Illegal Downloading May Incur ISP Ban in the UK

I have just been informed that the UK government is planning to set in place a legislation that will see illegal downloading in the UK dramatically reduced.

The UK Government would like all ISPs to monitor client's internet traffic and determine if the client is found accessing pirated material. The ISPs are then encouraged to stop any form of illegal file sharing by banning their client; Thus reducing the millions and millions of pounds lost by the music and film industry.

If the ISPs fail to comply then the ISP will be prosecuted.

I'm not sure on all the details of this new legislation or when it will take effect. But what I'm sure on is that the UK ISPs will have a very hard time looking at all traffic going through their servers.

Not only do I see that the Data Protection Law, which protect users from their Internet providers viewing their internet usage, being a major problem but also a form of mistaken identity being a problem. I would hate to have a ban from my ISP due to the fact that a friend came over and used my internet to download an old Slim Dusty song or the latest Akon album. Or be banned due to a hacker using me as a proxy or the hacker wardriving and picking up my unsecured wireless network and using my internet to download his favorite Jet Li movie. I would also hate it if I was running an internet café or run the internet at an organization like a school and due to the users illegal usage sees a ban on my internet connection. I would also hate it if ISPs just run an automatic ban based on a script looking for any movie format with the title “Home Alone” and due to the script ban me sending my mum a movie of me being “Home Alone”.

The ban should really start on the servers hosting these files, which is quite difficult as these servers are all over the world. An ISP is really concerned if illegal material is stored on their servers.

To inflict this new law on ISPs is going to be very hard on the ISP without the government changing the current privacy laws in place protecting internet users. The law will need to take in account many possible reasons on why the illegal downloading went on and whether or not it is justifiable to be banned and the law will need to be clear on this.

I think it is a great idea to start to think of more ways to reduce illegal file-sharing on a government level. But I think as long as everyone has a will and the power to decide there will always be ways to illegally download material. To get to the root of it all and stop it is to change people's mindsets - Start at the education and family level. Make it so that people don't just see it as another window with a status bar going across and due to them paying their ISP money they should be entitled to this song or movie.

It's the whole culture that needs to be changed. I for one like the idea of iTunes and websites where you can download the song you want for a few bucks. This eliminates people excusing themselves downloading songs from illegal sites as they can no longer say “I don't want to pay $20 for an album where I only listen to one song.

All I know for sure is if this takes place in Australia; and there is no loop hole to get away with downloading then I can see many people running to their ISP and decreasing their internet plans to reflect lesser internet usage!