France OKs Three Strikes… again

Controversial law passed by Senate, slated by critics

By Andrew Orlowski • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 23rd September 2009 15:39 GMT

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The French Senate passed the revised Hadopi legislation yesterday by 251 votes to 131. The legislation creates a typically French bureaucratic infrastructure, which oversees a range of sanctions against internet copyright infringers, including €3,000 fines and ultimately disconnection.

Hadopi fell foul of the French Supreme Court in June, which ruled that the lack of judicial review infringed the citizen's constitutional rights. But it might be in trouble again, according to socialist MPs and the group Reporters Without Borders.

"Reporters Without Borders is also alarmed that the alleged offender will not be given details of the illegal download when the disconnection order is issued. This recalls the censorship methods in force prior to the 1881 press freedom law, when the censor did not have to tell offenders why they were being censored," says the group in a statement.

The group also objects that:

"Freedom of expression and communication is abused by being denied access to online information and the ability to communicate with friends and family by email, Twitter, Facebook, Skype and blogs for one year."

Insert your own joke here, dear reader. ®

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