ACTA 'no' to three strikes approach to web copyright infringement

And no mobile devices to be searched for pirated material when crossing borders

ACTA says no 'three strikes' policy proposals on the discussion table

The European Commission (EC) released a draft statement on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) talks taking place in New Zealand this week.

The statement said that ACTA will not interfere with a country's ability to respect its citizens’ fundamental rights and liberties.

That means that ACTA will not ask border authorities to search travellers’ baggage or their personal electronic devices for materials that infringe copyright.

The discussions also addressed copyright infringement on the internet, confirming that ACTA will not require governments to mandate a "graduated response" or "three strikes" approach to this.

ACTA has infuriated campaigners such as French digital rights and freedom advocacy group La Quadrature du Net (Squaring the Net), which has been battling against ACTA for years.

Commenting on the draft statement, La Quadrature du Net said: "This will turn internet operators into a private copyright police, impose harsh and unfair penalties on users and consumers, and establish new anti-democratic policy-making that will bypass parliaments."

A more concrete statement on the discussions will be released on 21 April, and the participants aim to conclude the trade agreement as soon as possible after this.

The next meeting will be hosted in Switzerland in June.