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The De Standard headline announces, "Internet access is now a civic right." The report in the daily refers to the agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on the "Telecoms package" which specifically states that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can only disconnect customers for violations of copyright if they have obtained approval from a court in compliance with the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights (ECPHR).
The Belgian paper notes that this is tantamount to a recognition by the EU "of the role of the Internet in the exercise of fundamental rights such as the right to information and freedom of expression," which prevailed in spite of "extensive lobbying from the film and music industries." Until now, copyright holders who believed that their rights were infringed by internet users could petition ISPs to suspend their access. De Standaard reports that this will be no longer allowed: "only very serious cases involving pedophile pornography or terrorist propaganda will be considered as exceptions to the new rule."
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