Victory for EU Citizens! Amendment 138 was voted in

[Lovejoy]

"the European Parliament has demonstrated it can resist pressure and stand for the rights and freedoms of citizens. Amendment 138 (now renumbered amendment 46) was adopted today in ITRE committe, in Strasbourg."

"Amendement 138/46-135 states that restrictions to the fundamental rights and freedoms of Internet users can only be put in place after a decision by judicial authorities (save when public security is threatened in which case the ruling may be subsequent)."

Thank God. A victory at last. I was a bit worried for awhile. But it seems the politicians understood the importances of the 138th amendment - at last.

"The European citizens will remember this courageous stand. Members of the European parliament honoured their mandates by standing courageously for citizens' rights and freedoms. This is one more blow to Nicolas Sarkozy's 'three strikes' or 'HADOPI' law in France, and a strong sign that nobody in Europe will want to pass such a stupid legislation going against progress, citizens' rights and common sense.".
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/victo...as-voted-again

This is what I fear we will end up with, unless we say no to future restrictions of the internet:




It feels good we didn't allow ourselves to walk down that path. Even if its far-fetched.

Lets feel a little happy for once.

[Cmdr_Sdxo]

*Phew*, that was a close call. I have at least a little more faith in humanity again..
At least for some time.

Couldn't believe there weren't any threads earlier regarding the issue...

[C-Rob]

paying for internet like expanded and basic cable differences? That would be the end of the internet as we know it.

(save when public security is threatened in which case the ruling may be subsequent)."

That bothers me, however.

[Erik]

Two questions:

What are "fundamental rights and freedoms of Internet users"?

And why is it the EU's business to rule over them?

[Yorkshireman]

Whats a European citizen?

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

Whats a European citizen?

A citizen of an EU member state.

it says it on the front of your passport.

[Erik]

A citizen of an EU member state.

it says it on the front of your passport.

My passport says "European Union", but not "European Citizen".

[Yorkshireman]

A citizen of an EU member state.

it says it on the front of your passport.

My passport specifically says under nationality, British citizen.

[ShockBlast]

Whats a European citizen?

You are a European citizen from the province of UK.

[Lovejoy]

Hah! Even when EU get something right they receive nothing but hate and disgust. When your country do something wrong, do you want your city to leave the nation? Nope. You vote, you protest and you try to get change. Many people worked hard to get this amendment into the telecom package. They had to vote it in two times before it was finally added into the package. We still have freedom loving politicians in EU - support them!

And for the love of god. Remember to vote in summer (between the 4th and 7th june). If you don't vote you don't have the right to complain if you ask me.

[justicar5]

Hah! Even when EU get something right they receive nothing but hate and disgust. When your country do something wrong, do you want your city to leave the nation? Nope. You vote, you protest and you try to get change. Many people worked hard to get this amendment into the telecom package. They had to vote it in two times before it was finally added into the package. We still have freedom loving politicians in EU - support them!

And for the love of god. Remember to vote in summer (between the 4th and 7th june). If you don't vote you don't have the right to complain if you ask me.

yup remember to vote guys, as a UK citizen it is the only democractic vote you get, with everyones vote being worth something.

[Norpheus]

You are a European citizen from the province of UK.

No, He and I am a member of a country thats in the european union. Not the same thing.

Still EU can go to hell. I dont want East Europe deciding whats gonna happen in my country

[magpie]

Excellent Result, The parliment came up with a good decision with that vote! regards, magpie

[Erik]

You are a European citizen from the province of UK.

Are Norwegians, Swiss and Ukrainians "European citizens" too? because their country is also part of Europe.

Hah! Even when EU get something right they receive nothing but hate and disgust.

Again: what did they do?

Explain it to me in practical terms, please.
Which "fundamental rights and freedoms" were in danger and how did they protect them?

Or is it, as I suspect, just some pretty words without any real-world implications whatsoever?

[Lovejoy]

[quote=Erik;5016726]
Again: what did they do?

Explain it to me in practical terms, please.
Which "fundamental rights and freedoms" were in danger and how did they protect them?

