New reports claim that the UK Secretary of State, Peter Mandelson, is planning to make a shocking addition to the Digital Economy Bill. The new power would grant him the ability to set "secondary legislation" (i.e. legislation passed without debate) to amend the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988).
The BoingBoing article alleges that Mandelson has offered three reasons for doing this, which could include the power to make new remedies for online infringements without debate. Democracy? No thanks we're British.
We find some of this hard to believe as it clearly goes too far and we hope the vast majority of parliament would be in opposition to it. This would attack something far more fundamental than merely piracy, our democracy. Outspoken Labour MP Tom Watson has already pledged not to support the above changes. The initial Digital Economy Bill will officially surface today.
The BoingBoing article alleges that Mandelson has offered three reasons for doing this, which could include the power to make new remedies for online infringements without debate. Democracy? No thanks we're British.
1. The Secretary of State would get the power to create new remedies for online infringements (for example, he could create jail terms for file-sharing, or create a "three-strikes" plan that costs entire families their internet access if any member stands accused of infringement).
2. The Secretary of State would get the power to create procedures to "confer rights" for the purposes of protecting rightsholders from online infringement. (for example, record labels and movie studios can be given investigative and enforcement powers that allow them to compel ISPs, libraries, companies and schools to turn over personal information about Internet users, and to order those companies to disconnect users, remove websites, block URLs, etc).
3. The Secretary of State would get the power to "impose such duties, powers or functions on any person as may be specified in connection with facilitating online infringement" (for example, ISPs could be forced to spy on their users, or to have copyright lawyers examine every piece of user-generated content before it goes live; also, copyright "militias" can be formed with the power to police copyright on the web).
2. The Secretary of State would get the power to create procedures to "confer rights" for the purposes of protecting rightsholders from online infringement. (for example, record labels and movie studios can be given investigative and enforcement powers that allow them to compel ISPs, libraries, companies and schools to turn over personal information about Internet users, and to order those companies to disconnect users, remove websites, block URLs, etc).
3. The Secretary of State would get the power to "impose such duties, powers or functions on any person as may be specified in connection with facilitating online infringement" (for example, ISPs could be forced to spy on their users, or to have copyright lawyers examine every piece of user-generated content before it goes live; also, copyright "militias" can be formed with the power to police copyright on the web).
We find some of this hard to believe as it clearly goes too far and we hope the vast majority of parliament would be in opposition to it. This would attack something far more fundamental than merely piracy, our democracy. Outspoken Labour MP Tom Watson has already pledged not to support the above changes. The initial Digital Economy Bill will officially surface today.
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Comments: 4
boggitsPosted: 20 November, 2009 - 10:56 AM
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The scariest section I've found so far is this one:
--
Obligations to limit internet access
The Secretary of State may at any time by order impose a technical obligation on internet service providers if the Secretary of State considers it appropriate in view of—
(a) an assessment carried out or steps taken by OFCOM under section 124G; or
(b) any other consideration.
--
Which give the Secretay of State the power to block or restrict access to ANYTHING HE WANTS WITHOUT ANY CONSULTATION
SlomanPosted: 20 November, 2009 - 12:12 PM
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Shame i cant write what i really think about this as it will be removed.
You will never stop us hard core pirates, Napster > Kazza > Limewire > Torrents > Newsgroups/Rapidshare > VPN's > ?
@ boggits i hope some MP's notice this to otherwise we could be like China preventing access to any site the state wishes.
otesterPosted: 20 November, 2009 - 11:01 PM
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^
In regards to "?"
Fully anonymous tracker and torrent is in the works, currently available from some small trackers and a few clients.
GregPosted: 21 November, 2009 - 12:40 AM
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Thankfully ... that pointless, nasty, worthless, oxygen thieving slimeball Mandelson is highly likely to be kicked out of office before these any
of these new laws come into effect, along the rest of the useless scumbags that have run this country into the ground, including the (not
democratically elected) Traitor-in-Chief (that sold us all down the river to a bunch of faceless unelected foreign numpties in Belguim)
and has been in charge of that entire shower of s**t since taking over from Blair the Grinning Ninny in Summer 2007!
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