[P2P-F] Fwd: [opennetcoalition] Is EU Giving Up Net Neutrality?

Thu Nov 20 18:06:29 CET 2014

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: La Quadrature du Net <contact at laquadrature.net>
Date: Fri, Nov 21, 2014 at 12:02 AM
Subject: [opennetcoalition] Is EU Giving Up Net Neutrality?
To: opennetcoalition at laquadrature.net

Themes: NET NEUTRALITY, MATTEO RENZI, LEAKED DOCUMENT, FAST LANES,
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

La Quadrature du Net – For immediate release

Permanent link:
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/is-eu-giving-up-net-neutrality

Is EU Giving Up Net Neutrality?

*** Paris, 20 November 2014 — After EU Commissioner Oettinger's outrageous
blog post [1], the bad news keeps on coming from the front of Net
Neutrality. The principle, strongly defended [2] by the Members of the
European Parliament on April 3rd is worryingly jeopardized by an agreement
currently discussed within the Council of the European Union. Governments
are about to give in to the demands of big telecom operators by creating
Internet fast-lanes whose access will be sold to dominant online services
like YouTube or Netflix. Such unacceptable move, amounting to
discriminating communications of all EU citizens, must be denounced by our
representatives at the EU Parliament! ***

A leaked document (note [3] and addendum [4]), presented by the Italian
Presidency on November 14th, reveals the bad turn that EU Member States are
taking on Net Neutrality during the negotiations of the EU telecom
regulation. Last April, EU Parliament adopted a first-reading version of
the text that included a strong protection [5] of Net Neutrality, designed
to protect EU citizens against discrimination of their communications
online. Right now, EU governments are about to dismantle it all.

The proposal of the Italian Presidency suggests, inter alia, the deletion
of “Net Neutrality” and “specialised services” definitions, which erases
all the protections that the European Parliament's resolution brought to
the open Internet against the harmful commercial strategies of the Internet
biggest companies.

Furthermore, the Italian Presidency – and many other Member States, like
France, seem to welcome the idea – also proposes to limit the restrictions
imposed on the ISPs, for the implementation of traffic management measures.
In particular, the text would allow websites censorship decided by
government agencies in charge of regulating the telecom sector without any
judicial intervention.

“The turnabout of the Italian Presidency – with the active complicity of
Member States such as France or the UK – is a regretful betrayal,
especially if we recall the good intentions proclaimed at the beginning of
its mandate [6]. The working document currently discussed by the EU
governments is a slap in the face of all the EU citizens and lawmakers who
fought for a true protection of Net Neutrality in the Spring. Just when
Barack Obama is taking strong positions in favour of Net Neutrality and is
calling on banning paid prioritization, EU governments are giving in to the
shameless lobbying of dominant telecom operators. By doing so, they are
effectively preparing the end of the Internet as we know it, and of all the
benefits it brings to democratic participation and innovation”, said Félix
Tréguer, co-founder of the advocacy group La Quadrature du Net.

“We call on Commissioner Ansip – whose declarations about Net Neutrality
during his confirmation hearing have been encouraging – as well as on
Members of the EU Parliament to intervene in this debate to ensure that
meaningful provisions protecting Net Neutrality remain in the text. Failure
to do so would be a sign of major political weakness, democratic
renunciation and would stick with them until the end of their term”,
concluded Miriam Artino, legal and policy analyst of the organisation.

* References *

1.
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/does-commissioner-oettinger-want-to-discard-net-neutrality
2.
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/net-neutrality-a-great-step-forward-for-the-free-internet
3. http://www.laquadrature.net/files/Note-NN-14.11.2014.pdf
4. http://www.laquadrature.net/files/Addendum-to-the-note-14.11.2014.pdf
5.
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/net-neutrality-a-great-step-forward-for-the-free-internet
6.
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/will-the-italian-presidency-of-the-eu-council-support-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

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