ACTA makes everyone suspect

Latvia has not yet ratified the Anti-Couterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta). The business paper Dienas Bizness advises the government to consider the matter carefully before putting its signature on the agreement: "Some say that the agreement substantially curbs individual freedom. Others argue that Latvia must ratify it and that signing the agreement won't change anything for the state or its citizens. The latter claim, however, has come under attack: Why on earth sign an agreement if it doesn't change anything anyway? We are all aware that it's bad to steal from shops, and that security services therefore have the task of preventing such theft. But it's one thing if a security guard catches a shoplifter with a box of chocolates in his bag and quite another for the security guard to stand at the exit systematically checking every customer's bags to make sure no one has stolen a box of chocolates."

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