The explosive revelation over British ISPs being forced to become the copyright police have certainly caught many peoples attention. Now a new revelation that could send a chill down the backs of digital rights activists has surfaced recently.
A few days ago, we revealed that ISPs caved to pressure from the copyright industry to become copyright cops. The copyright industry, namely the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), was quick to praise the move.
Now, a leaked letter dated just two days before the major revelation has surfaced and shows that the British government is just as adamant over the idea of ISPs being copyright police as the major copyright industry – if not, more so. The Guardian is reporting that the British government has secretly set a goal of reducing file-sharing by 80% over the course of the next three years. The letter was signed by Baroness Vadera, the business minister.
From the report:
“Although this letter has no effect on the agreement, which stands in its own terms, this may help to ensure all signatories have the same expectations,” Vadera wrote.
“I would regard a reduction as ’significant’ if it had reduced the number of people filesharing unlawfully in the UK by well over 50%, and we hope in the region of 70%-80% from a baseline to be agreed, with work to start immediately, rather than waiting for legislation.”
Industry estimates put the number of illegal filesharers in the UK at between 6 and 7 million people.
“Success will significantly depend on the effectiveness of the letter writing, awareness raising and other measures,” Vadera adds.
It’s interesting to think that sending 8 million letters will get 6,400,000 filesharers off P2P – particularly when one factors in things like open WiFi and wardriving to name a few. Even still, is there really an action plan to separate those who downloads Britney Spears and the latest Jamendo release?
One also wonders if it’s really a good idea for the government to endorse a policy that would upset at least 13.3% of the population of Britain who would receive copyright threat letters – an amount that means more than the difference between the current governing party and the Liberal Democrats which is the third largest party in the government according to the British Council.
It’s never a good sign when the government sides with a particular interest group entirely – especially when they originate from outside of the country as clearly demonstrated here. The 800 threat letters sent by Virgin Media early this month wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms, so one can only imagine what would happen if the number of letters goes up by 1000%.
Currently, the Open Rights Group is open to feedback on the legislative approach in all of this so they can respond to the consultation about to be held on October 30th.
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OMFG!!!! Brown must die mother fuckers in the house is trying to cause as much damage to the UK as possible before they get booted out!
what the hell are we gonna do now… one letter hits my door mat and I’m moving provider! dose anyone know a good ISP thats not been hijacked by the MPAA?
Okay so now it’s time for people who use P2P to ORGANIZE and start getting political. Do you think that this situation will change on its own.
This is what I’m going to do if I get one of these letters. I am going to fire one off right back asking the following questions.
I have no idea what you are talking about so could you please furnish me with a full explanation of P2P?
Please explain to me in full how you became aware these files had been downloaded?
Are you 100% sure that these files were downloaded to this computer?
If you are 100% sure these files were downloaded to this computer please explain in full how you know this?
Are you spying on the activities taking place on all computers?
If so please explain in full under which law you are allowed to do this?
Please tell me exactly which files I am looking for on the shared computer?
Please name these files as if they have no name then I will have no idea what I am looking for as I am not an expert by any means on computers?
Please explain in full how I can prevent this occurring again without my knowledge?
Please explain this in simple terms as I am not exactly an expert on computers?
Please explain in full how I remove these files if I find them on computer?
Can someone from outside be gaining access to the computer?
If someone from outside can access my computer through a service you provide what are you going to do to prevent it?
Please explain why you are contacting me on behalf of someone else ie BPI MPAA?
I am paying you to provide me with a secure service are BPI MPAA paying you to spy on me?
You are the technological experts so why are you letting these files through to this computer?
What you are saying in your letter could possibly be seen as a form of blackmail are you sure it is legal?
If it is legal please furnish me with the relevant law under which this letter has been sent?
Please furnish me with a full transcript of any and all laws that may have been broken?
You have now placed me under considerable stress with your accusations so I expect a reply in full within 5 working days from the date at the top of this letter. This should not be a problem as I am sure you have all the relevant information to hand or you would not have sent out the letter I received.
I am sure others will be able to add their own questions into this letter and if ISP’s start getting letters like this in the thousands that they have to reply to then they may be forced to stop their campaign at least for a short time until they come up with another tactic.
Well that’s my plan any others?
does the law say they have to answer?
Sorry Shazmar but I don’t think they will give your note a second glance. Unless the letter you send mentions a lawsuit or lawyer they could care less they don’t have to give you any information unless they want to or feel the need to.
actually the people in law don’t give a toss about our rites… thats why they alway make laws they can’t ever enforce and our crime rate is so high and when it comes to stuff like this they just listen to what ever there told by the fat greedy capitalist bureaucratic swines…(the cigar chomping kind) how much file sharing damages the record companies blae bla bla even though what they are saying is completely unfounded… it’s because of these people that have way too much power they will abuse it in anyway they can! so i wouldn’t be at all surprised if it came to them just blocking off the protocol all together.
They want to reduce piracy by 80%? That’s laughable really!
The Pirate party UK maybe able to help you in your fight
http://pirateparty.org.uk
or if the site dosnt work you can find out more from
http://www.pp-international.net
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirate_party
and no I’m not part of it or affiliated just want to help and feel that governments really gotta stop listing 2 big businesses.
fuck p2p use bittorrent or is u all saying torrents r p2p too cuz las time i checked p2p was a p2p program like limwire and kaaza not torrents y dont ppl jus stop using p2p u get better stuff from torrents noiw days any way i hate limwire its gay