Google urges government to consult public over DEA web blocking plans

Ongoing discussions between internet service providers and rights holders on the implementation of web blocking measures in the Digital Economy Act (DEA) should be opened up to the public, according to Google.

Discussions are currently being held in private as industry stakeholders consider how web blocking provisions should work in practice under section 17 of the DEA. Ofcom is expected to produce its report on this issue in the near future.

However, Sarah Hunter, head of UK public policy at Google, questioned the wisdom of this strategy at a Westminster eForum event, arguing that, as the internet is an ownerless asset, the public needs to be involved in these discussions.

"There are conversations going on right now being led by companies, but it's not right as companies don't own the internet. The DEA showed how strongly people feel about how their internet is delivered," she said.

"If the government wants to make laws on blocking web sites they need to talk to consumers and have a proper debate in public. In Australia the government held a year-long consultation with the public before it reached any decision."

However, David Wheeldon, director of policy and public affairs at BSkyB, argued that measures must be brought in quickly as creative individuals and investors are increasingly threatened by illegal sites offering content.

"If the creators of content are not being remunerated we have to deal with it, otherwise we're undermining a very important industry. We can't ignore it and pretend it will sort itself out," he said at the event.

"As broadband speeds increase and access to the internet becomes ubiquitous, this will become a significant issue for the UK creative industries."

Internet minister Ed Vaizey said at the Intellect conference on Tuesday that web blocking is vital to protect the UK's creative talent.

"There are prominent web sites that stream live football or sell movies without permission from rights holders, and we should look at ways of stopping them," he said.

"No-one is saying business models don't have to change, but that doesn't mean you sit back and let people rip off other people's content."