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UK Government To Terminate File Sharers' Net Access

Posted by Zonk on from the finally-getting-these-monsters-right-at-the-source dept.

An anonymous reader writes "New plans published by the UK Govt show that they hope to terminate internet access for people suspected of breaching copyright by file sharing. Under the proposed new laws ISPs who fail to enforce the policy will face prosecution in the courts. Users falling foul of the new law will be subject to a three strike policy: First suspected instance of illegal file sharing they would receive a warning, at the second — a suspension, and at the third they will have their Internet connection terminated. It isn't clear whether users will be prevented from ever using the internet again, or whether simply subscribing to a new ISP will reset the process."

4 of 411 comments (clear)

  1. "Suspected" incidence by phorm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    First suspected instance of illegal file sharing they would receive a warning, at the second -- a suspension, and at the third they will have their Internet connection terminated

    Nice to see that they're not even going for proven guilt in this case. So what happens when some poor Brit has his internet connection pulled for downloading Ubuntu ISO's or WOW updates via BitTorrent... or the media companies just screw up and finger the wrong IP as infringing.

  2. Re:Ummmm by Dr.+Eggman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Defensive tactics are not advised. If they come for the file-sharing users now, what makes you think they will not come for the encryption users later? Better to make our stand here and now, upon this miserable connection and fall as link-dead than to run for higher obscurity against an ever rising invasion of our privacy.

    --
    Demented But Determined.
  3. Flatmates by MrNemesis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So how do they propose that my two flatmates who do fileshare are cut off, whereas the remaing two flatmates who don't fileshare retain internet access?

    Oh wait, no-one's proposing that. They just expect me (internet is in my name) to police my flatmates computers for them. Bottom-up stazi citizenry for your future police state here we come.

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    Moderation Total: -1 Troll, +3 Goat
  4. Write to your MPs by W3bbo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's cliche, but armchair moping about it on Slashdot isn't going to affect the outcome of any vote in this legislation.

    Write, phone, or email your MP. I'm doing it, are you?