[P2P-F] Fwd: [fcf_discussion] Will OECD serve Hollywood against our Freedoms?

[Michel Bauwens]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: La Quadrature du Net <jz at laquadrature.net>
Date: Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 9:05 PM
Subject: [fcf_discussion] Will OECD serve Hollywood against our Freedoms?
To: fcforum_discussion at list.fcforum.net


La Quadrature du Net - For immediate release

Permanent link:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/will-oecd-serve-hollywood-against-our-freedoms


Will OECD serve Hollywood against our Freedoms?



*** Paris, June 27th, 2011 – The OECD countries are finalizing a communiqué
about the future of the Internet. The outcome could either be a text
favourable to citizens' fundamental freedoms, or a push towards more
repression and private policing of the Internet, in line with the ACTA
agreement, the G8's conclusions and EU copyright strategy. ***


Starting tomorrow and for two days, the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD) – which is comprised of 34 rich and
industrialized western countries – is holding a meeting on the future of the
Internet Economy. The final text of the communiqué it will issue at the end
of this two-day event will decide either in favour of the rights of
citizens, or the repressive policies of powerful corporate actors defended
by a few governments.

The history of the Internet is at a turning point, and the OECD member
countries have to take sides. On one hand, the trend for repressive policies
has never been so strong, with the ACTA agreement1, the G8 conclusions2 and
the EU strategy3 for the future copyright willing to hand out police and
justice missions to Internet companies, with an inevitable impact on freedom
of expression online. In this scenario, machines at the heart of the network
would be configured to decide what is “lawful” or not4, denying the right to
a fair trial to citizens and negating the very essence of justice.

On the other hand, and in total opposition, is the report by UN rapporteur
for the protection of freedom of expression, Frank La Rue, which favours the
protection of fundamental freedoms over copyright enforcement and policing
of the Internet5. La Quadrature du Net's proposals6 for fostering
fundamental freedoms online, access to a free infrastructure and the free
flow of information go in the same direction.

“The OECD governments' conclusions will show if this institution is really
useful to the general interest, or if it serves the interest of the small
number of governments who keep on pushing for the entertainment industries'
repressive and conservative policies. Unfortunately, the list of panel
participants7 suggests that the OECD may have already taken the side of big
corporations seeking to control the Net. The OECD's legitimacy can only come
if its member countries stand up to protect our rights and a free, universal
internet infrastructure over private interests.” concludes Jérémie
Zimmermann, co-founder of citizen advocacy group La Quadrature du Net.



* Références *

1. http://www.laquadrature.net/en/ACTA

2.
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/frances-g8-focuses-on-control-and-restrictions-to-online-freedoms

3.
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eu-commission-sticks-to-flawed-copyright-repression

4. The so-called “voluntary agreements” that entertainment industries want
to force upon the Internet intermediaries in order to have them implement
“measures to deter further infringement”, inevitably amounting to censorship
mechanisms within the network.

5.
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/un-report-on-freedom-of-expression-bashes-g8-acta-hadopi

6. http://www.laquadrature.net/en/proposal

7. Participants include representatives from Vivendi-Universal, Fox, AT&T,
Alcatel-Lucent, Verizon, etc.
http://www.oecd.org/document/31/0,3746,en_21571361_47081080_47122335_1_1_1_1,00.html



** About la Quadrature du Net **


La Quadrature du Net is an advocacy group that promotes the rights and
freedoms of citizens on the Internet. More specifically, it advocates for
the adaptation of French and European legislations to respect the founding
principles of the Internet, most notably the free circulation of knowledge.

In addition to its advocacy work, the group also aims to foster a better
understanding of legislative processes among citizens. Through specific and
pertinent information and tools, La Quadrature du Net hopes to encourage
citizens' participation in the public debate on rights and freedoms in the
digital age.

La Quadrature du Net is supported by French, European and international NGOs
including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Open Society Institute and
Privacy International.

List of supporting organisations :
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/they-support-squaring-net-la-quadrature-du-net


** Press contact and press room **

Jérémie Zimmermann, jz at laquadrature.net, +33 (0)615 940 675

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/press-room




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