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Internet users across Europe will protest on February 11 against the ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Treaty), a document that could lead to the disappearance of torrent sites, and the severe limitations of freedom under the pretext of protecting copyright.

Internet users out in the street to pull an alarm and convince elected officials of the European Parliament, but also those of Parliaments signatory states not to ratify the document.

In Romania, protests will take place in Bucharest , Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara . They are organized by Access , a community that has members in every country that advocate for freedom in the online environment.

ACTA could have more impact than the famous whisper of Americans, who are said to bury sites file sharing. Specifically, the treaty signed by our country, talks about copyright protection and so would eliminate sites that allow downloading of illegal content, and to punish those who benefit from pirated films and music.

In an online document technology and Internet Association, an organization contesting the project, list some of the "threats to freedom of expression and access to culture":

"1. Interests of holders of intellectual property rights are put above freedom of expression, privacy and other fundamental rights.

Two. ACTA will allow freedom of expression regulation in the hands of private companies, as impose obligations relating to monitoring online content by third parties such as Internet intermediaries, but not able to regulate the expressions in the online environment.

Three. ACTA can thwart cultural heritage of society, as increases the risks of criminal sanctions for use of works whose owners or copyright holders are difficult or impossible to identify or locate (so-called orphan works).

Four. Provisions of the final version of the Agreement, whose meaning will be clarified prior to ratification ACTA, are vague and likely to be interpreted in ways that could allow criminalization of large numbers of citizens for trivial offenses "

Technology and Internet Association also said that the agreement would force Internet providers to monitor your clients and authorities to provide the data that people caught downloading files that fall under copyright law.

In addition, ACTA would be an obstacle to innovation, because software development is in "gray areas" in legal terms.

Countries that have signed the agreement yesterday are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Last fall, the document was also signed by Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore and USA.

Source: Yoda.ro