I along with many thousands of my fellow citizens registered my objection to the Digital Economy Bill with my local MP. Specifically, I was extremely concerned that this bill would be rushed through during the wash-up period – where outstanding legislation is passed into law prior to a general election – without a proper debate and consultation. I raised my valid concerns with David Laws MP, and received a 3 page letter back from him. You could be forgiven for thinking that he actually gave my objection serious consideration, but alas the letter was clearly a standard response to this issue, and frankly it was poorly put together. It seemed to focus its message on music and video piracy, and appeared to me to be written to perpetrators of such theft. I object to being lumped in with this bunch – I buy all my music, video and software legally.
The part of the bill which bothers is me is that Internet users accused of copyright theft (note “accused” not “convicted”) can have their connection de-activated. This is not a step forwards at all. It is loosely aimed at preventing file sharers from sharing illegal content, but it will not prevent it from happening at all. What will actually happen is that innocent Internet users will be targeted by criminals in much the same way that senders of spam operate. Computers will be hijacked by a virus and become part of a botnet controlled by the criminals. The unsuspecting user will then begin hosting illegal files without any knowledge of it happening, and end up having their Internet access removed.
Another problem is insecure WiFi networks, and there are still loads of these around. The hacker can sit in a car outside your house, hop on to your WiFi and download whatever they want, in your name.
The bill is cobbled together and has no protection for innocent users. It has been rushed through without due democratic process. It’s the same with all of these things: the Government proposes some piece of legislation; the people object; the Government does it anyway.
The Internet and the World Wide Web has been built by the people of this planet, for the people of this planet. It owes its life to numerous clever programmers who have devoted their time, often free of charge, to making it better for everyone. For the UK Government to suddenly decide they have the right to govern the Internet in the UK, is just as disturbing as the Chinese Government’s approach to controlling Internet use.
I don’t know how to stop copyright theft, but the kind of ill-considered approach set out in the Digital Economy Bill is not the answer.
The Digital Economy Bill is, in my opinion, nothing more than a sinister attempt to start monitoring and policing our Internet use without due cause. As per usual, the people that get burned as a result won’t be the actual criminals at all. Piracy and copyright theft will not disappear. The people that want to do this stuff will just invent new cleverer ways to circumvent the authorities and the real problems will remain unaddressed.
A sad day for the Internet.
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