« Indeed, the architectural principles that underlie the Internet we have today, namely the principles of openness, inter-operability and neutrality do not only create an environment that enables innovation in services and applications, more importantly they allow for an environment where users can express themselves freely without discrimination by their service provider. Therefore, those basic design principles need to be preserved. »

Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Information Society and the Media - February 3rd 2009

« It's a breach of our civil liberties, when government limits access to the Internet it's like limiting freedom of speech. It's like banning people from printing books. »

Christofer Fjellner, Swedish legislator in the European Parliament who sponsored the banning of the "graduated response" in an adopted amendment.

The European Parliament is in the process of writing an own-initiative report in response to the Commission's communication on "enhancing the enforcement of intellectual property rights".

The Spanish government just announced a new bill that would grant an administrative body –the Commission for Intellectual Property– the power to order the take down or blocking of websites that “allow or facilitate” copyright infringements. Even more dangerous for civil liberties and freedom of expression, the Commission would be allowed to determine on its own whether judicial intervention is necessary.

La Quadrature du Net's response to the European Commission's communication on “Enhancing the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the internal market”
COM(2009) 467

Here is a comparison chart of the different versions of "amendment 138" along the whole co-decision procedure.

La Quadrature du Net publishes its answers to the survey by werebuild.eu about an open Internet infrastructure, and invites its NGO supports to engage themselves as well in this reflection about such crucial questions.

Here are the letters (PDF attached below) La Quadrature du Net sent to members of IMCO and ITRE committees about the crucial votes on Telecoms Package second reading, on March 31st.

Letter to IMCO members

Brussels, March 6th − La Quadrature du Net publishes a document, drafted by the British Government, with amendments to the telecoms package1. This proposal would turn the Internet into a Cable-TV network.

• 1. http://www.laquadrature.net/files/UK_PROPOSED_AMENDMENTS_on_net_neutrality_DRAFT_20090223_print.pdf.

Paris, February, 25th. Opposing the stubborn and ridiculous will of the French governement to disconnect whole families from the Internet without real proof or trial, La Quadrature du Net issues a call to all freedom-cherishing citizens to a "black-out" of their sites, blogs, profiles, avatars,...

Paris, Feb. 23rd - The French minister of Culture in charge of the law setting up "graduated response" against filesharers ("HADOPI" or "Olivennes Law", or "Création et Internet") announced that public wifi hotspots will have to be filtered to allow only access to a "white list" of authorised sites. This is the paroxysm of the absurd logic of this law, dangerous and doomed to fail. This is a perfect example of how a repressive and ignorant legislation can lead to terrible regression for the growth and innovation of our digital societies.

Who wants to control the internet ? How the Medina report and the Telecom package can affect the internet

http://www.greens-efa.org/cms/default/dok/270/270613.who_wants_to_contro...

Hearing
European Parliament - Brussels

Wednesday 18 February 2009 - 16:30-18:30

European Parliament - Room Petra Kelly ASP01G2
60, Rue Wiertz - 1047 Brussels - Belgium

PRESENTATION

Der Zusammenschluß der NGOs „La Quadrature du Net“, mit Hilfe von „FFII“ (=Förderverein für eine freie informationalle Infrastruktur) und „AK Vorrat“ (=Arbeitskreis Vorratsdatenspeicherung) und netzpolitik.org hat seine Abstimmungsempfehlungen aktualisiert für die Plenardebatte zum „Telekom-Paket“ am 24. September 2008 um 11:30 im Europäischen Parlament in Brüssel. Vor der Abstimmung wird eine Kunstinstallation über digitale Überwachung gezeigt und ein Pressemeeting vor dem Parlamentsgebäude abgehalten (s. unten).

The joint-venture of the NGOs "La Quadrature du Net" with help of "FFII" (=Foundation for a free informational Infrastructure; Europe) and "AK Vorrat" (=Arbeitskreis Vorratsdatenspeicherung; Germany) and netzpolitik.org has updated their voting recommendations for the plenary vote on the "Telecoms Package" on September 24th 2008 at 11:30AM at the European Parliament in Brussels. A visual art installation about digital surveillance and a press meeting will be held in front of the European Parliament before the vote (see details below).

On the topic of Telecoms Package, greek Members of European Parliament Stavros Lambrinidis, vice-président of the civil liberties committee, and Maria Matzouka organized a conference on Internet and liberties Monday Sept. 8th.

La Quadrature du Net presented its position on Telecoms Pacakge, along with the European Data Protection Supervisor, MEPs and NGOs (FFII, statewatch, EPIC).