Think SOPA/PIPA is bad? It's just a diversion compared to ACTA!

[Impulse]

As bad as the proposed legislation of SOPA & PIPA is, ACTA is considerably worse, and a severe danger to civil liberties, privacy and more.

Here's a few links about it.

ACTA has been in the pipeline since at least 2009 and was just signed in Poland. As an international act, it's terrifyingly farther-reaching than SOPA/PIPA, with greater powers.

Check out Stop ACTA for more info.

[Impulse]

Seriously? No one else is concerned about this, despite its far reaching powers above and beyond that proposed by SOPA?

[JBK405]

Well, that's terrifying.

[Spiffy]

I'd bad, but I think its risks and effects may be less clear to people. I mean the first time I read about it I thought it was just about banning the use of free software for "violators"--and while that comes out to being a real jackboot on the neck of free choice, it might SOUND more reasonable to people before they dig into it. Of course, just like SOPA and PIPA there are endless other conditions, terms and powers riding that and it winds up giving tons of other scary powers out.

Apparently this can be done without any real "due process"--and that's one catch. The removal of the courts (of the appropriate nation at least) from the whole process and the handing over of things to an enforcement division as the effective judge and jury. It also seems like beyond the free software thing, it can also lead to arrests and shut downs en masse (not sure of the order of precedence from one action (banning the use of the software) and going into arrest mode. Also, requests to ISPs for user information--THAT'S hidden in there too.

There also seems to be some aspect that they can amend the damn treaty with additional rules without public disclosure. Now THAT'S wonderful, ain't it?

There's also that scary bit about border searches--taking people's MP3 and video playing devices (phones too!) at border searches and having the authority to inspect them for "illegal" rips, subject to seizure or destruction of the device (and maybe fines and criminal prosecution?) if they find any? That's just nusty cuckoo Orwellian, I admit. I mean aside from how badly advised it is to give this power out, how is there even any assurance these people will have the ability to distinguish between LEGAL "rips" (or your own music) and illegal ones? Do YOU trust a bunch of hopped up border guards (or even worse, airport rent-a-cops) to be able to distinguish---and be able to do anything from seize your device to put you in jail for that?

Part of the thing is that seemingly it also "addresses" counterfeit merchandise, sale and advertisement of generic drugs, etc.--so they've no doubt got some other corporate entities on board supporting this other than just the media companies. "Nice" move on their part, roping in those other supporters.

[ZimMan2]

I feel like I should point out that Techdirt's got some good coverage of this for anyone curious.

I also felt the need to bump the thread, because while right now, I'm not sure if I'm going to be writing any more letters (aside from not having much time, I'm not even sure what to write), but will always do my best to spread information.

[zemo]

At this point I'd say let them have it. Seriously, let Hollywood and whoever have their self-made laws. And see whether they get happy with them. The pirates will get their stuff without any problem. Information will spread without any problem, doesn't matter whether the server is somewhere in the US or on the Philipines. Who really wants to find something will be able to.

On the other hand, let's see how happy the producers will be about their achievements. Might be funny to see their wide-eyed astonishment at the fact that every former download does NOT instantly translate into sales. Oh hey, maybe they will be actually capable of reducing the amount of online entertainment, who knows? But people are smarter now than they were in teh past. There is no going back to shit sitcoms and lame shows that only succeed because they are the only entertainment available. People have learned how to make their own entertainment. Maybe ACTA or SOPA, or whatever, FLOOFA for all I care, will actually move things along. Wouldn't it be kind of glorious if comic sales plummeted to zero because people simply go over to webcomics, supporting artists with however much they are willing to pay? Or how about Hollywood movies? They are already struggling perfectly fine because now word of mouth spreads that a shitty movie doesn't even get one kind of successful weekend anymore. While on the other side technology has gotten so cheap that almost everybody can make their own movies. Sure, an independent movie on youtube might not look as great as the newest blockbuster, but it might be as good, or even better. And it doesn't hurt to try it out, because it's free.

I'm probably being too optimistic, but talk about poetic justice.

[ZimMan2]

As an optimist, I would actually say that that would be the inevitable eventual outcome.

But I'm also impatient, and would prefer to skip all that.

[Impulse]

Another hint of how bad ACTA is: Kader Arif, one of the people ostensibly behind pushing it in Europe (remember, ACTA is a global offensive) has quit his job in disgust over the legislation.

From the above link:

I want to denounce in the strongest possible manner the entire process that led to the signature of this agreement: no inclusion of civil society organisations, a lack of transparency from the start of the negotiations, repeated postponing of the signature of the text without an explanation being ever given, exclusion of the EU Parliament's demands that were expressed on several occasions in our assembly.

As rapporteur of this text, I have faced never-before-seen manoeuvres from the right wing of this Parliament to impose a rushed calendar before public opinion could be alerted, thus depriving the Parliament of its right to expression and of the tools at its disposal to convey citizens' legitimate demands.”

Everyone knows the ACTA agreement is problematic, whether it is its impact on civil liberties, the way it makes Internet access providers liable, its consequences on generic drugs manufacturing, or how little protection it gives to our geographical indications.

This agreement might have major consequences on citizens' lives, and still, everything is being done to prevent the European Parliament from having its say in this matter. That is why today, as I release this report for which I was in charge, I want to send a strong signal and alert the public opinion about this unacceptable situation. I will not take part in this masquerade.

Bold part by me. ACTA isn't just about media content downloading - it's copyright holders trying to throttle the world with a steel grip. Even if you're 100% against downloading and other digital 'piracy', do you fancy paying 10 times the price for brand-name medication because ACTA makes it harder for the generic form to be sold?

[The Xenos]

Is there any way to immediately vote out every single one of these asshole representatives who think such oppressive laws are a good idea?

Oh wait.. no.. because the majority of people are idiots and keep falling for the tactics of the authoritarians in control of both parties.

Huzzah for the encroaching global government shredding everything from the US Constitution to the goddamn Magna Carta. For shit's sake, even the Democrats and their great hope and change Obama is just towing the line against civil liberties. Saying your administration won't enforce the law you just signed into being doesn't help that you just signed an oppressive law, ya jackass!

Really. There is hardly anyone that actually stands up for personal privacy and civil rights. Ron Paul kinda does, but his economics and foreign policy (despite being the only one to call Bush on his bullshit invasions) is naive as shit.

[Miguel]

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