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BREAKING: Leaked UK government plan to create "Pirate Finder General"

boingboing | 20.11.2009 01:01 | Technology

BREAKING: Leaked UK government plan to create "Pirate Finder General" with power to appoint militias, create laws

Cory Doctorow writes on BoingBoing about tomorrow's proposed amendments to the Digital Economy Bill that will grant draconian powers to the Secretary of State, civil servants and "rights holders".

Read the full article:

 http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/19/breaking-leaked-uk-g.html


The proposed powers:

1. The Secretary of State would get the power to create new remedies for online infringements (for example, he could create jail terms for file-sharing, or create a "three-strikes" plan that costs entire families their internet access if any member stands accused of infringement)

2. The Secretary of State would get the power to create procedures to "confer rights" for the purposes of protecting rightsholders from online infringement. (for example, record labels and movie studios can be given investigative and enforcement powers that allow them to compel ISPs, libraries, companies and schools to turn over personal information about Internet users, and to order those companies to disconnect users, remove websites, block URLs, etc)

3. The Secretary of State would get the power to "impose such duties, powers or functions on any person as may be specified in connection with facilitating online infringement" (for example, ISPs could be forced to spy on their users, or to have copyright lawyers examine every piece of user-generated content before it goes live; also, copyright "militias" can be formed with the power to police copyright on the web)



The implications of this reach far beyond the culture of file sharers, they step into the realms of personal privacy and the freedom to communicate privately over the Internet. Private companies given the power to investigate, disconnect, fine and imprison individuals without judicial process.

boingboing
- Homepage: http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/19/breaking-leaked-uk-g.html

Comments

Hide the following 2 comments

They never learn

20.11.2009 05:16

Governments never seem to realise that they are supposedly here to pass laws to help the people who vote not the corporations who fund. I guess money talks louder than democracy in the heads of politicians on the take.

Topping


wasn't it

20.11.2009 11:26

Mussolini who said that fascism was the perfect marriage of business and government...

unnecessary