Are they the Law?

 (¿Son ellos la Ley?)

         After the savage attacks of 11-S, in 2001, combating terrorism in the United States and increased in all Western countries. It was natural, but it was a pernicious drift in terms of the rights of suspects and, more seriously, to all citizens. Since the days of Senator McCarthy had been no further damage to the presumption of innocence and the right of defense. Guantanamo, torture and impersonation of court for the administration are still in use as an example.

When the order is placed above means, civilization back, because there are always those who expect the critical moment to reduce freedom. If society tolerates this reduction damn equation can be easily extended to other rights. And one of the most annoying rights to those who hide their tyrannical insanity behind the scenes of power is the freedom of expression. Liberty, with the internet, has almost become his sister press freedom more fully and truthfully. The most trust of the media are increasingly less power since most people can publish their ideas and opinions with the scope of the entire planet.

The great enemy for those who are struggling to control the world is now free movement on the Net. From the smaller dictator at most powerful boss of a multinational business affected by the increased freedom, looking for ways to restrict or eliminate it. The least, for them, is whether the political system is inoperative or a business if the other is obsolete for the new times. His interest is to preserve despite the new winds of modernity brings. In this they resemble, in their conservative and reactionary mentality.

In Spain suffered the law Sinde, and in the United States attempt to implement the laws SOUP and PIPA. In all three cases is given to the Administration the power to act outside of the courts the task of closing the sites that, according to officials, prejudice the rights of copyright or so-called intellectual property. In fact, rather than protect the majority of authors seem to seek to safeguard the business of multinationals. Record companies and publishers are not willing to adapt to changing times. What would be trying is to continue with their huge profits by traditional and outdated. If fighting terrorism is a good end and not justify any means, less would be justified the use of censorship, and arbitrariness in order to defend a spurious.

In America, despite having been blocked two laws, the FBI has conducted an international operation against the company file sharing and downloads, Megaupload. This operation has damaged many internet users who pay the subscription or coming up their own creations. Although crimes may have committed the company itself or the users, many of us have the impression that the authorities are not defending the citizens but the economic benefit of a few, and we wonder if they are the Law.

Pepe de Brantuas.   January 2011 from Spain.