How might the Digital Economy Bill affect people who work at home?
06/04/2010 send to a friend
We hope he's rang ahead, but Gordon Brown is heading over to the palace today to ask for the dissolution of parliament. Also asking for another chance is the controversial Digital Economy Bill, which gets a second reading today. But what is it? And how might it affect you?
What is the Digital Economy Bill?
First announced in the Queen's 2009 speech to parliament, the Digital Economy Bill follows the Digital Britain report of 2008.
It includes suggestions about Ofcom, Channel 4, Internet domain names and, controversially, copyright infringement and internet service provider access.
Why is it controversial?
The Bill may give ISPs, like BT Broadband or Virgin Digital, the right to report your activity to copyright owners, like record labels or film studios. This is a measure to prevent piracy, obviously, but many people believe that it's been pushed through by powerful lobbyists, like the British Phonographic Industry.
In another measure to reduce illegal file sharing, the Bill also allows ISPs to block access to "cyberlockers", which are sites like YouSendIt, thought to facilitate pirate activity.
What's worrying a lot of people is that the Digital Economy Bill has been considered by the Lords, but not properly debated by the House of Commons. It looks like it might get pushed through to the 'wash-up.'
And why might it affect people who work at home?
The Bill allows for "temporary suspension" of your Internet connection, if copyright infringement is spotted by your ISP.
Now, we're not suggesting that you download illegal material, but hotels and coffee shops that offer free or paid-for Wi-Fi are worried about this measure. If they shut down their Internet services, that will absolutely affect people who work at home, by cutting down on 'third spaces' as alternative places to work.
And how will ISPs know what kind of files are being transmitted via cyberlockers? Will you be cut off for sending a client a large file via YouSendIt?
What can you do?
People politics website 38 Degrees is helping people call their MPs to stop the Digital Economy Bill being rushed through Parliament without a proper debate. Find out more on the link below:
- Call your MP | Digital Economy Bill - 38 Degrees
What do you think?
What do you think about the Digital Economy Bill? Are the lobbyists the "new rich Luddites"? Are you worried about how DEB might affect you and the way you work? Does it need more debate?
Let us know what you think on the link below.
San Sharma
Social Media Consultant and Web Designer, Pop Culture Critic, Author, Moonwalker, etc.
Photo credit: Oliver Hine
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Comments
Author: Alex
Date: 06/04/2010
Comment: So many problems with this Bill e.g. use of orphan works where the owner of photos "can't be found" (http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=872808).
Website: www.shedworking.co.uk
Author: San Sharma
Date: 06/04/2010
Comment: Yeah, hard to get your head around, that one, but I know it's bad news for photographers too.
Website: http://www.sansharma.com
Author: Adam Banks
Date: 06/04/2010
Comment: It's important to understand that the government really does mean to outlaw open WiFi hotspots - it's not an unintended consequence, it's deliberate. If this bill goes through, your friendly local café WILL have to stop offering WiFi - simple as that.
Hotspot operators will have only two options: to be treated as an ISP, which imposes impossible obligations for a small organisation without specialist IT staff; or to be treated as a user, which means any content accessed over their connection is their responsibility. Unless they have records of exactly which user accessed which content at which time - not something they're likely to be equipped to do - they're in the frame themselves whenever any copyright material is detected on their connection.
In practice it's unlikely that the government will actually cut anyone off except in extreme cases of persistent infringement. This is not the biggest worry. The real threat is from copyright owners - software, music and movie companies - who will still have the right to pursue individuals through the courts for damages in respect of EVERY SINGLE FILE downloaded. Thousands of British users have already been targeted by law firms including Davenport Lyons and ACS:Law (both now under investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority). These firms and their associates sell their services not as a way for authors and artists to protect their rights, but as a way for copyright owners to make a fast buck: wait for their products to be shared around the internet, then pounce and demand money from anyone whose computer they arrive on.
Rather than just killing this bill, we actually need legislation in the opposite direction to clarify that WiFi providers, businesses and libraries are NOT liable for users' actions just because they happen to be using their connection, and to limit the damages that can be claimed by copyright owners for non-commercial infringement.
It's not too late to remind your MP that the last thing Britain needs at the moment is legislation that will make internet access LESS feasible for everyone. As for the argument that the creative industries need it: I work in and report on the creative industries, I depend on copyright for my livelihood, and I want this bill stopped.
Website: www.adambanks.com