‘ACTA could affect creativity’ - Muscat

The Labour Party said it will continue to speak up against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, and said that the Prime Minister’s promise for a law to protect the rights of the Maltese was a quick-fix response to criticism received after signing the agreement.

In his e-newsletter, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said the PL will continue to make its voice heard about ACTA until the agreement is completely stopped. “Each Maltese citizen should feel secure that they can continue using the internet without fear or obstructions,” Muscat said.

Muscat said the way ACTA was written would affect not only internet use and freedom of expression but also creative production of music, films and art, as well as the production of essential products like medicine.

“As a Labour Party and a movement of new ideas, we believe in that creativity should be encouraged and protected. We are against piracy on the internet. We are prepared to fight it, but not by forcing internet service providers to police its internet clients,” Muscat said.

Muscat said that the PL’s solution was to educate users and help those who are creative to market their products and services at reasonable prices. “This way, we would not only be helping creativity but also helping to create more employment opportunities.”

 “Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s government signed ACTA behind our backs, without notifying parliament or consulting anyone. Even the Nationalist MEPs defended ACTA.

“But following the wave of criticism over the last few days, Prime Minister Gonzi announced that he will introduce a law to protect the rights of the Maltese on the internet,” Muscat said.

While agreeing with the protection of the rights of the Maltese and Gozitans on the internet in principle, Muscat said that it appears that this step by the Gonzi was a quick reply in an attempt to calm the situation.

Muscat said that the PL believed in internet access as a human right. “This access should be unconditional. This does not mean we are in favour of people using the internet access for criminal or illegal purposes.

“We believe that every Maltese and Gozitan person has the right to access the internet without the fear that the state or other organisations are spying on them for any reason.”