Government launches digital rights consultation in wake of ACTA controversy
The government today launched a public consultation exercise to enshrine digital rights in the Constitution.
The four rights - the right to internet access, the right to access information online, online freedom of expression and the right to exchange information online – were launched by IT Minister Austin Gatt.
The public consultation will close at the end of November.
Dr Gatt said the proposed rights will be included in the section of the Constitution which deals with the country's principles and will bind future governments in this "highly digitised world we live in".
The announcement on these constitutional changes came in February during a hot national debate on ACTA, the Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement.
ACTA was shot down by the European Parliament and shelved.
The former chairman of the Malta Information Technology Agency, Claudio Grech, was one of the consultants appointed by Dr Gatt to prepare the White Paper .
He explained that this was the "logical step forward" after the use of ICT grew exponentially in Malta over recent years. ACTA, he said, had brought the issues of digital rights and internet access into the spotlight as internet was a perceived fundamental human right.
More than three-quarters of Maltese households have a broadband internet connection while 98 per cent of businesses have internet access. Dr Gatt said this placed Malta 16th in the world for internet penetration.
Mr Grech said it was being proposed that the State should recognise, promote and safeguard citizens' right to access to the internet and refrain from introducing laws that unnecessarily impinge on internet access.
Dr Gatt said this was "a strong political statement" on enshrining something which was affecting society so much.
Asked whether there was going to be a body set up to ensure that these rights were being respected, Dr Gatt said it would then be up to individual governments to set up these watchdogs.
The White Paper and the ministry's presentation of the proposals can be seen on the pdf links below. It can also be accessed on mitc.gov.mt/digitalrights. Comments can be submitted on [email protected] and the deadline is on Friday 30th November 2012.
Attached files
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48 Comments
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Mr Duncan Scerri
Oct 10th 2012, 19:47
More laws == fewer freedoms.
Do not be fooled. Simon Busutill was four-square behind ACTA and was most upset that we mere mortals (the public who pay their wages) was adamantly opposed. Austin is not long for this political world, with his days fast diminshing, yet Simon is coming to the rescue and will keep his word, just like Gonzi did on the matter of 25% top rate of income tax.
Paul Bajada
Oct 10th 2012, 19:35
Ix-xempji tal-falliment go dan il-pajjiz.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Oct 10th 2012, 17:12
Can we also please enshrine reading books and magazines in our Consitution? There is no such provision and books have been around longer than than digital information - and likely to remain so. Why this discrimination against printed matter?
Paul Bajada
Oct 10th 2012, 16:29
Look who is sitting at the table? Two brains behind the Arriva mess! Are we supposed to trust them again in government? NO WAY! People are not idiots.
pat muscat
Oct 10th 2012, 16:24
So now GonziPN and the super candidate Simon Busutill have had a change of heart about ACTA; or is it an other case where the electoral panic stations have set in , and GonziPN is now fishing for disgruntled voters?
cesco di luigi
Oct 10th 2012, 16:20
A great ploy to counter the Arriva billboard. Now we are given a serious photo of 4 persons who are trying to restore their image. Sorry..the first lesson you learn in marketing..give the customer what he wants NOT what you want..your product failed and yet you tried to make it sound as though we were the village idiots..I think you will find it very hard to regain your respect...no matter what
D Borg
Oct 10th 2012, 15:56
Is this the PN or government?
Somehow I think that we need to send the political establishment back to the drawing board - so that they realise they need to distinguish between Party and Government.
Reuben D. Spiteri
Oct 10th 2012, 15:41
A wise man once said: "If it's not broken, don't fix it."
Apparently those words were wasted on whoever's so hellbent on controlling the internet.
joseph saliba
Oct 10th 2012, 15:31
One cannot enjoy digital rights without IT. IT which the 'arrogant' minister provided and still providing, encouraged and still encouraging, diffused and still diffusing amongst us. There were and still are other arrogant ministers and members of parliament making only hollow sounds and nothing tangible. But Dr Austin Gatt is not one of them.
brian compton
Oct 10th 2012, 15:26
its ok having rights but the price needs to come down and unlimited usage ......
twanny borg
Oct 10th 2012, 15:14
mhux importanti. importanti li hadd u hadd ma jkollu dritt ikun jaf fejn qed jidhlu fil-computer in-nies. kollox hazin xeba jaghzaq.
Joseph Brincat
Oct 10th 2012, 15:08
Government launches digital rights
WHILE pn SIMON BUSUTTIL VOTED AGAINST IT HA HA HI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTznYzjlSc4
joseph saliba
Oct 10th 2012, 15:23
opened the cited URL Simon Busuttil statement on voting against ACTA contradicted nothing from the consultation document present Dr Gatt. Or cannot I understand?
Karl Brincat
Oct 10th 2012, 15:34
WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT ???
Ronnie Callus
Oct 10th 2012, 15:06
Dr.Gatt, it depends what freedom of expression means. For sure it should not mean leaving someone addressing somebody with rude words etc; etc; You should have known about this / them because Franco Debono have drawn your attention many times, but without any action whats soever.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Oct 10th 2012, 15:02
A strange bill. Confusing issues of a Bill of rights with ACTA type digital issues protecting corporations. A constitution should specify overarching conceptual principles beyond digital rights. These are Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Association, Freedom of access to information/communication, Rights to privacy, Rights to redress for grievances.. Constitutional lawyers should be concerned.
Karl Brincat
Oct 10th 2012, 15:02
If i understand this text correctly it does include online privacy too .. well done !
Mr phil sam
Oct 10th 2012, 14:59
Beware, Beware. It's that Gatt. man again !!.
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Oct 10th 2012, 14:53
Why is the Opposition (in cahoots with Franco Debono) all out to have Min. Austin Gatt ousted from his Ministerial position?
