. . LAW : TECHNOLOGY : INTERNET : COPYRIGHT: LAW : INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY : PRIVACY : FREEDOM OF SPEECH : CENSORSHIP: Acta Protests: Thousands Take to Streets Across Europe . . Acta Protests: Thousands Take to Streets Across Europe 11 February 2012 Last updated at 13:57 ET By Dave Lee Technology Reporter BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16999497 . .Thousands of people have taken part in co-ordinated protests across Europe in opposition to a controversial anti-piracy agreement.
.Significant marches were held in Germany, Poland and the Netherlands against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta).
.Around 200 protesters gathered in central London outside the offices of several major rights holders.
. Demonstrators argued that Acta will limit freedom of speech online. .However the agreement's supporters insist it will not alter existing laws, and will instead provide protection for content creators in the face of increasing levels of online piracy.
.The treaty has to date been signed by 22 EU members, including the UK, but has yet to be ratified by the European Parliament. A debate is due to take place in June.
.On Friday, Germany delayed signing the agreement in order to, a spokesman said, "give us time to carry out further discussions".
. 'In secret' .Saturday's London demonstration was supported by the Open Rights Group, a vocal opponent to the treaty. The group's executive director, Jim Killock, argued that Germany's stance shows Acta negotiations were carried out "in secret" by EU "bureaucrats".
."Three member states in Europe are now looking like they don't want to sign," he told the BBC.
."That shows that politicians are only really starting to look at this now. All of a sudden, the whole thing is breaking down."
.Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have already delayed the process after significant pressure from mostly young people.
. "The point today is to say Acta is undemocratic," Mr Killock added. ."It's lacked scrutiny, it's setting up dangerous new pressures to censor the internet to remove users and put pressure on [Internet Service Providers] to start policing for copyright."
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