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Clegg says three-strikes should be repealed
By CMU Editorial | Published on Monday 19 April 2010
Given some newspapers seem to think Nick Clegg might take over from God come June, perhaps we should pay attention when he says the Digital Economy Act should be repealed. Because that’s what the Lib Dem boss man told The Student Room website last week.
Though his people later clarified that the Lib Demmers did support much of the controversial Act, which was rushed through parliament earlier this month ahead of the Election. However, they confirmed that they remain concerned about its copyright and three-strike provisions which, they reckon, were not debated enough in the House Of Commons.
Clegg told the student website: “We did our best to prevent the Digital Economy Bill being rushed through at the last moment. It badly needed more debate and amendment, and we are extremely worried that it will now lead to completely innocent people having their internet connections cut off. It was far too heavily weighted in favour of the big corporations and those who are worried about too much information becoming available. It badly needs to be repealed, and the issues revisited”.
Of course, those who campaigned against the DEB might point out that one of its most controversial provisions – Clause 18 – which in the end was cut, though essentially incorporated elsewhere, was criticised for being basically written by the “big corporations”. And it was introduced in the Lords by the Lib Dems. Though to be fair to the third party, they did call for more time to discuss the bill in both the Lords and the Commons and, when it became apparent that would not happen, proposed it be scrapped and revisited after the upcoming General Election.
Given much is still to be worked out about exactly how the DEA’s three-strikes provisions will work, and that at least one internet service provider plans to try and scupper all efforts to introduce the anti-piracy system, it would be interesting to see, if the Lib Dems did hold the balance of power after the election (because of a hung parliament), if they would use that influence on this issue.
