UK ISP refuses British government appeal to police the Internet

The British government, along with the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) is trying to win the fight against illegal file sharers on the Internet by forcing ISPs to become the Web police. Thankfully, at least one ISP isn’t having any of it, and TalkTalk have refused to play ball.

Last October, the British record industry, in the form of the Music Publishers Association, along with the BPI, started calls for ISPs to be responsible for what people do on their service. They called for a three strikes and you’re out policy, with users who continue to download pirated material from the Web after receiving a warning having their account suspended or banned.

Then earlier this year, the British government came on board, and proposed to make the policy law rather than voluntary.

Last week saw Virgin Media rumoured to be the first ISP in the country to agree to the new hard-line measures, although they have since denied this, and stated that they are merely in discussions over the move.

Now, TalkTalk, owned by the mobile phone company Carphone Warehouse have actively come out and rejected the idea, with Chief Executive Charles Dunstone saying that he would refuse to disconnect internet users caught illegally downloading copyrighted music, films or games.

According to The Guardian, he said:

“The music industry has consistently failed to adapt to changes in technology and now seeks to foist their problems on someone else,”

“Rather than threatening us, the BPI’s time would be better spent facing up to the reality of our times and adapting its business model accordingly.”

“I cannot foresee any circumstances in which we would voluntarily disconnect a customer’s account on the basis of a third party alleging a wrongdoing.”

Of course the BPI has responded, and claimed that rather than threatening TalkTalk and the other big ISPs in the UK, they are merely suggesting they better help their customers realise what is and isn’t legal.

Orange, another prominent British ISP has accepted the action of sending illegal file-sharers a warning letter but rather than threatening account suspension, propose warning that if the downloading continues, it could be forced by the courts to hand their details to bodies such as the BPI.

What is clear is that all of the ISPs differ in their views of the proposals, with most clearly unwilling to just comply straight away and without a fight. Which is as it should be as they are quite ludicrous.

To expect ISPs to monitor every piece of information which passes through their hands is surely unworkable, and also goes against privacy laws, which at least afford citizens the right not to be spied on at every single turn.

Again, the music industry is looking at short term solutions rather than addressing the bigger issues and trying to change their business model to try and work with new technology and the Internet. Charles Dunstone is completely right to rally against these proposals, and I for one hope he carries on fighting for his subscribers rights.

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• British Internet firms refuse to ban illegal filesharers
• British ISPs: Introduce ‘Three strikes & you’re out’ and we’ll walk away
• British government changes mind: illegal downloaders could still lose internet access
• British file-sharers beware – Virgin Media & BPI following RIAA blueprint
• Internet firms deny acting as copyright police