Untimely meditations

One man's thoughts, observations and rants

Tag: internet

  • The Clean IT project, another threat to our privacy and online rights?

    The Clean IT project, another threat to our privacy and online rights?

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    by

    Joop Beris
    in ,

    In an attempt to reduce the impact of the terrorist use of the Internet, the European Commission is funding the Clean IT project. The aim of this project is to examine the question “if we can reduce the impact of the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, without affecting our online freedom”. However, a…

  • Victory! EU Parliament rejects ACTA

    Victory! EU Parliament rejects ACTA

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    by

    Joop Beris
    in ,

    In what can only be called a crushing defeat, the European Parliament decided today, around 1 PM to say “No” to ACTA! With a vote count of 478 against to 39 for ACTA, we can finally say that this insidious treaty is now dead.

  • Karel de Gucht: Vote of EU Parliament on ACTA doesn’t matter

    Karel de Gucht: Vote of EU Parliament on ACTA doesn’t matter

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    by

    Joop Beris
    in ,

    I have written before on the shocking arrogance of the European Commission. However, it now appears that matters are even worse than previously thought. EU Commissioner Karel De Gucht held a speech the day before the INTA Committee voted on ACTA, announcing that the vote of the EU Parliament on ACTA doesn’t matter, ACTA will…

  • David Martin: “Say no to ACTA”

    David Martin: “Say no to ACTA”

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    by

    Joop Beris
    in ,

    In a rather surprising statement from David Martin, the new rapporteur on ACTA and chairman of the EU International Trade Committee, he urges the rejection of the controversial ACTA agreement, stating that the benefits of the agreement do not way up against the concerns surrounding ACTA. The statement is surprising, because mr. Martin has in…

  • The fork or the crossroads?

    The fork or the crossroads?

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    by

    Joop Beris
    in

    We live in interesting times. Economic crisis, social upheaval, collapsing companies, rampant consumerism, revolutions, government crackdown, disappearing privacy and globalisation. It feels like there is a pressure building and like all pressure, it’s going to have to find a way out. It is my opinion that we are standing on the fork or a crossroads,…

  • ACTA stakeholder hearing on April 11

    ACTA stakeholder hearing on April 11

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    by

    Joop Beris
    in ,

    Today, I received an email from Marietje Schaake, MEP and member of the INTA committee. She announced that she is organizing a stakeholder hearing concerning ACTA on April 11, since too many half-truths have been spread concerning ACTA, according to her.