Anonymous sets its sights on ACTA

HACKTIVIST GROUP Anonymous has turned its attention to the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), an international treaty that arguably is even worse than the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) stalled in the US Congress.

The treaty already has its critics. European ministers have wavered over signing it, while the European Green Party has warned that it is a serious threat to human rights.

ACTA surrenders the policing of alleged copyright infringement to media rights owners who will be able to set their own fines, for example.

"ACTA also allows for the monitoring of internet users without initial suspicion," said the Green party in a statement last November, which added that it would mean "the handing over of their personal data to rights holders on the basis of mere claims and the transfer of this data even to countries without adequate data protection, all of which is in clear conflict with legal guarantees of fundamental rights in the EU".

Having busied itself with opposing SOPA and PIPA and other web shutdowns like that of Megaupload, Anonymous is now warning its supporters about ACTA and calling on them to act in opposition to it.

"'Internet censorship is wrong' #Anonymous #ACTA," says one message from the @AnonymousIRC account, and in a pointer to a statement from the group, @Anonyops added, "This way to the world war web. Single file, please. #SOPA #ACTA #FBI".

"What is the goal of ACTA? Reportedly the goal is to create new legal standards of intellectual property enforcement, as well as increased international cooperation, an example of which would be an increase in information sharing between signatory countries' law enforcement agencies," says the statement there. "Say NO to ACTA. It is essential to spread awareness and get the word out on ACTA."

Perhaps ironically, in its opposition to ACTA, Anonymous finds itself for once in agreement with Forbes. µ