Dutch legislators have adopted a motion asking their government not to sign the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, an anti-piracy treaty that critics say threatens online freedom. Previously, the government had said it would not sign unless the European Court of Justice found that ACTA did not violate any other EU rights and laws, but this motion is a stronger sign of opposition occurring shortly after the Netherlands became the first European country to adopt a formal net neutrality law. Since the law also included privacy provisions for users, it's not surprising that the Netherlands would oppose the "highly intrusive" treaty.
Dutch legislature takes stand against Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement
Dutch legislators have adopted a motion asking their government not to sign the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, an anti-piracy treaty that critics say threatens online freedom.
Dutch legislators have adopted a motion asking their government not to sign the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, an anti-piracy treaty that critics say threatens online freedom.
is a senior tech and policy editor focused on online platforms and free expression. Adi has covered virtual and augmented reality, the history of computing, and more for The Verge since 2011.
Although the European Council approved ACTA, the treaty has sparked widespread protests in some countries, and it must be ratified by all 27 member states in order for the EU to officially be a party to it, something officials have said is unlikely to happen. The Netherlands is hardly unanimously against online controls — a Dutch court recently ordered ISPs to block The Pirate Bay — but it’s doubtful the country will change its opposition to ACTA.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
Aaron Souppouris
Aaron Souppouris
