By Mani Raj
According to a new law passed by the French governement, Internet users in France who download files illegally will have their internet service cut off.
Violators will be given up to two warnings before their (ISPs) Internet Service Providers are allowed to cut service for as long as a year.
The new law sets up a special governement anti-piracy agency to monitor "internauts" as French Internet users are called. This agency will ensure users are paying for movies and music that they download.
Opponents of the new law are angry that the new government agency will be outside the judicial process which means it can disconnect internet service without any oversight. They also worry that the agency could be filled with enforcers who will be in favor of filmmakers and the music industry and some of them will probably go as far as even invading the privacy of internet users.
The new law still faces a court test and may not be compatible with European legislation. But the government plans to have the agency up and running by next year.
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