the internet police state

so, France has passed a ‘three strikes law’ directed at file sharers.

The bill will create a new government agency called, the High Authority of Diffusion of the Art Works and Protection of Rights on the Internet – known as Hadopi for short.

That group will oversee a process that has caused outrage and controversy among activists in France – and have been called the world’s tightest copyright restrictions.

According to the proposals, the first strike involves sending a message to any user who is believed to have infringed copyright online, with a repeat message sent on the second instance. When the authorities are informed of a third transgression, the user’s internet access could be closed down for a period of between two and 12 months – without judicial appeal.

This is horrifying.  I can’t believe that French people are willing to stand for this, a gateway towards massive economic and political restriction of the Internet.  Bonjour, grand frère.