[TheVerge] French ‘three strikes’ piracy law faces major reversal as leaders question ultimate penalty

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Although no planned modification to the policy has been made public, comments from high-ranking officials show that the present government seems ready for change. France’s minister delegate in charge of internet policy is quoted by The New York Times as saying « it’s not possible to cut off internet access, » before comparing suspending internet connections to « cutting off water. » […]

Some have called the law ineffective, noting that very few internet suspensions have actually gone through, with many third strikes being reduced in court to fines or suspended sentences. « If you cannot chop off a few heads as an example, then the chopping machine inspires less fear, » said a spokesman for La Quadrature du Net, an advocacy group that’s firmly against the anti-piracy law. SNEP, the French organization that protects the interests of the country’s music industry, notes that visits to « illegal music sites » rose by seven percent between January 2010 and January 2013. The organization won’t argue against the law change, but believes the proposed €60 fine is too low.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/6/2/4388720/france-three-strikes-internet-cut-off-piracy-law-softening-to-fines