[P2P-F] Fwd: [fcf_discussion] Net Neutrality Vote In EU Parliament: MEPs Must Protect the Internet!

[Michel Bauwens]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: La Quadrature du Net <contact at laquadrature.net>
Date: Mon, Mar 31, 2014 at 9:32 AM
Subject: [fcf_discussion] Net Neutrality Vote In EU Parliament: MEPs Must
Protect the Internet!
To: fcforum_discussion at list.fcforum.net


Themes: NET NEUTRALITY, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, EUROPEAN SINGLE MARKET FOR
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS, PILAR DEL CASTILLO VERA, JENS ROHDE, CATHERINE
TRAUTMANN, NEELIE KROES

La Quadrature du Net - For immediate release

Permanent link:
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/net-neutrality-vote-in-eu-parliament-meps-must-protect-the-internet


Net Neutrality Vote In EU Parliament: MEPs Must Protect the Internet!



*** Paris, 31 March 2014 -- A few days before the vote that will decide the
future of Net Neutrality and the Internet commons in Europe, La Quadrature
du Net calls on all Members of the European Parliament to support the
amendments proposed [1] by the Social-Democrats (S&D), the Greens
(Greens/EFA), the United Left (GUE/NGL) and the Liberals [2] (ALDE). These
amendments contain strong provisions to protect freedom of expression and
freedom of information online, reassert the principle of fair competition
and guarantee that users may freely choose between services online. From
now until 3 April, citizens should urge [3] their representatives to
support this cross-party package of amendments in order to preserve the
Internet commons. ***

In the months following her appointment as Commissioner in 2010, Neelie
Kroes' position on the question of Net Neutrality evolved from unmitigated
support [4] to an alignement [5] with the demands of telecom operators'
lobbies. Rushed [6] through the committees so that it could be voted before
this year's European elections, the Commissioner's proposal for a
regulation reflects this inconsistency: while on one hand claiming to
protect Net Neutrality, it in fact radically undermines it by permitting
commercial discrimination of Internet traffic. Despite much criticism -
from within the Commission itself [7] and other institutions [8], as well
as from civil society [9] -, the most serious flaws of the proposed
regulation have not been corrected [10] by the "Industry" (ITRE) Committee,
in charge of this dossier in the EU Parliament.

The recent proliferation of harmful agreements under negotiation or
concluded between Internet service providers and telecom operators - such
as those between Apple and Comcast [11] in the United States or SFR and
YouTube [12] in France - or telecoms operators' practice to alter the
content of web pages to benefit their own services [13], can be added to
the existing long list [14] of discrimination by ISPs, discrimination that
has in fact already been identified [15] by many institutions and European
regulators. It is high time to put into law strong guarantees for Net
Neutrality. Years of inaction have only helped to shelter private interests
from public interest regulation and allowed the situation to deteriorate.

A few days before the vote on the future of Net Neutrality and the Internet
commons in the European Parliament, La Quadrature du Net sent the following
email to all MEPs, inviting them to adopt strong amendments in favour of
fundamental rights to freedom of expression and innovation online:
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/net-neutrality-vote-in-eu-parliament-meps-must-protect-the-internet#letter



* References *

1.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+AMD+A7-2014-0190+237-244+DOC+PDF+V0//EN

2. The amendments tabled by ALDE are identical on the key points to the
amendments tabled by other groups:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+AMD+A7-2014-0190+234-236+DOC+PDF+V0//EN

3. http://savetheinternet.eu/

4.
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/commissioner-kroes-commits-herself-to-net-neutrality

5.
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/neelie-kroes-pushing-telcos-agenda-to-end-net-neutrality

6.
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/kroes-unacceptable-anti-net-neutrality-law-rushed-despite-criticisms

7. A leaked draft by Viviane Reding's services says for example "such
limited possibilities of accessing Internet content and services of their
choice would run counter to the stated objectives of the EU Charter of
Fundamental Rights.": http://www.edri.org/NN-negativeopinions

8. For example, the European Data Protection Supervisor wrote in a press
release published on 15 November that Neelie Kroes' proposal voids the
principle of Net Neutrality "of substance" "because of the almost unlimited
right of providers to manage Internet traffic":
https://secure.edps.europa.eu/EDPSWEB/webdav/site/mySite/shared/Documents/EDPS/PressNews/Press/2013/EDPS-2013-10_eComms_EN.pdf

9.
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/pcworld-digital-rights-activist-eus-proposed-net-neutrality-law-as-useful-as-an-umbrella-in-a-hurric

10.
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/net-neutrality-dangerous-loopholes-remain-after-key-vote-by-lead-eu-parliament-committee

11.
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/arstechnica-apple-wants-its-own-path-on-comcast-network-for-video-service-wsj-says

12.
https://www.laquadrature.net/fr/pcinpact-tout-pc-inpact-en-illimite-chez-sfr-lavenir-dun-net-sans-neutralite[fr]

13.
http://www.zdnet.fr/actualites/sosh-et-orange-violent-ils-la-neutralite-du-net-au-detriment-de-facebook-et-de-leurs-abonnes-un-exemple-troublant-39788554.htm[fr]

14. http://respectmynet.eu/

15.
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/eu-telecom-regulators-wake-up-call-on-net-neutrality




** About La Quadrature du Net **


La Quadrature du Net is an advocacy group that defends 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:
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/they-support-la-quadrature-du-net




** Press contact and press room **

contact at laquadrature.net, +33 (0) 972 294 426

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







-- 
*Please note an intrusion wiped out my inbox on February 8; I have no
record of previous communication, proposals, etc ..*

P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net  - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net

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