one minute talking flatly refused the french request on a very strong basis (among other reasons the core is that freedom of expression and information are fundamental rights of European citizens; those rights must not be impaired by attempts to defend private interests).

However some vague formulations remain in other parts of the Telecoms Package. I ask to all European citizens and in particular netizens to remain firm and vigilant and to make every step in their possibility to spread information and to keep high pressure on your political members in your country and in the EU.

I also call in particular Italian citizens to get well informed about a meeting which will be held in October to discuss “graduated response” against piracy despite the Bono amendment. Please be aware that the meeting will include ONLY government and major representatives (not even ISPs have been invited and not even Customers’ Rights associations representatives).

On the 27th of November the Telecom Package will be discussed by the EU Council.

References:

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/graduated-response-lesson
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Main_Page

For Italian readers:

http://forum.tntvillage.scambioetico.org/tntforum/index.php?showforum=184

the prime minister just doesn’t want to be associated with anything dirty like invading privacy…His rep is as bad as it gets already he’s on a knife edge and it’s not going to take a heck of a lot more to have him jousted…