YourFreedom: Repeal The Digital Economy Act

The Digital Economy Act, rushed through in the dying days of the last Parliament, is an unfair, undemocratically passed law which will allow the rights holders of copyrighted content such as music and film to demand that an Internet Service Provider (ISP) cut someone’s Internet connection if they suspect that they have downloaded copyrighted content. These rights holders only need to prove that the wrongdoing occurred using the Internet connection they wish to be cut, not that the persons who will be affected are guilty. This leaves account holders responsible for the actions of anyone using their connection, whether legitimately or by piggybacking without permission. In this digital age, an Internet connection is essential for simple tasks like banking, paying bills and jobhunting, and as a result, taking away a connection used by several people as punishment for the actions of an individual who may not even be known to them is fundamentally wrong.

Simply put, the Act imposes disproportionate, collective punishment and does not follow the principle of innocent until proven guilty, contravening the Magna Carta, which in 1215 stated that, as a basic human right, no person may be punished without a fair trial.

In summary, the Digital Economy Act is a massive insult to our civil liberties and I, and many others, believe that the Government should repeal it in its entirety in the upcoming Freedom Bill as a matter of urgency, with the less objectionable clauses being redrafted and discussed democratically in the Houses of Parliament to pave the way for a proper digital economy which does not punish innocent people.

If you also support the repeal of the Digital Economy Act, please consider registering with YourFreedom, the Government’s initiative to get everyday people involved in restoring and defending freedom and civil liberties, and rating my suggestion to repeal the Act.