James Delahunty
30 Aug 2009 23:14
UK ISP TalkTalk has said that recommendations from the UK Government on ways to solve the Internet piracy problem - which include disconnecting customers who are deemed "repeat offenders" - likely breach fundamental rights. Additionally, provider Virgin Media commented that it is persuasion and not coercion that is the key to cracking down on the estimated 6 million file sharers in the UK.
"This is best done by making sure there are legal alternatives and educating people, writing letters to alleged file-sharers and, if necessary, taking them to court," TalkTalk's director of regulation Andrew Heaney told BBC News, adding that the company is determined as anyone to crack down on illegal activity on its network.
"Disconnecting alleged offenders will be futile given that it is relatively easy for determined file-sharers to mask their identity or their activity to avoid detection," he added. A Virgin Media spokeswoman said the company was concerned that a "heavy-handed, punitive regime will simply alienate consumers," and warnings were also raised about the possible methods of identifying a user by IP address, which might affect users who share an Internet connection.
Liberal Democrat's spokesman, Don Foster (MP), said the recommendation was reckless and dangerous. "There are many families whose children, unbeknown to them, might be illegally downloading but now their own access could be put in jeopardy by Lord Mandelson's proposals," he said.