coffee.geek.nz

Regular readers of this blog will know I'm involved in ensuring evil forces do not take over the internet and lock it down so they control who can use it.

The latest threat to the open uncaptured internet is a multilateral treaty called ACTA. It has been negotiated in secret by a small set of wealthy nations including New Zealand. (Secrecy is not normal for multilateral treaties ). Its been labelled national security secret.

The full draft text of this national security secret has been leaked many times. What does it contain? Mandatory disconnection from internet If you're ever accused of copyright infringement (possibly even if you are innocent) known as "3 strikes" or "graduated response"; Routine search of laptops and ipods at the border of these nations; Seizure of generic drugs (same drug as the branded thing, just cheaper); Surveillance of your internet connection and the revealing of your private data.

Its basically the wishlist from encumbent media giant corporates like Disney and Sony who are afraid of the internet, and some big pharmaceutical companies maximizing profit. It contains alot of "unintended consequences" that are bad for free speech, freedom, and people's rights to not be punished without due process. ACTA resembles the defeated copyright acta s92a, but on steroids.

I spent all Saturday with people from most NZ political parties, legal experts from a many nations, musicians, humaritarians, book publishers, scientists, librarians, authors and tech nerds like myself. The end result is a document called "The Wellington Declaration"

What a flurry of ACTA stuff today -- here's a press release from InternetNZ on their "PublicACTA" initiative.

InternetNZ to take public message to ACTA negotiators
Media Release
2 March 2010

InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) will assist the public in voicing its concerns about the controversial international Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) through an open conference to be held next month in Wellington, New Zealand.

“We’re going to give the public the chance to have their say - in contrast to the secrecy of the negotiation process,” says Jordan Carter, InternetNZ Policy Director.

PublicACTA will be held on Saturday, 10 April 2010, two days ahead of Round 8 of the ACTA negotiations on 12-16 April in Wellington. The outputs of PublicACTA will be provided to the New Zealand government negotiators.

PublicACTA will be an open and public opportunity for people to critique the known and likely content of the ACTA proposals, providing a counterpoint to the secrecy of the negotiations.

“These plurilateral negotiations appear to extend well beyond the area of trade and physical counterfeiting to potentially cover non-commercial infringement of copyright material by ordinary citizens and digital rights management,” Carter says.

Despite the high level of secrecy surrounding the process, some of the proposals have leaked and demonstrate cause for concern.