One can only hope that this is one of those stories that appears, and the fades never to be seen again, but according to PCPro a group of "rights holders" are proposing that a council and expert body be set up with the intention of blocking web sites that are deemed to be infringing. Call me cynical, but my first thought was "Why do they want 2 bodys to make these decisions". My second thought was "Oh yes, to make the decisions harder to overturn"
Thats right, no oversight, no judicial review, just a group of Joe Publics (which won't consist entirely of industry people and industry shills, I'm sure) deciding what you may view on your internet in the UK. In the past I wouldn't have worried about this, but ever since Mandelson went on an all expenses paid holiday to the south of France with an industry exec and came back with the digital economy bill, I have realised quite how blatantly politicians can sell our freedoms (Do you hear me Mandelson, you treasonous little scrote?) The man to keep your eye on is Communications Minister Ed Vaizey - if this thing does raise its ugly little head again, we will know that he is either a Moron, or a traitor. And no, I don't think thats to strong a word for those who sell our freedom for profit.
So, assuming this all goes through (Big if, but we've seen worse get through in recent years) we will have essentially handed big content the rights to decide what we may not view, on a whim, with the only recourse a legal battle from the owner of the site in question. So, if for example there was a blog that they did not like, they could block anyone in the UK from viewing it, unless the blog writer had the resources to take it to court, there is nothing anyone can do about it.
If you also take into account that they would use this as a spring board to ask for the same thing in other countries, we have a responsibility to ensure this plan dies. Vaizey - You have a very real responsibly to kick this thing to the curb. Failure on your part will see you ranked in history alongside Mandelson.
Thats right, no oversight, no judicial review, just a group of Joe Publics (which won't consist entirely of industry people and industry shills, I'm sure) deciding what you may view on your internet in the UK. In the past I wouldn't have worried about this, but ever since Mandelson went on an all expenses paid holiday to the south of France with an industry exec and came back with the digital economy bill, I have realised quite how blatantly politicians can sell our freedoms (Do you hear me Mandelson, you treasonous little scrote?) The man to keep your eye on is Communications Minister Ed Vaizey - if this thing does raise its ugly little head again, we will know that he is either a Moron, or a traitor. And no, I don't think thats to strong a word for those who sell our freedom for profit.
So, assuming this all goes through (Big if, but we've seen worse get through in recent years) we will have essentially handed big content the rights to decide what we may not view, on a whim, with the only recourse a legal battle from the owner of the site in question. So, if for example there was a blog that they did not like, they could block anyone in the UK from viewing it, unless the blog writer had the resources to take it to court, there is nothing anyone can do about it.
If you also take into account that they would use this as a spring board to ask for the same thing in other countries, we have a responsibility to ensure this plan dies. Vaizey - You have a very real responsibly to kick this thing to the curb. Failure on your part will see you ranked in history alongside Mandelson.
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