Three-Strikes Law Finds a Way in France

The French Assembly has once again approved a “three-strikes” law that would disconnect illegal file sharers from the Internet. The law sets up a government agency called HADOPI, which keeps tabs on pirates and sends them warning letters. On the third offense, the file sharer’s Internet may be disabled for two months to one year, and other Internet service providers may blacklist the individual. While a previous stab at HADOPI was rejected by France’s Constitutional Council on grounds that Internet is a “human right” and shouldn’t be taken away by administrators, this revised law allows a judge to decide if someone gets disconnected. Rights groups are angry, as expected, and plan to appeal, but it looks like the law will stick this time. [via Ars Technica]