European Parliament Says No to Internet Ban

With 314 votes against 297, the European Parliament decided that it’s wrong to cut someone’s internet connection, even if that someone is a file sharer. This is a clear signal that the parliament rejects the French plan to fight illegal file sharing by banning citizens’ from the internet.

The proposal was tabled by Christofer Fjellner, Swedish MEP for the Moderate Party. Fjellner’s proposal was put forward as an amendment to the Bono report. Guy Bono, responsible for the report, has himself played a major role in forming the pro-Internet coalition that won majority in today’s vote.

The European Parliament’s file-sharer friendly statement is well timed. France will soon get the opportunity to chair the EU, and one priority will be to force European ISPs to cut the Internet connection of anyone illegally downloading a song or a movie. If insisting on his plans, Sarkozy now faces an uphill battle.

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