Pirate Party Celebrates Historic ACTA Rejection by the European Parliament

ACTA Dead in current form

Today the European Parliament rejected the controversial ACTA treaty by 478 votes to 39, with 165 MEP's abstaining.  Negotiated in secret by the EU, US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Korea, Singapore and Switzerland, ACTA would have imposed draconian restrictions on the freedom of the Internet and access to generic medicines for the world's poorest.

Pirate Party Leader Loz Kaye commented:

"The European Parliament vote is a triumph of democracy over special interests and shady back-room deals. This is a significant victory for digital rights, and it's thanks to the tireless work of activists and grass roots organisations, including the Pirate Party world wide. Without this opposition, our representatives would have waved this agreement through. It is now clear that it is becoming increasingly politically poisonous to be 'anti Internet'."

"I'm pleased the MEPs have listened to the millions of people who contacted them and came out on the streets to protest against ACTA, instead of being misled by the empty promises of industry lobbyists."

"This must signal a start for a new way of doing politics. No more should international agreements be negotiated behind closed doors and simply rubber stamped by parliaments. Policy must become something that happens with the people, not to the people."

"The Pirate Party will continue to oppose treaties such as ACTA that seek to attack our fundamental rights."

Loz Kaye
Party Leader
Pirate Party UK
@lozkaye

campaigns@pirateparty.org.uk

Contact:
press@pirateparty.org.uk
+44 (0) 161 987 7880