EU "threat" that 'filtered and denounce illegal activities'

Trade Secrets Act by EU "threat" passed that 'filtered and denounce illegal activities'

The President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker.  EFE

Xnet warns of the "threats" to the 'leakers' with the new legal doctrine on Trade Secrets approved by EU

• THEY NOTE THAT WITH THIS NEW LAW THE "LEGAL PERSECUTION" OF CITIZENS WHO "DENOUNCE IMPROPER BEHAVIOR, CORPORATE IRREGULARITIES OR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES" ENSURES
• IN THE VOTE HELD IN THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ONLY THE GROUP OF THE GREENS (WITH COMPROMÍS, EQUO, EH BILDU, BNG, ERC AND ICV) EXPRESSED OPPOSITION

Miguel Huertas

Platform internet activist  Xnet  has launched Tuesday  a campaign  at European level in collaboration with different organizations across the continent to altertar of "the  threats of the new legal doctrine on Trade Secrets "  approved by the Committee on Legal Affairs of the Union European  and "exposes whistleblowers or  whistleblowers , freedom of press and information, workers and consumers, health and the public interest , " according Xnet. Under the opinion of this organization advocates the adoption of the current text of the directive Trade Secrets ( Trade Secrets Directive ) by the European institutions and the further development of this new legal doctrine,  "leads to very serious for citizens uncover abuses of corporations threats" . and this is because, as Xnet points with this new Community legislation "a situation of set asymmetry between citizens and institutions  regarding the protections available to report improper behavior, corporate irregularities or illegal activities."

They believe, therefore, that the  whistleblowers  , as they were in his day  Edward Snowden, Hervé Falciani or Chelsea Manning - are  "unprotected"  although "most of the complaints against corporate abuses are driven by citizens."

Also, note that with this new legal doctrine on Trade Secrets " assumes the legal prosecution of anyone who reveals trade secrets , but ultimately the courts fail in their favor , " the protection of  whistleblowers  becomes an "exception "instead of" being based on a law "and, finally, that" uncertainty facing legal action does  scare the action of people in possession of information indicating improper behavior  or corporate wrongdoing. " in  the vote  held place Tuesday in the Committee on Legal Affairs of the European Union only group Los Verdes , where are the Compromís, EH Bildu, BNG, ERC, ICV and Equo- formations  has expressed opposition .

In contrast, both socialists and conservatives and liberals said yes.  Surprisingly, the group of the European Left , represented in Spain by Podemos, Izquierda Unida and Anova- not opposed  to the adoption of this new legal doctrine.

The Xnet platform believes that corporations are trying to "seize" the current crisis in Europe as an excuse to "justify the preemption of their business interests over the common good"  and "ensure the provilegios and impunity" normally "unacceptable within the democratic rule of law. " 

The activist group comes even consider that this new doctrine provides "super powers" to large companies, such as the "legal tools to protect their investments and hide abuses and malpractices". Thus, Xnet adds that  it is prevailing to commercial "above any other criteria" . Principles that would underpin also the last major actions of the EU and the signing of  the free trade agreements  TTIP, TISA or CETA.

Agreements that, "under the guise of trade," according to the platform, "is trying to pass a closed and out of the democratically elected parliaments door."