A trade association that represents the world’s largest Web companies, like Google, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, and Uber just endorsed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP.)
It’s hard to see this as anything but betrayal. Tech experts from every major advocacy group working to defend Internet users’ rights vehemently oppose the TPP, because it poses a dire threat to freedom of expression online.
The good news is that one of the Internet Association’s biggest members, Reddit, has already come out against the TPP and distanced itself from the Internet Association’s stance. [1]
If we can get other tech companies to follow suit, it would be a major victory in our fight to stop the TPP. But they’ll only do it if we push them.
The Internet Association’s stance is particularly flooring because the TPP is the antithesis everything the Internet stands for. Instead of being built in the open, it was negotiated in complete secrecy by government bureaucrats and corporate lobbyists.
If we allow the TPP to pass, it will open the floodgates for special interests––like the ones who brought us SOPA, ACTA, and the DMCA––who want to use these types of secretive negotiations to push for terrible Internet policies
We can’t let that happen. But if pro-TPP forces can claim that the “tech community” supports this deal, it will make it much easier for them to get it passed in Congress.
Take action now: tell tech companies not to support the TPP.
While the TPP is overflowing with threats to our democracy, some of its worst provisions are aimed straight at curtailing the power of the Internet. The TPP would: [2]
- Expand draconian copyright enforcement, undermining our privacy and the public domain without ensuring protections for free speech;
- Criminalize common practices like tinkering with or modifying devices, even for fair use purposes;
- Enable multi-national corporations to skirt the democratic process and use shadowy international tribunals to undermine Web users’ rights;
- Set a precedent that will encourage anti-Internet lobbyists like the ones who wrote SOPA to use trade agreements to push for bad Internet policy.
There are powerful interests pushing to get the TPP passed through U.S. Congress, and it seems like they managed to pull a fast one on these Internet companies and get them to take a position that goes directly against their own interests and the interests of their users.
Congress could vote on the TPP within a matter of weeks, and they’ll be watching closely how the public reacts to these companies’ statements.
If enough of us speak out, we can get these companies to drop their support for this dangerous agreement, and stand up for the rights of their users and the future of the Internet we all love.
Take action now and tell members of the Internet Association to oppose the TPP.
Thanks for all you do,
Charlie at FFTF
[1] Reddit on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reddit/
[2] TPP Intellectual Property Chapter: https://www.readthetpp.com/
