ISPA Publish UK Internet Hero and Villain Awards Shortlist for 2016

Once again the UK Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) has today revealed the shortlist of potential winners for their annual Internet Hero and Internet Villain awards. It’s perhaps no surprise to find that people like Donald Trump (US presidential candidate) are up for the villain gong.

Last year saw David Davis MP and Tom Watson MP being jointly named as Internet Hero for their legal action against Internet snooping laws. On the flip side the Government’s Home Secretary, Theresa May MP, won the Internet Villain gong for her continuing efforts to increase Internet snooping and invade the personal privacy of British citizens.

Nicholas Lansman, ISPAs Secretary General, said:

“The Internet Hero and Villain awards go to those who have helped or hindered the Internet industry. These nominations, many from the public, reflect the importance of privacy, cyber security and great broadband and the work many MPs have done scrutinising the Investigatory Powers Bill. These awards are light-hearted in nature, but do contain a serious point, and I look forward to finding out who won in July.”

Otherwise the short-list, as announced via Thinkbroadband today (they’re also on the short-list and are the ISPA’s testing / judging partners for several awards), is as follows. The winners will be announced at a gala ISPA Awards ceremony taking place at The Brewery (London) on Thursday 7th July 2016.

The 2016 Internet Hero Shortlist

Nicola Blackwood MP
For her Committee’s report into the Investigatory Powers Bill, which contained sensible recommendations around encryption, equipment interference and a commitment to full cost recovery, to limit the Bill’s impact on the tech sector

Jo Cherry QC MP & Sir Keir Starmer QC MP
For their continued scrutiny of the Investigatory Powers Bill as the legislation passes through Parliament at a fast pace

Apple
For defending the fundamental principle of encryption and customer privacy

Andrew Ferguson, Editor thinkbroadband
For editing an invaluable resource that explains and maps out broadband for consumers

Web Foundation
For working to extend the basic right of connectivity to the 60% of the global population unable to connect and benefit from the online world

The 2016 Internet Villain Shortlist

Donald Trump
For calling on industry to ‘close’ parts of the Internet

Mossack Fonseca
For demonstrating poor cyber security practices

The FBI
For attempting to undermine security by compelling technology companies to bypass existing security features

‘The Internet Troll’
For overstepping the bounds of free speech, threatening the principle of an Internet for all

TCYK LLP
For its heavy-handed ‘speculative invoicing’ campaign aimed at alleged copyright infringers