ISPs slam Digital Economy Act site blocking

 

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By Stewart Mitchell

Posted on 1 Apr 2011 at 10:21

ISPs have slated the idea of blocking websites to prevent internet piracy ahead of further meetings to discuss the issue with Government officials next week.

The concept of blocking sites that offer access to copyright materials is included in the Digital Economy Act, but ISPs have said it would be expensive, ineffective and would place too much policing responsibility on providers.

The DEA went to judicial review last week over a mass notification system, which would see ISPs sending letters to accused file-sharers. A ruling is not expected for several weeks, but according to Trefor Davies, CTO of business ISP Timico, rights holders have been busy working behind the scenes to prioritise the issue of blocking sites.

“What has been going on in the meantime is further lobbying by rights holders to try and get ISPs to block access to websites that promote or support copyright infringement,” he said in a blog post. “With hindsight it looks as if this was an insurance policy on the part of the rights holders in case the DEA was thrown out in court or subject to delays.”

Both Timico and BT believe plans to make ISPs block copyright content would prove overbearing.

“Blocking is likely to be expensive, ineffective, have unintended consequences such as innocent websites being blocked, seen as censorship and require huge involvement of the judiciary,” said Davies. “I certainly would not be happy with ISPs or rights holders taking ownership of choosing which sites to block.”

The problem of who would decide what to block has also raised the hackles of BT. Although it is happy to block the content recommended by a third-party regulator, the ISP would not want to make such decisions itself.

“We are not in favour of ISPs voluntarily blocking internet access to any website, except in respect of the work we and other ISPs do in support of the Internet Watch Foundation,” BT said in a statement. “This relates to the most illegal and harmful material on the web - images of child sexual abuse. The IWF's role ensures that no ISP makes its own judgement on what to block."

“Our position is shared by many consumer voices and others in our industry and BT shall make that position clear at talks with the minister,” it added.

ISPs are expected to meet with Culture Minister Ed Vaizey next week to discuss the issue further.