The festive season was something akin to joy for many around Europe, but this feeling has been overshadowed to some extent in France. News broke this week that the French government has passed a controversial bill which gives internet service providers (ISPs) the power to block websites which the ARJEL – the country’s regulator – sees as unfit for public access, including online casino gambling websites to name just one possible example. This law officially became active on January 1 2012, but has yet to be used. Continue