Europe threatens web openness

Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement could lead to monitoring of web traffic, according to European ISP Association.

A treaty being negotiated in secret could force Internet service providers to monitor Internet traffic and services and risk the openness of the web, according to the European Internet Service Providers Association (EuroISPA). The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is a series of negotiations aimed at preventing counterfeiting both on and offline. Taking place between the United States, the European Commission, Japan, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada and Mexico, all negotiations have so far been held in secret, although leaks have become more extensive.