I couldn’t let the topic of Peter Mandelson’s new Digital Economy Bill go un-blogged, so rather than subject you to my incoherent ramblings, I thought I’d point legally-minded readers in the direction of Pangloss’s excellent analysis of the Bill as it stands.
The Bill has just been presented for its first reading, and despite the hysterics and some inaccurate reporting from the usual folk, there really is a lot to be concerned here about in terms of copyright policy and civil liberties. The Bill would allow the Secretary of State to make amendments to copyright law by Statutory Instrument, would mandate ISPs to notify (and possibly later disconnect) customers based on mere accusations of copyright infringement on their account, and a few other ill-thought-out measures.
I will be phoning my MP in the next few days to ensure that he votes the Bill down when it is presented in the Commons.
Those wishing to read more of the context of the Bill’s introduction can read Ars Technica’s background piece. You can read the Bill itself, as presented to the Lords, here.