Paris - The French Senate has approved a "three-strikes" law proposal for punishing repeat file-swappers in the country, with the measure now moving to a vote in the French Parliament, according to reports.

The year-old proposal would see Internet service providers in the country send two warnings to citizens reportedly engaging in illegal file-sharing, before shutting off their Internet account for up to a year after a third offense.

The proposed law has the backing of the IFPI, an international record label trade group.

France's actions to enact a three-strikes law contrast sharply with the European Parliament, which recently voted against the concept of cutting off anyone's Internet access.

The European Parliaments stated that it wanted to "strike a balance between the interests of rights holders and those of consumers, and that big measures like cutting off Internet access shouldn't be used."

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