Is it because he is one of the most efficient Ministers this country ever had?
Let’s face it, Austin may seem arrogant to some; but my goodness me, isn't he an achiever?
If only we had more politicians like him!
JC.
joseph spiteri
Oct 10th 2012, 15:02
If you are sure of what you said, wll Malta really has a problem
m. borg (slm)
Oct 10th 2012, 15:14
With more politicians like him there would be a bloody civil war, thank God there is only on Austin Gatt.
Joseph Brincat
Oct 10th 2012, 15:16
Joseph Cauchi Senior
@ Let’s face it If only we had more politicians like him! ( Austin GATT )
O MY GOD IT WILL BE THE END OF MALTA !!!
cesco di luigi
Oct 10th 2012, 16:24
Mr Senior
I suggest you go and look up the word efficient. It seems that in your dictionary even a bull in a China shop is efficient, because it succeeds in destroying most of the valuable China.
J Busuttil
Oct 10th 2012, 16:57
@ Joseph Spiteri
@ m. borg
@ Joseph Brincat
@ cesco di liuigi
Ghandkom ragun, as you cannot understand what a achiever means . As in just two years in Government Labour did not deliver or achieved on single thing
Justin Tabone
Oct 10th 2012, 14:44
You don't have time to discuss it in parliament. Up till that day you will be already sacked from parliament.
Joseph Brincat
Oct 10th 2012, 14:40
Government launches digital rights consultation
the right to internet access,
the right to access information online,
online freedom of expression
the right to exchange information online
But there is another one that is important that is
THE RIGHT TO ONLINE PRIVACY
Steve Demicoli
Oct 10th 2012, 14:29
The right to internet access, the right to access information online, online freedom of expression & right to exchange information online" need to be explained further - what do they include and, perhaps more importantly, what is excluded? Agree 100% with Victor Buttigieg - Add a fifth one - the right to online privacy (free from intrusion by ISPs [like ACTA proposed] or Govt [as in China])
m. borg (slm)
Oct 10th 2012, 14:27
".....online freedom of expression ..." meaning constitutionally recognizing the spite and venom a certain female bloger , friend of Gatt himself who has no limits to her vile personnal attacks.
Is this what Austin Gatt has in mind.?
A Dimech
Oct 10th 2012, 14:20
Is this the minister, who if there was true democracy in parliament, he would have lost his seat by now?!
j brincat
Oct 10th 2012, 14:17
Is the same ACTA that GonziPN signed behind our backs and then made another classical U turn?
(jb)
D Mifsud
Oct 10th 2012, 14:17
With the people involved in this....I have really a peace of mind
.
m. borg (slm)
Oct 10th 2012, 14:29
Needs 2/'3 of the house to have anything constitutionally recognised.
Gatt's bossom budy who is the epitome of bloging evil will not be given a free hand.
william cauchi
Oct 10th 2012, 14:09
''and will bind future governments ''
These words scare me to bits, whoever is in government. And with technology changing every day, how can you program laws today based on what's coming out tomorrow.
What seems so advanced today, like internet, may look like snailmail tomorrow.
Bertrand Gove
Oct 10th 2012, 15:10
And then change the constitution again. Using your own argument - "with technology changing every day, how can you program laws today based on what's coming out tomorrow", then we write the new law tomorrow, but then we would have to wait till the next day, and so on. Then we end up never having it, and then we complain as well.
Give credit where credit is due.
william cauchi
Oct 10th 2012, 15:24
Bertrand Gove, changing the constitution has never ever been easy.
If you don't have 2 / 3rds majority in parliament, then addio changes that are necessary and you are stuck with that law. Then what?
What is being proposed will tie the hands of that that has not yet been invented and those that have not yet been born and that is scary, very scary.
Charles Micallef
Oct 10th 2012, 14:09
Government launches digital rights consultation in wake of ACTA controversy ...and for anyone who has any doubt, this time, unlike Arriva, they will not be any buzulotti!
Karl Brincat
Oct 10th 2012, 14:08
well done for this excellent initiative ... seems like it is setting a standard for all governments to come which is essential
Daniel Vella
Oct 10th 2012, 14:07
The initiative is good as long as there are no hidden catches to enact ACTA in the background. And since there is Manuel Delia involved, i expect nothing less than another Arriva-like disaster.
Joseph Magro
Oct 10th 2012, 14:05
Anonymous will prevail.
J Farrugia
Oct 10th 2012, 14:01
Cloudio Grech, Austin Gatt, Manwel Delia, wow what a trio, trusting this lot with anything IT, i think i'd trust North Korea more.
Alex FELICE
Oct 10th 2012, 15:04
What could anyone say;
Enjoy North Korea.
Go there if you want,
& let us enjoy Malta !!!
A Cuschieri
Oct 10th 2012, 17:01
Bon voyage ...
Joseph Camilleri
Oct 10th 2012, 13:57
Dan kemm ha jaghmlu affarijiet fl-ahhar ftit gimghat?
Bertrand Gove
Oct 10th 2012, 15:11
Propjament, ilhom isiru affarjiet tul il-legislatura kollha, imma in-nies Malta jistembhu darba kull hames snin.
Mario Busuttil
Oct 10th 2012, 15:12
Kollox hi.....
Charles Vella
Oct 10th 2012, 13:52
Can you leave our internet AS IT IS please? Is the enough for public consultancy?! Also, can we remain private without the right of the American CIA to look into our computers?! DEAR AUSTIN GATT!!
Victor Buttigieg
Oct 10th 2012, 13:33
Add a fifth one, which is as important as the ones listed - the right to online privacy.
Mr l Azzopardi
Oct 10th 2012, 14:11
well said!
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