Against the LEN (Law for confidence in digital economy) - France

Associations, syndicates, and netizens denounce a fake report and ask new minister Patrick Devedjian for
immediate report of the LEN (Law for confidence in digital economy) draft.

A broad coalition of associations for defense of individual and public liberties, internet and netizens
associations, syndicates and activist groups were about to send new industry minister Patrick Devedjian an
Open Letter asking for the immediate report of Len (Law for confidence in digital economy) draft, when
Senate announced decision had been taken to report the final lecture.

The coalition today denounces a "true-fake report" of two days only which is totally insufficient to study
such a complex text. They express their worries at such a despising way of dealing with the fondamental
liberties at stake in this bill.

Therefore, the coalition adresses M. Devedjian to tell him that he cannot pretend to understand the
complexity and perverse side effects of this text in two days. And ask for a true, immediate report of a
bill.

They warn against a badly written, holdall, inefficient bill, sacrifying individual and public liberties to
supposedly conciliate, without any chance of success, totally contradictory economical interests. Which have
been extensively revealed in the media and in the parlementory cabinet since this bill started to be
discussed.

They underline that privacy, freedom of expression and of opinion, and the definition of what is "illicit"
cannot be left to the arbitrary of a private justice benefiting to a few peculiar interests. The conse
quences would be uncontrolled censorship^and surveillance of communications, and a dangerous judicial
hasstlement. None of that would solve the problem of truly illicit contents, nor the developpment of digital
Republic called for by prime Minister Raffarin.

They are firmly oposed to a decision which would distinguish France as the country to approve what Eu
Commission and many of its europeans neighbours have refused as beeing contrary to human rights.

They keep on saying that a text which declares providers for illicit contents, whitout any definition of
these contents, paves the way to all abuses. As long as the providers will be informed, they will have to
stop access to individual and associative sites and forums on simple request of those annoyed by their
content. More curiosly, they will have to properly censor ... M. Devedjian ’site, as well of those of the
LEN reporter, of the Assembly president and of some thirty parlementaries. All illegal because not declared
to CNIL !

Reminding Devedjian that the regional elections have jus heavily sanctionned the governement for its lack of
democratic debate, the coalition urgently exhort him to :
respect their voices, those of all electors and bastentionists, and those of the tens of thousands people
who signed petitions against the LEN. To take time to listen to and to organise a true public confrontation
of all partie, in order to maintain the necessary democratic balance.

Open Letter in french
– www.vie-privee.org/comm265

Signature is open to associations and groups until april 7 midnight.
Contacts
ca@lafil.org
contact@odebi.org

More information and actions on
– www.vie-privee.org
– www.odebi.org

First Signatories
Act Up Paris
AEL (Association Electronique Libre)
AITEC
AlternB
Big Brother Awards France
BugBrother
Cassiopea
CEDETIM
CEDIDELP
Collectif Bellaciao
Confédération Paysanne
DRI (DigitalRural Informatique)
EuropeanServers
La FAPIL
Fédération Informatique et Libertés (FIL)
Gir Telecom
Globenet
InterAFOCG
LCR
Ligue des utilisateurs ODEBI
Mediactivism.net
Observatoire des Usagers dans les institutions sociales (ODU)
Ouvaton
Oxymium
Parti Communiste - commission TIC
Place Publique
Propagande.org
Ras l’Front
Samizdat.net
SNJ
Sortir du Nucléaire
Souriez vous êtes filmés
Syndicat de la Magistrature
Syndicat des industries de l’informatique de la région parisienne de la CNT
Techno Plus