French surfers to draft web laws

The French Senate has invited the country's web surfers to join a virtual parliament that will draft new laws.

But although the government is looking for expert advice on how to govern the internet, this form of direct democracy is unlikely to reach the statute books. The Internet Law will be a mock law - drafted, negotiated, and voted in by remote citizens.

The French Internet Society (ISOC), which is sponsoring the project, will post four legal articles for discussion later this month. They are expected to cover data privacy, intellectual property, and the regulation of encryption and pornography.

"The point of the exercise is to get people thinking about how existing laws should be changed," said an ISOC representative.

The virtual parliament will be held on 19 to 21 March, as part of a national Internet festival. Further details are available at http://www.isoc.asso.fr/fete99/fi99loi.htm