ACTA protests gain steam in Europe

In Europe, protesters sporting Guy Fawkes masks rally against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement with sentiments similar to the anti-SOPA protests in the United States.

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A protester wearing a Guy Fawkes mask takes part in a demonstration in Stockholm on Feb. 4, 2012, to protest against the Swedish government's plan to ratify the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. According to reports, Feb. 11 has been designated as the day for global protests against the treaty that many fear would clear the way for online censorship.

Fredrik Persson / AP

Protesters take part in a demonstration in Stockholm on Feb. 2, 2012, to protest against the Swedish government's plan to ratify the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. According to a Feb. 4 Associated Press report, a group linked to the network Anonymous claimed it had successfully hacked the Swedish government’s Web site on Feb. 4 in protest against ACTA.

Fredrik Persson / AP

A protester wearing a Guy Fawkes mask takes part in a protest in central Brussels on Jan. 28, 2012. “V for Vendetta” author Alan Moore wrote for the BBC on Feb. 9 that the mask’s combination of theater, romance and anarchy combine to create a unique appeal for the modern-day protester.

Yves Herman / Reuters

Protesters gather in central Brussels on Jan. 28, 2012. A video posted to YouTube on Jan. 27 called on Belgian citizens to protest the treaty’s ratification.

Yves Herman / Reuters

A protester takes part in an anti-ACTA protest in central Brussels on Jan. 28, 2012. Those against the treaty cite not only its contents but also the way in which it was negotiated as reasons for disapproval.

Yves Herman / Reuters

A protester takes part in a protest in central Brussels on Jan. 28, 2012.

Yves Herman / Reuters

Anti-ACTA protesters gather in central Brussels on Jan. 28, 2012. Objections to the treaty arise from a central disagreement over entertainment companies' efforts to protect copyright and Web users’ efforts to protect their ability to share content and block any and all efforts at censorship.

Yves Herman / Reuters

A demonstrator takes part in a protest against ACTA in front of the European Union office in Warsaw on Jan. 24, 2012.

Janet Skarzynski / AFP/Getty Images

A protester holds her dog during a demonstration against the Czech government's plan to ratify the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement in Prague on Feb. 2, 2012. Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas announced on Feb. 6 that the Czech Republic would hold off on ratifying the treaty in light of protests both online and offline, according to the Associated Press.

Michal Cizek / AFP/Getty Images

Activists protest against ACTA in front of the European Parliament office in Warsaw on Jan. 24, 2012.

Alik Keplicz / AP

Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest in front of the European Union office in Warsaw on Jan. 24, 2012.

Janekl Skarzynski / AFP/Getty Images

Protesters gather in front of the European Parliament office in Warsaw on Jan. 24, 2012.

Alik Keplicz / AP

Lawmakers from the leftist Palikot's Movement cover their faces with masks as they protest against ACTA during a parliament session in Warsaw on Jan. 26, 2012. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Feb. 3 that he would suspend plans to ratify ACTA in Poland, casting the treaty’s future in doubt.

Alik Keplicz / AP

Protesters demonstrate against ACTA in front of the Presidential Palace in Warsaw on Jan. 27, 2012.

Alik Keplicz / AP

A protester wearing a Guy Fawkes mask shouts slogans during a demonstration against ACTA in front of Prague Castle in Prague on Feb. 2, 2012.

David W. Cerny / Reuters

Protesters demonstrate against ACTA in front of the Presidential Palace in Warsaw on Jan. 27, 2012.

Czarek Sokolowski / AP

Protesters demonstrate against ACTA in front of the Presidential Palace in Warsaw on Jan. 27, 2012.

Czarek Sokolowski / AP

A demonstrator holds up a Guy Fawkes mask during a protest against the Polish government plans to sign ACTA , which faces strong opposition from Internet activists, in front of the European Union office in Warsaw on Jan. 24, 2012. The government’s Web site came under repeated attack in protest of the treaty.

Peter Andrews / Reuters

Demonstrators protest against ACTA in front of the European Union office in Warsaw on Jan. 24, 2012. Protesters wore tape over their mouths to symbolize their opposition to online censorship. The treaty’s proponents argue that the treaty is a necessary step to ensure copyright protections online.

Peter Andrews / Reuters

A demonstrator protests against the copyright agreement ACTA in front of the European Union office in Warsaw on Jan. 24, 2012. The trade agreement faces strong opposition from Internet activists, many of whom plan to gather on Feb. 11 for a day of protest.

Peter Andrews / Reuters

Demonstrators wearing Guy Fawkes masks take part in a protest against ACTA in front of the European Union office in Warsaw on Jan. 24, 2012.

Janek Skarzynski / AFP/Getty Images

Protesters demonstrate against ACTA in front of the Presidential Palace in Warsaw on Jan. 27, 2012. Governments, in light of growing protests, have started to put plans to ratify the treaty on hold. Germany’s government announced on Feb. 10 that it would postpone plans to sign the treaty.

Alik Keplicz / AP

Protesters attend a demonstration against ACTA in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Feb. 4, 2012. On Feb. 2, the Slovenian ambassador to Japan, Helena Drnovsek Zorko, penned an apology for having signed on to the treaty after having done so with the approval of the Slovenian government.

Srdjan Zivulovic / Reuters

A protester attends a demonstration against ACTA in Prague on Feb. 2, 2012.

David W. Cerny / Reuters

Protesters hold a flag during a demonstration against ACTA in Prague on Feb. 2, 2012. The Web site Boing Boing has called on visitors to “Kill ACTA,” providing them with a form letter to send lawmakers expressing their opposition to the treaty.

David W. Cerny / Reuters

Protesters hold a banner during a demonstration against ACTA in Prague on Feb. 2, 2012.

David W. Cerny / Reuters

A protester films as he takes part in a demonstration against ACTA in Prague on Feb. 2, 2012.

Michal Cizek / AFP/Getty Images

A protester attends a demonstration against ACTA on Feb. 2, 2012, in Prague.

Michal Cizek / AFP/Getty Images

A woman wears a surgery mask as she attends a demonstration to protest ACTA on Feb. 2, 2012 in Prague.

Michal Cizek / AFP/Getty Images

Protesters attend a demonstration to protest ACTA on Feb. 2, 2012, in Prague.

Michal Cizek / AFP/Getty Images

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