[P2P-F] Fwd: [opennetcoalition] SaveTheInternet.eu: Act Now For Net Neutrality!

Sun Jan 19 02:03:05 CET 2014

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: La Quadrature du Net <jz at laquadrature.net>
Date: Tue, Jan 14, 2014 at 4:56 PM
Subject: [opennetcoalition] SaveTheInternet.eu: Act Now For Net Neutrality!
To: opennetcoalition at laquadrature.net

Themes: NET NEUTRALITY, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, NEELIE KROES, PILAR DEL
CASTILLO VERA

JOINT PRESS RELEASE – For immediate release

Permanent link:
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/savetheinterneteu-act-now-for-net-neutrality

SaveTheInternet.eu: Act Now For Net Neutrality!

*** Paris, 14 January 2014 — A few weeks before crucial steps on the future
European Regulation on the Single Market of telecommunication, a coalition
of European organisations released the following joint press calling
citizens to make their voices heard and to urge their MEPs to protect Net
neutrality. ***

** Net neutrality campaign – SaveTheInternet.eu **

A broad coalition of civil Liberties NGOs launched SaveTheInternet.eu [1],
a campaign to protect Net neutrality in upcoming EU legislation. A recent
proposal from the European Commission will restrict freedom of speech on
the Internet, increase prices and stifle online innovation unless urgent
action is taken. Citizens should contact parliamentarians in the European
Parliament's Industry Committee and urge them to defend the open Internet.

After four years during which no action was taken to protect the open
Internet, the Commission's new proposals would achieve the opposite result.
The Regulation would allow Internet companies to arbitrarily interfere with
Internet traffic, prioritising the services of cash rich online companies
to the detriment of innovation and free speech. Some of the worst Net
neutrality violations we have seen in Europe over the last years will
become legal through loopholes in the proposed rules on so-called
“specialised services”. What is more, the Commission's text would allow
"voluntary" ad hoc policing and surveillance activities for Internet access
providers - in clear breach of the European Union's own legal obligations.

There is unanimous criticism from NGOs on this Draft Regulation. Civil
society groups are furious that the proposal does not reflect the balance
of views presented to the Commission in the consultations held on the
subject. Groups are also critical of the fact that the measure is now being
rushed through the legislative process. Of biggest concern is the fact that
big telecoms operators are being offered the chance to impose old,
inefficient, expensive and outdated telephony business models on the
currently efficient and cost-effective internet.

Citizens now need to weigh in this crucial debate for the future of the
Internet. The Regulation is now in the hands of the European Parliament,
who has a golden opportunity to correct the text's dangerous loopholes and
introduce necessary safeguards to protect the open and neutral Internet.

Time is running out. The European Parliament's Industry Committee will
adopt amendments to the draft Regulation on February 27th. In the next six
weeks each and every European who cares about the Internet should contact
members of the European Parliament to make their voices heard.

SaveTheInternet.eu is the website that offers all the tools and information
one needs to do just that. It provides all necessary information about the
Regulation, the process and the arguments against it. Through
SaveTheInternet.eu, every citizen can then call their MEPs free of charge
or send them an e-mail to urge them to amend the text and bring strong
legal protections to fundamental rights and innovation on the Internet.

This campaign is carried out by:

    - Access Now (Brussel)
    - Digitale Gesellschaft e.V (Germany)
    - Initiative für Netzfreiheit (Austria)
    - European Digital Rights (EDRI) (Brussel)
    - La Quadrature du Net (France)

* Reference *

1. http://www.savetheinternet.eu/

** 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 **

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

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

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