France

Setting the trend, France’s president Nicolas Sarkozy continues to push for a three strikes law in his country. The first try to establish a graduated response, nick named HADOPI after the regulator body responsible for judging over internet suspensions, was striken down by the french supreme court, la Constitutional Council of France. Now, in the spirit of making law with brute force, Mr. Sarkozy is back with HADOPI 2. What’s new? A figleaf judge controlling and legitimating the decisions made by HADOPI. And a tacked-on provision to add internet suspension to the penalties for online fraud, whose wording raises concerns that plans to surveil electronic communications might be back on the agenda as well. Read more at laquadrature.net.

New Zealand

Somewhat similar to the french situation New Zealand is entering round two of its three strike law discussions as well. The first attempt raised enough public outrage to generate a deadlock in terms of the political decision process. What’s new? Instead of the ISPs, the New Zealand’s Copyright Tribunal will decide whether your digital life is suspended for a minor crime. Read more at The National Business Review.

Australia

After being a pioneer in the internet censorship debate, Australia now also tackles the graduated response idea. So far nothing much concrete is known, but communications minister Stephen Conroy is currently busy rattling sabers and collecting ideas from the cpyright lobby to make into a new law as fast as possible. Read more at itnews.

The rest of the world

Europe seems to be on track to agree upon the Stockholm program, that contains measures to control and constrain the internet as one of its key components. ACTA is also still lurking in the shadows as another framework providing scared old man with a new bogeyman and easy solutions to sell to the public.

If your country hasn’t announced restrictive measures influencing your rights online, it soon will. Get ready.