Our new digital overlords

[owl]

The Digital Economy Bill passed last night. Hello, government powers to disconnect users and block websites that host or link to or intend to host copyright-infringing material (I believe this clause is still under negotiation/debate). This could include, oh, YouTube. LJ/DW. Google cache. Wikileaks. Something embarrassing to the government goes up on wikileaks? Infringing our copyright! Blocked!
I know this is probably the parliamentary equivalent of estimating 4 days instead of 2.5, just in case, but I've known 3-day estimates to turn into 5-week ones (looking at you, Typical Boydev).

You can use http://www.didmympshowupornot.com/ to find out whether your MP bothered to attend the debate or not. Neither mine nor my parents' did.

Comments

[severely-lupine.livejournal.com]

Wow, that sucks. On the other hand, glad to see that America isn't the only country whose government is taking undue control of everything in sight.

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

Are you referring to this week's decision in favor of Comcast (and sort of by default against Internet Neutrality)? Because it's unsettling to hear that a different country is a little further along the road that we're trying hard Not To Be On.

[severely-lupine.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's only one of many recent developments, I'm sure. And by 'glad', I did kind of mean 'bummed'.

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

Well, crap. My condolences, and likely we will end up in the same state soon. :(

[sonneta.livejournal.com]

D: That stinks.

[sunnyskywalker]

That does not sound good. If they shut down a site that "intends" to host copyright-infringing material at some point in the future, can we get a minority report?