A while ago a plan was proposed within the European Union to add a “Three Strikes, Out” law regarding to copyright infringement. After three accuses of copyright infringement by copyright holders for downloading or sharing illegal content, you can have your internet connection taken away for ever.
With the growing amount of stuff people have to arrange via the internet – for instance, more and more insurance companies work only via internet – this would mean people would become socially disabled by blocking their internet connection.
Luckily for all you digital natives the second voting on adopting the Amendment 138/46, which basically states that internet access is a fundamental right, got 407 votes for and only 57 against.
Aetzel
The link counting the votes in this post dates from 6 May 2009. But contrary to what the author says, internet and information rights are not safe anymore. Right now the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) proposes a number of measures that will undo the Amendment 138/46, reintroduce the three-strikes-principle as well as severe copyright and patent protection. La Quadrature du net in a recent article on ACTA: "One after the other, leaked documents unveil the truth regarding the negotiations of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). Public comments focus on specific points or nuances in the positions of the various negotiating parties. In this context of partial information, La Quadrature du Net stresses three core reasons for rejecting the principle of ACTA itself: policy laundering; a "one-size-fits-all" approach that confuses different domains or activities in a manner that is dangerous for access to knowledge, health and innovation; strong risks for fundamental rights such as freedom of expression." http://www.laquadrature.net/en/brief-the-fundamentals-of-acta And another: "This week, a new round of negotiations on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is taking place in Wellington, New Zealand. Recent leaks have revealed that the agreement aims at exporting the harshest sanctions related to copyright, patents and trademark infringement, and could turn Internet operators into a private copyright police. In addition, the whole process is an illegitimate circumvention of democracy. ACTA must be stopped." http://www.laquadrature.net/en/stop-acta
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