When the ISPs Worry About ACTA, You Know We’re in Deep
I have written quite a bit about the whole ACTA mess because to me this is one of the most dangerous pieces of global trade laws that has ever been put together. It is well documented that the driving force behind ACTA has been the US entertainment industry that is looking to grab as much control of the Internet under the guise of protecting antiquated copyright laws. However that is only part of what ACTA is intended for.
It is the other part that according to Prof. Michael Geist that has Ken Englehart concerned. So why should it matter what some guy by the name of Englehart thinks about ACTA? Well Mr. Englehart is the Senior VP Regulatory for Rogers Communications which is one of Canada’s largest ISPs.
In a recent appearance before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage Mr. Englehart, in a reply to a question from NDP MP Charlie Angus, said the following
We are concerned, as many ISPs are, about the ACTA negotiations. It’s supposed to be about counterfeiting, but it seems to have gone way past counterfeiting to talking about issues of ISPs and the downloading activities of our customers. We don’t think ISPs should be put in the position of being traffic cops to decide what is legal and what is not. We really hate any idea that we would have to terminate our customers’ service on a three-strikes policy. We do not want to do that at all. I have a great deal of sympathy for the copyright holders who feel that their content is being stolen. It’s a big problem. But I don’t want to see this done by putting ISPs in the position of having to disconnect their customers or aid in the conviction of their customers.
When you have one of the greediest of an already greedy bunch of ISPs voicing concern over something like ACTA you have to know that this isn’t a good thing.
Seriously people you really need to get involved in stopping this thing before it gains even more traction than it already has. If you do want to get involved Professor Geist’s blog is the best place to start because we are all going to get screwed if we don’t.
[Cross-posted at Shooting at Bubbles]
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