Tough new web laws in France

France will have one of the world’s toughest laws against internet piracy. The new law is due to come into force in the autumn.

The new law introduces the “three strikes” rule meaning that illegal downloaders will get three warnings from a new web police force, before having their connection cut off. The new state agency will monitor people who download very large files from the net.

The agents send email warnings telling them to stop and if the downloader continues after the third warning, they will be cut off for a year and face a fine.

There is a lot of opposition from the French public. The Socialist opposition wants to appeal against the legitimacy of the law at France’s highest body the Constitutional Council, so there is still a chance the law not be applied.

[Via TheSun.co.uk]