Britain to turn 7 million people into bona fide criminals

After a weekend get together with David Geffen, a billionaire producer, and members of the Rothschild banking dynasty at their family holiday villa on the Greek island of Corfu, Lord Mandelson the British business secretary ordered a toughening of regulations against illegal file-sharing. Interestingly enough prior to this weekend get-away paid for by the Rothschild’s Lord Mendelson apparently had little interest in the Digital Britain agenda, now however he wants increasing powers granted to Ofcom, Britain’s communications regulator, that would see seven million people labeled as criminals.

Not only would the possible seven million be turned into criminals they could also face fines up to £50,000 as well as having severe restrictions placed on their, and their family’s internet access.

Whitehall sources said that Lord Mandelson has been persuaded by the need to take action to prevent copyright being breached. But Mr Watson, writing below, says: “Not only do the sanctions ultimately risk criminalising a large proportion of UK citizens, but they also attach an unbearable regulatory burden on an emerging technology that has the power to transform society, with no guarantees at the end that our artists and our culture will get any richer.

“Working on the safe assumptions that (a) people like downloading music from the internet, and (b) most people would prefer not to break the law, we should aim to map a way forward for businesses to take financial advantage of the digital market.”

Source: Independent :: The Net closes in on internet piracy

Mr. Watson, the former minister for digital engagement also said in the same piece that rather than going after the downloaders it would make much more sense to go after those doing the uploading.