The "telecom package" contains tons of things. It's hard to understand it all. The largest part of it was meant to unify Europe's tele-communications market for all 27 EU member states - which is basicly good. The "bad" part however, was meant to give companies and government the right to shut down people from the internet - without judicial authorities. Lobbyists have been pushing hard to get this into the package.

The 138th Amendment, added in at the very last, critizied both by the French President and lobbyist, is meant to protect the people. Thanks to hard work, internet users can now only be put in place after a decision by judicial authorities. It's not perfect. But good enough. A small victory.

[Erik]

The "telecom package" contains tons of things. It's hard to understand it all. The largest part of it was meant to unify Europe's tele-communications market for all 27 EU member states - which is basicly good. The "bad" part however, was meant to give companies and government the right to shut down people from the internet - without judicial authorities. Lobbyists have been pushing hard to get this into the package.

The 138th Amendment, added in at the very last, critizied both by the French President and lobbyist, is meant to protect the people. Thanks to hard work, internet users can now only be put in place after a decision by judicial authorities. It's not perfect. But good enough. A small victory.

So, if it wasn't for the EU, these "fundamental rights and freedoms" wouldn't have been at danger in the first place?

You see, this is why I want my own national government to regulate these things, not some foreign Eurocrats.

[Thorn777]

@Erik

Again: what did they do?

Explain it to me in practical terms, please.
Which "fundamental rights and freedoms" were in danger and how did they protect them?

Or is it, as I suspect, just some pretty words without any real-world implications whatsoever?

OK, let me try to burst that bubble.

As far as I know this new legislation can also restrict national-governments from taxing or charging internet-users to pay an extra amount like they have to do in most EU nations for public-TV and radio channels. I know that the Netherlands abolished this(kijk en luister geld) about a decade ago already, so isn't really affected by this as of now. However in Germany for instance we have this organization(GEZ) to collect money from TV and radio users. Now the public broadcasters also went on the net, and immediately charged all users extra to get this done in "high quality". So after establishing on the net, the GEZ and all the juridic-courts now found enough reasons to charge all internet-users for this new service. This is now stopped.

Again and to clarify: This GEZ is a very powerful organization collecting billions of Euros a year. You have to pay about 18 euros a month per TV and 5 per radio(even a car radio etc) now they want an extra amount of X for all internet-users. The politicians and the courts all behind this to raise more revenues, luckily Brussels decided otherwise, or I amongst millions of others would have been charged for this robbery that we also payed for by paying for the PB to expand on the net.

Although I'm very much for the GEZ, because I believe its necessary to keep independent journalism on my TV-set, they make to much use of their powers and spend their billions lavishly on 50+channels and big shows, now they even went extra-tricky with this internet crap. Luckily they got whistled back by the EU, not our national courts and politicians, because they where influenced by lobby's and similar bollocks.

Other similar Brussels overruling/pressure of bad German national policy's:

1.No minimum wages.
2.Energy cartels involved in illegal activity's but the powerful lobby's prevent time after time they are being sanctioned.

The EU did good in situations like these, situations my national government is clearly wrong and even illegal in some cases where close ties often prevent change to the positive.

[Yorkshireman]

You are a European citizen from the province of UK.

If Britains a province what does that make Rumania? The outside toilet in our backyard.

Norgeyboy@ You love Europe as long as their not black or muslim.

[StarDreamer]

If Britains a province what does that make Rumania? The outside toilet in our backyard.

Norgeyboy@ You love Europe as long as their not black or muslim.

European citizen is just short for a citizen in a member state of the EU. No need to act up because of it.

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There really doesn't seem like any discussion, in the mudpit, about the EU/what EU does can even be held without the anti-EU crowds bursting out with hate. Almost like they believe all the evil in the world is a result of the EU. Critics will always find something to criticize, but in the case of the EU it is rarely constructive.

[Digbert]

You are a European citizen from the province of UK.

Welcome to the USSR EU Style
But a least for once the EU have done something right