Trans Pacific Partnership Provokes Fear Of Internet Censorship
The Trans Pacific Partnership(TPP) has prompted fears of internet censorship and the creation of “internet police” on a global scale. The TPP has been billed as a “free trade agreement” similar to the NAFTA initiative of 1994.
The TPP involves the United States and a dozen different nations and could give new powers to international corporations, restrict banking regulations, endanger America’s food supply, and drive up the cost of prescription medicines, if predictions by opponents are accurate.
As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the Trans Pacific Partnership deal appears to be cloaked in not just controversy but secrecy as well. That trade deal, along with the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership deal, would allegedly force the United States to “harmonize” food safety standards – causing America to abide by the standards of other nations.
A portion of the Trans Pacific Partnership deal requires all countries which sign onto the measure to abide by copyright law on an international platform.
Electronic Frontier Foundation had this to say about the TPP and internet censorship:
“TPP raises significant concerns about citizens’ freedom of expression, due process, innovation, the future of the Internet’s global infrastructure, and the right of sovereign nations to develop policies and laws that best meet their domestic priorities.”
Senator Ron Wyden was among those who staunchly oppose the Trans Pacific Partnership deal and addressed the lack of information about the plan being shared with Congress.
Wyden had this to say about the alleged secret nature of the trade talks:
“The majority of Congress is being kept in the dark as to the substance of the TPP negotiations, while representatives of U.S. corporations – like Halliburton, Chevron, PHRMA, Comcast, and the Motion Picture Association of America – are being consulted and made privy to details of the agreement.”
A host of internet freedom groups are also coming out in opposition to the TPP. The stopthesecrecy.net website began circulating a petition to thwart the Trans Pacific Partnership and has more than two million signatures. The petition and largely the internet freedom movement itself, is being led by OpenMedia, a Canada-based organization. The group wants safeguards put into place in order to keep cyber space free from censorship. Reddit and Avaaz are also involved in the initiative to stop the TPP mandates from taking effect.
OpenMedia Executive Director Steve Anderson had this to say about the TPP deal and how it will impact free speech on the internet:
“If the TPP’s censorship plan goes through, it will force ISPs to act as “Internet Police” monitoring our Internet use, censoring content, and removing whole websites. A deal this extreme would never pass with the whole world watching – that’s why U.S. lobbyists and bureaucrats are using these closed-door meetings to try to ram it through. Our projection will shine a light on this secretive and extreme agreement, sending decision-makers a clear message that we expect to take part in decisions that affect our daily lives.”
What do you think about the possibility of internet censorship due to the Trans Pacific Partnership?
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