Statewatch News Online: e-privacy story - Lambrinidis MEP

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In late February, the report Lambrinidis was voted unanimously in Brussels by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). This text about "the strengthening of security and fundamental freedoms on the Internet" contains a statement which directly cutting off Internet access as provided under the French bill Creation and Internet. He believes that "each individual throughout his life must have the right to access the computer and the Internet" and that such access should not be denied as a "sanction" against the violations of citizens' .

While the report should be discussed tomorrow, Wednesday 25 March, in plenary at European Parliament, and then voted on the morning of 26, the French authorities yesterday issued their opinions and voting recommendations. And as for the Telecoms Package, France has reinstated the right to intellectual property in a text which is not subject to the origin.

"Some members have individually signed amendments to intellectual property, and also approved by the copyright lobby. But as I said, this is not a report on intellectual property rights, and so it was adopted unanimously by the LIBE Committee, explains the social-MP Democrat Greek Stavros Lambrinidis. This report has a general policy and respect for fundamental rights on the Internet, it does any kind of offense. He continued: "This is the first recommendation made by members to reconcile the fight against cybercrime and Internet rights: freedom of association and expression, non-discrimination and other rights that can not being protected by EU legislation, since the Internet knows no boundaries. "

One element of the report is therefore to guarantee universal and continuing access to all citizens, "whereas" e-literacy "is the illiteracy of the 21st century, whereas ensuring access of all citizens to the Internet to ensure equal access for all citizens to education and recognizing that such access should not be denied as a sanction by governments or private companies, whereas this access should not be the subject of abuse in the pursuit of illegal activities. "

If the French authorities say they subscribe "to the goal of the widest possible access to the Internet," they also believe that "nothing can impose if such access is guaranteed in absolute terms and from home on your own computer (noting that access is still possible, if necessary, from other places). " According to them, the Internet service provider (ISP) must be able to terminate the subscription of bad payers, but most importantly, "the judicial or administrative measures should continue to be taken in cases where Internet subscribers are using their access to illicit purposes. " For these reasons, they reject the word "and considering that such access should not be denied as a sanction by governments or private companies" that is, they claim, "to provide Internet access to protection absolute to the detriment of the enjoyment of all other rights - including the right of ownership ". Incorporated in France in 397, the amendment bill Creation and Internet, this principle has been rejected by the House last Thursday.

About Cybercrime, France refers to 'a common approach to fight against identity theft on the Internet and strengthening the partnership between public authorities and the private sector "and believes" that the abolition of borders , the strengthening of international cooperation with third countries (...) is essential for effective responses are put in place. " For its part, Lambrinidis we emphasized "the importance of fight against crime without resorting to the monitoring of all Internet users, whether or not suspected of crime." For him, "the world of the Internet is no different from reality. Governments and private companies have the same obligation to respect fundamental rights of citizens online as offline. "

On the outcome of the vote, Guy Bono says "worry about the pressure from the French authorities on a number of MEPs." For the euro-member countries of Arles: "If the French government is determined to this point is he knows his bill [Creation and Internet editor's note] contrary to Community law. "

Google translation

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