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| Government rethinks net blocking | Government rethinks net blocking |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The government has announced that it is to look again at plans to block websites that infringe copyright. | The government has announced that it is to look again at plans to block websites that infringe copyright. |
| The controversial measures formed part of its crackdown on net pirates, outlined in the Digital Economy Act (DEA). | The controversial measures formed part of its crackdown on net pirates, outlined in the Digital Economy Act (DEA). |
| The decision to review it follows a raft of complaints about the workablility of the legislation. | The decision to review it follows a raft of complaints about the workablility of the legislation. |
| Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has now asked Ofcom to consider the viability of blocking certain websites. | Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has now asked Ofcom to consider the viability of blocking certain websites. |
| Right tools | Right tools |
| "I have no problem with the principle of blocking access to websites used exclusively for facilitating illegal downloading of content," said Mr Hunt. | "I have no problem with the principle of blocking access to websites used exclusively for facilitating illegal downloading of content," said Mr Hunt. |
| "But it is not clear whether the site blocking provisions in the Act could work in practice so I have asked Ofcom to address this question," he added. | "But it is not clear whether the site blocking provisions in the Act could work in practice so I have asked Ofcom to address this question," he added. |
| The rethink was prompted by ideas submitted to the Your Freedom website, which asked members of the public to nominate laws and regulations they would like to see abolished. | The rethink was prompted by ideas submitted to the Your Freedom website, which asked members of the public to nominate laws and regulations they would like to see abolished. |
| "When we launched Your Freedom, I promised that the ideas submitted would be given proper consideration.... we have listened to the views expressed," said deputy prime minister Nick Clegg. | "When we launched Your Freedom, I promised that the ideas submitted would be given proper consideration.... we have listened to the views expressed," said deputy prime minister Nick Clegg. |
| "The government will look at whether we have the right tools for the job in addressing the problem of online copyright infringement," he added. | "The government will look at whether we have the right tools for the job in addressing the problem of online copyright infringement," he added. |
| It is not clear how many people complained about the DEA on Your Freedom, but a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it was "one of the most commented on" pieces of legislation. | It is not clear how many people complained about the DEA on Your Freedom, but a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it was "one of the most commented on" pieces of legislation. |
| Among the questions for Ofcom to consider are: | Among the questions for Ofcom to consider are: |
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| The Open Rights Group, which has long campaigned against the DEA, welcomed Ofcom's review. | |
| "It's encouraging that the government is listening to people's genuine concerns about the Digital Economy Act. | |
| The web blocking provisions are a real mistake - they would stifle freedom of expression, for unproven benefit, whilst being extremely costly and difficult to manage," said Peter Bradwell, an ORG campaigner. | |
| Judicial review | |
| The government's attempts to crack down on illegal file-sharing have courted much controversy. | The government's attempts to crack down on illegal file-sharing have courted much controversy. |
| Ofcom is already planning the first stage of the campaign, which will see letters sent to those identified as illegal file-sharers. | Ofcom is already planning the first stage of the campaign, which will see letters sent to those identified as illegal file-sharers. |
| The DEA is subject to a judicial review, which will look at whether the act is legal and justifiable. | The DEA is subject to a judicial review, which will look at whether the act is legal and justifiable. |
| The review, granted to ISPs BT and TalkTalk, will take place in March. | The review, granted to ISPs BT and TalkTalk, will take place in March. |
| Opponents claim that the legislation was rushed through parliament without proper debate and that the methods that would be used to identify net pirates are flawed and unfair. | Opponents claim that the legislation was rushed through parliament without proper debate and that the methods that would be used to identify net pirates are flawed and unfair. |
| In a recent court case brought against 27 alleged illegal file-sharers, it was argued that the IP address of a computer, the numerical code that identifies the connection, cannot be used as evidence because it fails to identify the individual responsible. | In a recent court case brought against 27 alleged illegal file-sharers, it was argued that the IP address of a computer, the numerical code that identifies the connection, cannot be used as evidence because it fails to identify the individual responsible. |
| The judge is due to rule on the case imminently. | The judge is due to rule on the case imminently. |
| The government needs secondary legislation before it can procced with any plans to block websites. Ofcom is due to report back in the spring. |