Queen's speech cements "three strikes"

Posted on 19 Nov 2009 at 08:27

The Government has used the Queen’s speech to confirm that it will press ahead with plans to disconnect illegal file-sharers, scotching rumours that the proposals would not be put before the next Parliament.

The “three strikes” proposals will be included in the Digital Economy Bill, to force ISPs to penalise persistent file-sharers.

As expected, the Government plans to initially withhold the threat of disconnection, while Ofcom is tasked with measuring the effectiveness of warning letters—a study that will last a year.

If illegal file-sharing is not reduced 70% by April 2011, the Government will begin ordering that illegal file-sharers be disconnected after receiving two warning letters.

The bill was welcomed by the BPI.

“The creative sector in the UK needs new measures implemented urgently that address this problem for now and the future if the UK is to lead Europe in giving consumers innovative and high quality digital entertainment,” says Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the BPI.

The mood wasn’t quite so celebratory over at the Open Rights Group. The privacy body is urging people to contact their MPs and protest against the bill.

“This plan won’t stop copyright infringement and with a simple accusation could see you and your family disconnected from the internet—unable to engage in everyday activities like shopping and socialising,” says a statement on its website.

“We have a few days to show this (and any future) Government that it can’t mess with the internet—just ask the 600,000 people who recently had access to their Xbox Live accounts blocked. Any of us could easily be next.”

Author: Stuart Turton / Simon Aughton

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