Lord Mandelson's proposals have been described as a 'declaration of war'
Mandelson seeks sweeping powers to enforce copyright
/v3-uk/news/1972092/mandelson-seeks-sweeping-powers-enforce-copyright
20 Nov 2009, Iain Thomson , V3
Secretary of state Lord Mandelson is planning to introduce changes to the Digital Economy Bill that would grant him, and future ministers, sweeping new powers to enforce copyright laws.
A letter leaked to internet activist and author Cory Doctorow revealed that Mandelson is asking for "language" to be put into the bill that would allow the secretary of state to make "secondary legislation", i.e. legislation passed without debate, to amend the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988).
These powers would allow any secretary of state to arbitrarily set sentences for illegal downloading, including jail time, or a three-strikes policy that Mandelson has already said he wants in place.
The new rules would also allow ministers to "confer rights" on third parties, such as representatives from the recording industry, to investigate and enforce actions against suspected copyright offenders.
Finally, the home secretary would be able to "impose such duties, powers or functions on any person as may be specified in connection with facilitating online infringement".
This would allow the home secretary to force internet service providers to investigate their customers and hand over personal information to third parties.
"This is as bad as I've ever seen, folks. It's a declaration of war by the entertainment industry and their captured regulators against the principles of free speech, privacy, freedom of assembly, the presumption of innocence, and competition," said Doctorow.
"This proposal creates the office of Pirate-Finder General, with unlimited power to appoint militias who are above the law, who can pry into every corner of your life, who can disconnect you from your family, job, education and government, who can fine you or put you in jail."
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Do you agree?
Message for Gordon Brown
Well Gordon... if that doesn't tell you that it's time to dump Mandelson (again), then nothing will. If you keep him you Labour don't have a hope of staying in power, because even lifetime Labour voters like me will do the unthinkable and vote for the Tories.
Posted by Graeme, 20 Nov 2009
Another Example
Another example of Orwellian rules and regulations to stop our so called "free society" next it will be internet filters like those imposed in China and Japan stopping us from gaining access to certain websites that the government deems us fit NOT to see.
Whilst i agree that piracy is a problem, the way forward is not by imposing rules and regulations as proposed in the above document.
Posted by Carl Dean, 20 Nov 2009
Who the hell does he think he is ( GOD )
I think its about time the labour party looked into the clowns motives and chucked him out in his a**were he belongs I think he has forgot no one voted him to do anything for this country and the soon he is out the better it would be for all of us who wants another little ( hiel-hitler in Britian thats all we need)
Posted by Robert Mac farlane, 20 Nov 2009
Mandelson and this government are worse than the comunists
It seems as if this "government" (I use the word with caution as they are acting more and more like a dictatorship than an elected government ) first they are trying to crush free speech on the internet. What next will they try to stop us from speaking freely in our own homes. This must be as far as it goes, we must stop them before it is too late
Posted by Adrian, 23 Nov 2009