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Lord Erroll: Government can't cut off file-sharers

By Barry Collins

Posted on 14 Dec 2009 at 12:31

Lord Erroll has called for Government plans to cut-off file-sharers to be scrapped.

The proposal to potentially disconnect persistent file-sharers are part of the controversial Digital Economy Bill that's currently passing through Parliament.

Lord Erroll - a cross-bench peer who was a prominent figure in the Lords' inquiry into personal internet safety, which concluded the internet was becoming a "virtual Wild West" - claims the Government's plans are simply unworkable.

"The Government is saying we’re going to have to do something that sounds good," he told PC Pro. "It keeps introducing legislation for PR reasons.

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"We can’t be throttling back the speed of people's internet connections, let alone cutting them off. It completely destroys the Government’s objective to cut costs by delivering 100% of its services online in the very near future."

Lord Erroll claims that file-sharing is so widespread, the Government could end up cutting-off swathes of connections if the plans reached the statute book.

"There are 7.2 million people file-sharing, according to industry figures. If only one in ten have their broadband connection throttled back, that’s still an awful lot of people. I personally think that throttling connections and suspension should be removed from the bill."

The peer claims the current system of prosecutions is a sufficient deterrent. "You can disincentivise file-sharers by prosecuting a few. It’s like locking up burglars – it does frighten the majority."

Copyright calamity

Lord Erroll also has grave concerns over plans to give the Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, the power to change copyright law without consulting Parliament. The controversial Clause 17 would give Ministers the right to amend the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, potentially paving the way for measures such as greater surveillance of internet connections to tackle file-sharing.

The clause has already met with fierce opposition from internet firms including Google, eBay and Yahoo, who sent a joint open letter to Lord Mandelson, urging him to reconsider the clause.

"For a Minister to do anything [to copyright law], probably under pressure, is wrong in our democratic system," Erroll said. "It’s for Parliament to decide laws. You can’t give that kind of power to the Civil Service."

Erroll said the legislation needs to be given further consideration. "Thinking about it for another six months isn’t going to make a big difference, and we might get it right."

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User comments

It's no good

No matter what you say to Madelson it won't matter, he won't hear you.

He's too busy daydreaming about his dirty weekend in Corfu with David Geffen (record exec).

By cheysuli on 14 Dec 2009

about time someone spoke up

great that the Lords are getting IT because the majority of the commons certainly don't.
Mandy has a screw loose. He is an unelected upstart being manipulated by the media to protect an obsolete business model and stifle innovation. He is blaming it on the pirates to cover up the failure of the incumbent to provide a decent broadband service.

By cyberdoyle on 14 Dec 2009

Lords (some) appear to take some good independent advice at last

Where are the rest of their Lordships, So the industry plan appears to be "lets let the civil servants and Government Ministers provide the evidence, take the legal cases, collect the money. We the industry can just sit back take the income from the customer and some nice fat bonuses".

By Clare on 14 Dec 2009

One of the great things about the Lords, is that they are usually old enough and wise enough to not worry about what people think. So they speak their mind and aren't swayed by the party whips.

By Grunthos on 15 Dec 2009

The real question is what does Mandy get out of it??? He never does anything for nothing.

By France72 on 17 Dec 2009

Lord Mandelson

This guy is an idiot, he has not got a clue about business or technology and we are writing legislation to allow him to change copyright laws without consulting Parliament!!

Have we all forgotten what a corrupt idiot he is, he shouldn't even be in government let alone have the power to change laws, all this legislation is going to do is drive the file sharers deep underground, setting aside the fact there are still legal uses for file sharing, there is also the small point of, the music industry needs to get into the 21st century!!

By jcnewman83 on 17 Dec 2009