Today ACTA continues in secrecy. In January, 2010 the negotiations will continue in Mexico. In Mexico, the media has addressed the bill as something that will help stop things ranging from piracy to narcotics and illegal trade. People in many nations believe that this is a balanced international approach that insures equal treatment for goods and services. U.S. Senator said, "protecting Americans from imports that pose significant health and safety risks. Intellectual property theft and counterfeiting represents an emerging threat to the health and safety of American consumers.". Everyone seems to support this bill except everyone who is already online.
Unlike America, most Europeans are online. The internet is considered a fundamental right in many countries, and an essential learning tool. Google, Wikipedia, and thepiratebay are leading a digital swarm of information that could have never existed before. For the first time, citizens can learn without localized government propaganda. The poor can learn for free, and you can access any information you need.
The laws in America promise many things that cannot be granted. The freedom of speech; only goes so far, the first right of every American is the ability to say anything they want. This law doesn't take precedence over anyone's profiteer motive anymore, especially in situations where someones words could undermine the governments motives. The right to a free education; this is why today acta continues in secrecy.
One of the intended side effects is to grant a monopoly to Hollywood. Last year Hollywood generated a greater profit on less product than ever before. Across the internet intelligent people are accessing Hollywood movies for free. Money analysis have concluded that a cheap, poorly created movie will generate more net profit than an over priced block buster. They have also discovered that raising the price has a greater profit. The last thing they can do to increase profits is to turn off the internet. Many American's aren't currently online; predominantly the poor. Some of those who are online don't know how to use it. These are the current target area's of sale. Acta aims to close the loophole of free information. In a socialist nation, free information relieves the burden of cost from the people, in a communist nation free information can spread ideas that are considered harmful to communism, in a capitalist nation free information can ruin the net profit of the rich while giving more power to the poor. Acta is aimed to benefit only America while hurting the rest of the world.
Everything being discussed on acta is already illegal in America. This probably won't change much for American's but it will make penalties much worse. This would devastate Europe. The U.S. is currently targeting taxes at the lower class while intensifying the war on drugs at a time when most Americans want an end to marijuana prohibition. Tobacco addicts are being singled out and targeted in a seemingly pre-prohibition action to limit and isolate their supporters. No law has ever stopped any of these illegal trades. This is another thing to add a social boundary and to keep many out of the way, or in jail. One of many bills, Acta is one that should be open, it shouldn't be concluded, we need to stop discussing this bill and move on to matters that are relevant.