SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) ? Bulgaria’s government is halting the ratification of an international copyright treaty that some Internet users say could lead to online censorship.
Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said Wednesday that “Bulgarian legislation on Internet piracy and protection of copyrights is strict enough and we do not need ACTA.”
Backers of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement say it’s needed to harmonize international standards to protect the rights of those who produce music, movies, pharmaceuticals and other piracy-prone products.
It has been signed by a number of industrialized countries, including the United States, South Korea and Japan.
But opponents fear it will lead to censorship and a loss of Internet privacy. Thousands protested in several European countries, including Bulgaria, on Saturday.