TPP revealed: Pact details ignite debate over privacy, internet freedom, whistleblowers
RT.com
6 Nov, 2015
With the release of the full text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a sharpening of arguments on both sides outline a debate about privacy, corporatism, internet freedom and intellectual property, and even the plight of whistleblowers.
The world got its first look at the international agreement between 12 Pacific Rim countries on Thursday, exactly one month after it was finalized on October 5. Given that the secret negotiations hammering out the pact had been ongoing since 2008, with details hard to come by, skeptics and critics had been expressing suspicions as to TPP’s true intentions and ultimate impact over the past couple years. Now they can finally stop speculating and have a look at the fine print.
While some politicians are refraining from commentary, activists are capitalizing on the release. After summarizing its chapters, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) concluded on its website that TPP “upholds corporate rights and interests at the direct expense of all of our digital rights.”
Advocates for privacy and internet freedom took issue with provisions in the agreement that require real names and addresses associated with internet domains such as .us, .ca, or .au to be registered with the home government.
“This is dangerous especially for the ability of opposition groups in repressive countries to voice their concerns online without fear of violent retribution,” Fight For the Future (FFTF) wrote on its website.
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