Since When Did We Give Lobbyists From The Tech, Entertainment And Pharma Industries Security Clearance?
from the the-RIAA-gets-national-security-clearance? dept
With the new administration sticking by the old one in declaring negotiations over the ACTA treaty somehow a matter of national security as a way of avoiding revealing any info about the proposed treaty or its ongoing negotiations, the folks over at KEI have pointed out the long list of corporate lobbyists who have been involved in the negotiations, including those from the RIAA, MPAA, ESA and a long list of tech, telco and pharma companies. So... can anyone let us know if these folks have security clearance? After all, if they're a part of such sensitive matters concerning national security that are so touchy the public can't know about them, then, surely, the administration is being careful about who it provides that info, right? Or is the national security issue the fact that these folks don't want anyone to know they're writing the rules that will bind Congress (and legislatures in dozens of other countries) to adjust copyright law without any real leeway. And, just watch, these will be the same lobbyists who will spout off about how we have to make these changes to meet our treaty obligations. leaving out the fact that they wrote the treaties themselves to force through exactly this type of legislation.
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Filed Under: acta, copyright, secrecy, sunlight, trade agreements
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Sec Clearance
As for why they need a security clearance, they don't. I work in a secure environment and there is no need whatsoever for them to have it unless it has been granted to them so the ACTA can be shrouded in government secrecy. I seriously wouldn't want to see some idiot member of any of the AAs visiting my facility because of all the security breaches they would do. Hell, if our politicians can't even keep their mouths shut what do you expect one of those boneheads will do? UNLESS there is some financial benefit in it for them. They understand money.
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