Danish Politicians Questioning Why Denmark Is So Against ACTA Transparency

from the where-are-the-politicians dept

Wed, Mar 3rd 2010 4:12pm — Mike Masnick

One of the really amazing things in witnessing the reactions among various politicians to the ACTA negotiations is realizing how out of the loop they are as well. They're often just as angry that things are being done in the name of their country that they have no visibility into. Of course, this adds to the impression that this whole process is not about figuring out what's best for the people of each country, but an end run around the democratic lawmaking process, pushed mainly by big industries (led by the entertainment and pharmaceutical industries).

So, with last week's leak showing that Denmark was one of the countries that was most against transparency for ACTA negotiations, Danish free culture activists like Henrik Moltke have been speaking up, going on TV and questioning why Denmark is being the transparency roadblock. And it appears to be working.

Danish politicians are questioning why Denmark is so against ACTA transparency:

"It is news to me that Denmark is so close to the negotiations. And it's pretty shocking that Denmark should have taken the position that you actually want to give priority to secrecy," said Morten Messerschmidt, a member of the European Parliament

Messerschmidt has gone on to say that he's going to demand that Denmark support a more transparent ACTA process, and it appears that some other Danish politicians are agreeing as well.

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Filed Under: acta, copyright, denmark, politics, secrecy, transparency

9 Comments

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Ima Fish (profile), 3 Mar 2010 @ 4:42pm

"he's going to demand that Denmark support a more transparent ACTA process"

Demanding a more transparent process is meaningless doublespeak. It could mean as little as public updates about the secret process.

Wake me up when governments start demanding a completely transparent process.
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vivaelamor (profile), 3 Mar 2010 @ 4:51pm

Re:
Hear, hear. They might as well be saying 'less opaque'.
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NAMELESS.ONE, 3 Mar 2010 @ 5:08pm

WAIT a minute , arent politicians supposed to be in charge
whatcha talking bout willis.
Was there a coup in denmark?
Whose in charge here anyways , is this democracy?

and therein lies the USA ambassadors statement that if public some nations might withdraw.....
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Modplan (profile), 3 Mar 2010 @ 5:30pm

Watched the interview linked (in Danish but it has subs) - whether that woman was playing devils advocate or not I have no idea, but suffice to say she spouted fantastic lines like doesn't "they" have a right to make money and logic like people who invent should be able to have some say or control in how it's used.

*sigh*
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orbitalinsertion (profile), 3 Mar 2010 @ 6:23pm

More ACTA, sensible Germans
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,681498,00.html ACTA should really spring more leaks. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/leaked-acta-draft-treaty-reveals-plans-for-internet -clampdown
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fogbugzd (profile), 3 Mar 2010 @ 7:05pm

3 inches of lead
At this point, sealing ACTA in a box made of 3 inch lead walls would probably qualify as making it more transparent than it currently is.
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Hephaestus (profile), 3 Mar 2010 @ 8:16pm

Cool its is getting on TV ... NOT!!!
This is not a good thing ... ACTA must remain behind closed doors. As much as I want to see this fail I want progessive government to fail more. Which is why I am rooting for the UKs digital economy bill to pass into law.
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Mar 2010 @ 10:24pm

When the government already has insanely indefensible laws in place (ie: copyright length) why the heck are they only working to make the laws even less defensible?

This is absolute garbage, the public should not tolerate this.
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Mar 2010 @ 8:53am

"Politicians" sounds so "plural", almost "movement like".
Only two, however, is the minimum necessary to meet the definition of "plural". Hardly seems like a movement at this point in time.
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