The music industry has demanded that something should be done to combat Internet piracy and the falling amounts of money coming in due to this illegal activity.
The new bill seeks to introduce a "three strikes" system, whereby illegal file-sharers would be sent a warning e-mail, then a letter, and finally they would face disconnection for a year if they were caught on a third occasion.
However, some consumer groups have warned that innocent people could end up being punished when it was not them but hackers who were guilty of the crime. The system is also being criticised for being a means to operate a state surveillance of the public.
French socialist member of parliament Patrick Bloche is reported to have claimed that the legislation is "dangerous, useless, inefficient, and very risky for us citizens."
