Concerns Over New Digital Economy Bill
How would you feel if your Internet connection was disconnected because someone somewhere thought copyright legislation was being breached (whether by you or anyone using your Internet connection)? Will you be happy to pay a tax to the government for Broadband use? How about nipping to your local coffee shop or library for a spot of free Internet browsing and finding it’s no longer available? Will you mind ISP staff monitoring what you’re doing online to ensure that certain legislation is not being breached?
All of these, and more, are possibilities contained within the new UK Digital Economy Bill which has now completed all stages in the House of Lords and is due for a second reading in the House of Commons. Although the final bill may look very different once it’s passed, many people are concerned that it will be rushed through committee stage without proper examination. The government is keen to get it on the books before the next general election is called but there could be wide-ranging implications for an unsuspecting public including giving unlimited power to the First Secretary of State to bring into law any legislation relating to file sharing on the Internet, without the consent of Parliament.
According to freedom campaigners such as the Open Rights Group the entertainment industry has most to gain, especially large copyright holding companies, whilst individuals and small companies have the most to lose through the threat of legal action based on what their friends, colleagues and customers do online. Even YouTube could face closure for hosting ‘unsanctioned’ footage of artists. An often-cited Ipsos-mori piece of research indicates the Film and TV industry is losing around £500m annually through online and physical piracy. How much of this would filter down to artists/employees is not known but the industry does claim that there is less money for things such as experimental projects that would bring greater variety to the mainstream.
Although there may be a need to address illegal downloading and breaches of copyright many see the new Digital Economy Bill as a very big hammer to crack a very small nut whilst others are concerned that this is the start of government getting involved in censorship of the Internet.
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