(Traducción al español)
The Spanish Science and Technology Ministry has issued a draft Law of
Information Society Services and Electronic Commerce. This directive, which
could be approved in the Spanish Parliament soon, has defined the concept of
"society of information services" in such a way that it would treat
virtually all exchanges of online information as an economic activity.
Specifically, it would require Internet users to register their webpages
with the government and pay fees. Most websites that are not "properly"
registered would be considered illegal and have to face fines of up to 175
000 Euros. The plan would also place certain obligations on Internet service
providers, who could be held liable for the activities of their users.
Several groups have expressed concerns about this measure, including
Kriptopolis (a GILC member), in that it may stifle the Internet activities
of noncommercial users, who might not be able fulfill all the legal and
bureaucratic requirements. Carlos Sanchez Almeida, an Internet law expert
from Barcelona, said that the Law would limit "freedom of expression in the
Internet ... as it is in countries like China, Vietnam or Saudi Arabia."
Indeed, public anxiety over this issue apparently has grown so strong that
the opposition Socialist party has requested a formal explanation from the
minister of Culture and Telecommunications as to the directive's possible
effects.
The text of the proposal is posted under
For further coverage of these developments, see Julia Scheeres, "Fears of a
Website Inquisition," Wired News, May 29, 2001 at
See also "Los socialistas claman contra la nueva ley que regulara Internet,"
ABC (Spain), May 11, 2001 at
http://www.setsi.mcyt.es/novedad/consulta_anteproyecto.htm
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,44110,00.html
http://www.abc.es/Internet/noticia.asp?id=30307&dia=11052001
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