ISPA Attacks Tory Chat-Room Policy
Posted: 09th Oct, 2003 By: MarkJ
The UK Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) has attacked Conservative Party calls for tougher online chat-room liability laws, which many believe go too far. Another fine example of following the politically correct bandwagon to an extreme while ignoring the key issue?:
Industry experts believe the policy would drive chat underground, forcing reputable chat providers to pull their chatroom services. 'This proposal concerns us,' said a spokesman at the Internet Service Providers Association. 'We consider it a big misunderstanding of ISP liability.'
Letwin's proposal follows MSN's recent move to close all its UK chatrooms. He hopes to persuade other ISPs to follow suit. 'What Microsoft's actions show is that there's more opportunity for leverage over chatroom providers than I or the Home Secretary had imagined,' said Letwin 'It shows this could greatly reduce availability of such chatrooms to children.'
Robin Bynoe, partner at City law firm Charles Russell, said a reversal of the existing 'notice and takedown' procedure could in fact endanger children. 'This is barking mad and will drive many ISPs to copy MSN's lead,' he said. 'It'll achieve nothing and children will be left to use unsuitable chatrooms.'
Sadly this very change is about to be proposed and appears to have wide ranging support, largely by those not familiar with how the Internet operates. If this occurs then it could have serious consequences around the UK Internet. More @ NewMediaZero.
Industry experts believe the policy would drive chat underground, forcing reputable chat providers to pull their chatroom services. 'This proposal concerns us,' said a spokesman at the Internet Service Providers Association. 'We consider it a big misunderstanding of ISP liability.'
Letwin's proposal follows MSN's recent move to close all its UK chatrooms. He hopes to persuade other ISPs to follow suit. 'What Microsoft's actions show is that there's more opportunity for leverage over chatroom providers than I or the Home Secretary had imagined,' said Letwin 'It shows this could greatly reduce availability of such chatrooms to children.'
Robin Bynoe, partner at City law firm Charles Russell, said a reversal of the existing 'notice and takedown' procedure could in fact endanger children. 'This is barking mad and will drive many ISPs to copy MSN's lead,' he said. 'It'll achieve nothing and children will be left to use unsuitable chatrooms.'
Sadly this very change is about to be proposed and appears to have wide ranging support, largely by those not familiar with how the Internet operates. If this occurs then it could have serious consequences around the UK Internet. More @ NewMediaZero.
Latest UK ISP News
Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
150,000+ Customers | View More ISPs
Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
Modest Availability | View More ISPs
Latest UK ISP News
Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
Large Availability | View All
Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
Large Availability | View All
Helpful ISP Guides and Tips
Sponsored Links
The Top 15 Category Tags
- FTTP (5533)
- BT (3518)
- Politics (2542)
- Openreach (2299)
- Business (2267)
- Building Digital UK (2247)
- FTTC (2045)
- Mobile Broadband (1978)
- Statistics (1790)
- 4G (1669)
- Virgin Media (1621)
- Ofcom Regulation (1466)
- Fibre Optic (1396)
- Wireless Internet (1392)
- FTTH (1382)
Sponsored
Copyright © 1999 to Present - ISPreview.co.uk - All Rights Reserved - Terms , Privacy and Cookie Policy , Links , Website Rules