Netherlands refuses to sign ACTA

The Netherlands became the latest European country to refuse to sign the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) when its Parliament decided it could damage privacy and Internet freedom. A government spokeswoman said it was waiting on the European Court of Justice to confirm the agreement did not violate fundamental rights. The news came as details of confidential ACTA meetings in 2009 were leaked and published online. It emerged that the European presidency chose not to brief EU member states about the negotiation's progress. Critics of ACTA claim it was negotiated in secret and put content producers' rights ahead of individual's basic rights.