ISPs and campaigners slam file sharing law

Plans to cut off the broadband connections of illegal file sharers have come under fire from industry groups, privacy advocates and even major ISPs.

Yesterday, the government said it was considering forcing internet service providers (ISPs) to shut down the connections of the most prolific file sharers. The move follows rumours of close ties between music industry leaders and current business secretary Peter Mandelson.

But if the music and software industries are happy, they might be the only ones.

TalkTalk "dismayed"

In a blog post, Andrew Heaney, executive director of strategy and regulation at Carphone Warehouse’s TalkTalk, said he was “dismayed” by the plans.

“Barely two months after the publication of largely sensible and pragmatic measures to tackle the problem (in the Digital Britain report) Lord Mandelson has, it seems, caved in under pressure from powerful lobbyists in the content industry,” he wrote.

Heaney said that TalkTalk supported the existing plans to cut piracy through education, letters to offenders, and taking the worst filesharers to court.

“Introducing measures such as disconnection at the instigation of the Secretary of State will sidestep proper scrutiny, likely breach fundamental human rights and result in innocent people being disconnected or, worse, prosecuted,” he said.

Disconnecting people without going through courts will mean accused file sharers will not be able to see the evidence against them, he explained.

“What’s more, they will not work,” he added, noting that that clever file sharers will be able to easily conceal their identities, while wifi-hijacking and users with shared accounts could lead to innocent people being cut off.

Heaney said his firm would “strongly resist” plans to introduce such laws, and did not want ISPs to act as the “internet police” – or have to pay the costs to do so.

ISPA "disappointed"

The Internet Services Providers' Association (ISPA) echoed TalkTalk’s comments, expressing disappointment and concern with the plans.

The ISPA said in a statement that it was “disappointed” by the account cut-off plans. “ISPs and consumer groups consider disconnection of users to be a disproportionate response, a view that was recently supported by the European Parliament.”

The body said it was concerned that the Secretary of State would be given too much power. “This would politicise the process and would be a negative step,” it said.

Like TalkTalk, the association was also unhappy with the changes to costs, and called on the government to better consult with the ISPs on the issue.

Campaign group concern

The Open Rights Group came out swinging against the plans, too. “Instead of letting the market solve the problems, the government seems intent on heavy-handed intervention, that could include disconnection and other account restrictions,” wrote Jim Killock on the group’s blog.

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