Slashdot Mirror
Major ISPs Challenge UK's Digital Economy Act
Techmeology writes "TalkTalk and BT, two of the UK's largest ISPs, seek to legally challenge the UK's Digital Economy Act, which was rushed through parliament during its last days prior to the election. TalkTalk and BT argue that the DEA infringes human rights and places large ISPs (with over 400,000 customers) at a disadvantage. They also believe the DEA could conflict with existing European Legislation such as the Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive, and the E-Commerce Directive — the latter stating that ISPs are not responsible for the actions of their customers. The Act, which saw twenty thousand letters sent to MPs in protest, contains measures to see websites suspected of distributing illegal material blocked, and Internet users disconnected or reported to copyright holders."
OR, you need to brush up on the very basics of corporate saving face methods. Oh yeah, A letter. They really fought this tooth and nail, rallied and informed the public every chance they could. Must really have taxed their PR team to the limit to get that letter signed. Do you really discount the possibility that these large, influential companies with deep pockets signed that letter to maintain a scrap of credibility with their clients, not to mention being able to turn around and sucker you by wimpering "it's not our fault, we apposed this Act"? At the very _best_ this late whining now is most probably pressure to externalising the cost of monitoring back to the taxpayer.