Hi,

I have been searching around on ACTA & The Digital Economy Bill - I find them deeply concerning as they do not seem to be remotely what it says on the tin!

Is this a further step in Global Governance in that the similarity of the methodology of imposition is far too redollent of the EU to be considered other than corrupt.

Why for instance does our House of Lords consider it is apposite to introduce over 300 ammendments, which must be very close to, if not, a record!

One should also be concerned at the fact that MPs have been refused information on the meetings and the government level meetings have published no data, no discussion documents and no minutes let alone a transcript - since when have supposedly simple trade agreements attracted a level of secrecy such that MPs are denied information to details - just what evil is being imposed upon us without due scrutiny and in breech of our rights under democratic principle?

Anyone able to find or provide more regarding this unprecedented level of secrecy and move to totally control, without democratic safeguards, the digital transfer of ALL data seemingly empowering ISPs as having the power we have heretofore baulked at granting our security services.

Just why are huge tranches of civil law in the fields of copyright etc. beig transferred to criminal status!!

As far as I can work out, when the law is forced upon us this posting will be unlawful and lay the ISP open to criminal procedings as it is seemingly far too secret to discuss!!

Regards,
Greg L-W.

Hi,

I've tracked down some more info and it does NOT get less scarey. Simon's article below is interesting!!

One has to wonder just how malign this is and note the start of The Davos globalist meeting!!

Download piracy: has the film industry shot the bystanders?

The issue is a big one: if you make intellectual property, people are probably using the internet to steal from you.

Software licences get hacked, images, music and videos are “shared” for free, rather than bought or licensed as intended. Obviously it's wrong, costly and dishonest, but the present response, being quietly rolled out before our General Election may be thought extreme and has huge implications for both householders and businesses.

The entertainment industry has lobbied effectively in the halls of the EU and globally, and has got results: In September 2009, a bill passed the French Lower House to cut off net connections used by pirates. A markedly similar bill surfaced in Spain in early December.

Our own, the innocuously-named Digital Economy Bill, was quietly announced in the political “dead zone” between Christmas and the new year. The financial calculations attached to the British legislation estimate £500m direct admin cost, and £350m in extra VAT to central coffers. Both are annual expenditures for the nation, and will be met principally by internet users. No wonder governments like the idea!

What’s likely to happen?


•Telecoms charges will go up to cover the new bureaucracy.


•There may be a new legal liability of internet subscribers, for actions of third parties using their connection. In the home, that means family and visitors, and in the workplace, your staff and possibly customers too.


•Piracy, roughly defined as downloading entertainment for which payment has not been made to the copyright holder, will change from being a civil to a criminal offence, but crucially, it's not the perpetrator who will be held responsible, but the subscriber to the internet connection.


•Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will be given the role of policemen, to detect, report (and ultimately punish) anyone who 'allows' their Internet connection to be used for breach of copyright.
Criminal offences are proposed, and lesser punishments will include the restriction or removal of Internet access from the premises concerned.

The situation is changing rapidly though. The Lords (bless 'em) have tabled almost 300 amendments to the bill, and the whole thing may yet fail (in its present form) before our summer general election.

There is an internal fight going on in the halls of the EU about this. On the one hand are campaigners claiming that there should be free access to the internet for everyone (Estonia, Finland, France and Greece have all reportedly recently declared that broadband Internet access is a 'human right'). On the other hand there are industry anti-counterfeiting and copyright protection lobby groups. These generally seek to impose monitoring, and limit free passage of digital content, so that copyright infringers may be caught and punished.

Employment law is always complex, but this one could be a blank cheque for lawyers (sorry legal chaps, but it's true!). It touches on personal privacy, and may well impose complex new responsibilities on employers.

The smart money is now on a March or May general election in the UK, so the British bill may yet run out of time. It does however clearly indicate a pan-European trend towards less liberty and greater monitoring of the internet, and criminal legal penalties.

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