EU ACTA Chief Resigns 253
bs0d3 writes "The EU ACTA chief has resigned, saying, 'This agreement might have major consequences on citizens' lives, and still, everything is being done to prevent the European Parliament from having its say in this matter. That is why today, as I release this report for which I was in charge, I want to send a strong signal and alert the public opinion about this unacceptable situation. I will not take part in this masquerade.' 22 EU members signed the controversial ACTA treaty Thursday in Tokyo."
It's not the first time (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I can understand why (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm proud of Mr Arif (Score:5, Insightful)
What can I say? I'm very pleased that Kader Arif had the guts to make his disgust with the ACTA process known so publicly. His actions deserve to be widely recognised outside the tech community as well as within; we should ensure that "regular" media outlets cover this part of the story.
Will his stand bring down the entire shameful edifice that is ACTA? No. Is it an important part of the battle that is being fought and must continue to be fought? Yes.
Re:Another politician with half a brain? (Score:3, Insightful)
Looks like a classic case of "Push the red button and then then run into hiding to avoid the angry mob".
Re:Another politician with half a brain? (Score:5, Insightful)
He got ACTA signed in Europe.
That's not how I understand it. I think you got misled by the misleading title of TFA/TFS. He's not the 'EU ACTA Chief'. He was the European Parliament's rapporteur on ACTA. His job was to investigate the issue and produce a report on it.
Re:Another politician with half a brain? (Score:5, Insightful)
I think my faith in humanity might yet be vindicated.
Not so fast.
He got ACTA signed in Europe. He did the job he was paid for, only now can he say whatever he likes.
He did no such thing. Signing is the responsibility of the respective member countries, specifically their ministers. In "EU-speak" the Council. The next step is to get ACTA ratified in a) the EU parliament and b) the national parliaments, without which ACTA is just a piece of paper with no impact whatsoever except for wasting a lot of time.
What this man did was (at first glance) admirable. Had he done this after the ratification in EUParl had gone through, not so much, but that vote is not until in a few months, and is going to be a highly influenced by this kind of high-profile action.
Still, that doesn't mean you shouldn't call your MEP to make them aware of this action, and the importance of saying no to ACTA
Re:Fundamental disconnect: (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I can understand why (Score:5, Insightful)
Fortunately, for evil to lose not much more is required than for good men to do something.
awww sh*t! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:It's not the first time (Score:3, Insightful)
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Call me picky but... (Score:0, Insightful)
The reason it is (or could be) suspicious is because not using the default HTTP port can cause a tremendous amount of trouble due to corporate firewalls and proxies, and one would need a really good reason to not use the default port. The only reason I can think of not using the default port is If one illegally gained to a machine hosting a well-known public website, one wanted to start hosting an imposter website in parrallel on it without taking the main site down (which would immediately alert the website owners), but still be able to use the domain name.
Re:I can understand why (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I'm proud of Mr Arif (Score:4, Insightful)
OK, but what is he going to do next? If he feels so strongly about this, why did he not remain in his position and use that power more constructively? This isn't likely to be put in front of the E.U. parliament before June so who is this going to notice this 'falling on my sword act' apart from those who already oppose this, i.e. Slashdotters and the like.
Sometimes you are put into a token position where you have no real power, where no one has to answer to you and you can enact no policies. Not uncommon in, say, a sham investigation. In that case his only power is to resign in the most public and shaming manner possible.
Re:Probably was the best course of action (Score:4, Insightful)
Some 'hippies' from that era are now Big Business themselves, directly making deal with government leaders.
The pot smokers of that 60s eventually had kids, but those parents come up with all sorts of BS reasons for why it was ok for them to smoke, but not their kids. Those same hypocrites will also change their business ways now that they actually have some money in the game.
Re:How do we protest this? (Score:3, Insightful)
"What we need is a simple webpage"
What you need is to grow a pair and shoot the bastards responsible for this.
Re:Another politician with half a brain? (Score:5, Insightful)
He's a little fucking late, don't you think?
Nope, handing over the report and quitting at the same time is perfect timing, especially if you want to draw attention to why you are quitting. Finishing what he started shows he's a professional, had he quit half way through they would have simply replaced him with someone more malleable.
Re:Another politician with half a brain? (Score:5, Insightful)
Also he is now free to tell all and sundry, as often and as loudly as possible exactly why he quite. He is basically in the best position to deliver a swift kick in the goolies to ACTA in Europe.
Re:Another politician with half a brain? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Another politician with half a brain? (Score:4, Insightful)
Exactly.
This "ACTA Chief" sounds like a coward If he is displeased with the process, and he's the one in charge, then he should be using his position to make the ACTA a formal treaty to be passed b y the People's representatives in Parliament. To scurry away shows an supreme lack of fortitude and irresponsibility.
He is "using his position", just not in the way that you expect. Giving up a well-paying job because you believe that what your superiors require you to do is unethical is a dramatic way to draw attention to the problem. The alternative, to take their money while trying to undermine their goals is problematic at best. He would have had to mute his criticism and would probably soon have had to resign in disgrace.
This way is much better. First of all, it makes a news story. Second, he can now speak frankly about the ACTA and his opinion will be considered important because he is "the former ACTA chief who resigned in protest".