[NetBehaviour] Digital Economy Bill bill could 'breach rights'.
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Mon Feb 8 15:42:52 CET 2010
Digital Economy Bill bill could 'breach rights'.
An influential group of MPs and peers has said the government's approach
to illegal file-sharing could breach the rights of internet users. The
Joint Select Committee on Human Rights said the government's Digital
Economy Bill needed clarification. It said that technical measures -
which include cutting off persistent pirates - were not "sufficiently
specified". In addition, it said that it was concerned that the Bill
could create "over-broad powers".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8500876.stm
"The UK Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights has recently
reported on the controversial Digital Economy Bill, which seeks to
restrict the connections of anyone accused of infringing copyright using
the Internet. According to the BBC, the committee noted the lack of
details in the Bill as it stands, asking for 'further information' from
the government on several issues. They also raised concerns that some
punishments under the bill could be 'applied in a disproportionate
manner' and said that the powers the bill granted to the Secretary of
State (i.e. Lord Mandelson) were 'overly broad.' These echo the concerns
raised in recent months by the Open Rights Group, a consortium of web
companies including Facebook, Google, Yahoo, and eBay, as well as the
UK's Pirate Party. The Bill is currently being scrutinized by the House
of Lords, and if it passes there, will likely be forced through the
Commons quickly, despite the opposition from the public, industry and
members of parliament. The committee's full report can be found on the
parliament website." This text - Slashdot.org
The Digital Economy Bill - a first critical look - Prepared by Francis
Davey (link to homepage), 1 December 2009.
This is an explanation and analysis of the "copyright infringement
provisions" the Digital Economy Bill -- strictly speaking this means
clauses 4 to 15 which amend the Communications Act 2003 to add new
sections 124A to 124L, but I am also considering clauses 16
(definitions) and 17 (amendments to copyright law) as well.
http://www.openrightsgroup.org/ourwork/reports/deb-first-look
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