January 29, 2010

By By Andre Paine, London

Three-strikes style measures to tackle illegal file-sharing are being secretly discussed at the anti-counterfeiting trade agreement (ACTA) talks in Mexico.

The Financial Times reports that activists and industry groups have confirmed the talks, which include negotiators from the U.S. and European Union, have included disconnection for those involved in persistent copyright infringement.

EuroISPA, a trade body representing 1,700 Internet Service Providers, said the measures being considered are "severe and wide-ranging, including the possibility of users being disconnected from the Internet," according to the FT.

Leaks from the draft text last year included proposals for disconnection of persistent file-sharers and making Internet Service Providers liable for copyright infringement.

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