Join the Good Fight against the Digital Economy Bill
The Digital Economy Bill is definitely causing a lot of negative attention to turn towards the British government. The main context of the bill is that the government will gain absolute power over who gets cut off the internet due to a graduated response scheme.
The intended use behind the bill is the prevention of online copyright infringement. This covers any articles or videos that are illegally distributed online. Internet service providers will be forced to provide reports of an individual’s activities or be required to pay a fine £250,000 for not complying.
A lot of privacy activists and consumer rights groups have reacted with much criticism for the said bill because this entails the relentless surveillance of an individual’s internet activity. The internet cut off will affect even family members if one member is suspected of a copyright violation. The worst part is that this can be done instantly without even a fair trial.
The Digital Rights Bill is quite extreme. It does not matter that a lot of families and businesses rely on the internet to survive. It does not matter that the internet also has its merits. It is quite unfair to a family to lose this medium just because one member is accused of doing something wrong. It is also unfair that a family will collectively suffer even if it the accusation has yet to be proven.
For those who do not wish the Digital Rights Bill to come into fruition, a public demonstration will be held this Wednesday at 1730 in the afternoon. The event is going to take place at the Old Palace Yard which is just next to Westminster Abbey and opposite the Parliament. Placards will be provided, but bringing black tape for blindfolding or gagging is advised. The next event is planned and is going to be held at Sheffield.
More about the demonstration can be read at Boing Boing.
Digital Economy Bill: No More Free WiFi
If your everyday routine consists of heading down to the local café with your net book or smart phone to do a little casual online reading while sipping a warm cup of Java, then you might have to start making new plans once the Digital Economy Bill actually pushes through.
According to reports, hotels, cafes and other establishment would cease offering free internet and WiFi if the Bill will be holding them responsible for any activity that goes on in their networks. The Bill also grants copyright owners with plenty of additional rights –anyone being accused will be considered guilty until proven innocent. This will cost any defendant plenty of money in litigation processes.
Of course, the Bill threatens to deliver so much more negative than just the removal of free WiFi. In a more expanded way, this will actually make people want to shut down their wireless networks at home as they too would be subject to the same laws. While private network owners have the option of turning their WiFi router into a secured device, it will not prevent the more determined tech savvy individuals from hitching a ride on their networks and potentially, committing illegal internet acts.
More than just losing WiFi, the passing of the Bill will bring about a new era of control in the internet where no activity, no matter how private, could now be accessed and opened by the government.
The entirety of the Bill itself however, is not being opposed. As with any large scale legislation, the Bill covers plenty of aspects including support for artists such as video game developers, music artists, writers and others. There are also parts that discuss minimum bandwidth requirements and the need to expand networks to reach most of UK.
Read more about the Digital Economy Bill at TechWatch UK.