Moving Forward from Digital Economy Bill Passing Last Night
Many others have written and created more than I can right now so here’s a collection of the posts that say what I want to say but better:
- Skeptobot: The Digital Economy Bill passed: The internet watched live as a handful of MPs ignored democracy in their attempts to control that which they don’t understand.
- Adam Liversage, Head of the BPI caught bang to rights abusing copyright
- Steve Lawson: My letter to the Musicians Union About the Digital Economy Bill
- Fiona MacTaggart MP: a barnstorming speech
- They Work for the BPI
- A comic sharing my reaction on twitter
- Lets thank the 32 MPs who voted against the bill
- William Heath’s first thoughts on the passing of the bill
- Reading Type: Apathy and ignorance from dying UK Parliament
- BPI Boycott: List of Shame. They also have a list of record companies to boycott and those that are safe if you are that way inclined.
- panGloss: Last night: the DEB passes in the Commons
- The Telegraph / Emma Barnett: Digital Economy Bill: ‘a bad day for democracy’
- The Metro: Digital Economy Bill passes as critics warn of ‘catastrophic disaster’
- Left Foot Forward: Digital Economy Act puts UK on endangered list
- TechCrunch: Doublethink – The Digital Economy Bill against the digital economy
- The Next Web: UK’s Digital Economy Bill approved. Democracy fails, social media wins
- Future Identity: Putting DE Bill in Perspective
- out-law.com: Digital Economy Bill passed by House of Commons
- GeekLawyer: The Digital Enterprise Bill: the next Dangerous Dogs Act
- The Times / Struan Robertson: The legislative farce of the Digital Economy Act
- Comment Is Free / Felix Cohen: Copyright law must be simplified
- Guardian / John Naughton: Shame Peter Mandelson didn’t download some common sense
- Cameron Neylon: A letter to my MP
- Guardian / Dan Sabbagh: Digital Economy Act likely to increase households targeted for piracy
- ComputerworldUK / Glyn Moody: Digital Economy Act: Built on Sand
- Guardian / Cory Doctorow: Digital Economy Act: This means war
I’m sure there will be more as the day goes on.
Finally, comments from me: suffice to say, I am very disappointed with the result and disgusted with Parliament. In particular I’d like to single out Ed Vaisey and his colleague Adam Afriyie for using the debate to score political points and not actually debate the bill. It was an example of the ‘change’ and ‘hope’ the Conservative Party offers. It was repellent. The bill was opposed from all sides of the house and then forced through by a three line whip and a compliant front bench from both the major parties. The stench that has dogged this last parliament just got more foul and does not bode well for the next. We need to seriously examine how our parliament works and how we can improve it. Whipping should be one of the first things we look at.
Huge thanks to all those such as Tom Watson who risked their future by breaking the whip and voted against the bill and actually represented their constituents rather than the interests of large lobbying organisations. It’s hard for MPs to break a three line whip in particular so they should be praised through the roof. Thanks should also go to all of the Liberal Democrats who voted against for whatever reason. The way the ‘game’ is played meant that it looked like they wouldn’t at some points so it was a big relief to see it happen. They have all given us a base that means that…
…the fight continues.
Open rights for all
Today is Open Rights Group’s third birthday. Most of you who read this will know that I care greatly (often to the point of apoplexy) about digital rights and personal privacy. ORG can somehow take all my pent up rage and manages to channel it into civil discourse and lobbying. This is important, both for my stress levels and for the nation as a whole.
As part of the celebrations they have published their 2008 Annual Report and for a slightly more casual approach this blog entry. Please have a read and if you aren’t already a member and have even the vaguest unease at the way our government is encroaching into ownership (and ongoing losses) of our personal data and online lives then give them your support.
Happy Third Birthday ORG!
TCSOTD 2007-11-27
Petition to abandon plans to create the Information Sharing Index
Henry Porter: A mass movement is needed to tackle the state’s snoopers
… hint: Open Rights Group is a good place to start
‘Biometrics are not a panacea for data loss’:A letter to the Joint Committee on Human Rights
Innocents fear DNA database errors
… ‘In the past year, more than 100 possible inaccuracies in the documentation of DNA profiles have been discovered, and a further 1,500 administrative mistakes have been logged on the system.’
A Chinese man is suing for divorce after discovering that he is the father of only one of his twins.
Taxpayer may have to pay £170bn for PFI schemes, says Treasury
Miss Mind the Gap sacked
… oh dear, TfL seem to have lost their corporate sense of humour
TCSOTD 2007-11-21
TCSOTD 2007-06-26
Some in-depth background to that silly girl and her Silver Ring court case
… it’s sad but my first thought when I heard about this was “I wonder what link her family has to the Silver Ring Thing”
US Forth Amendment Rights have been extended to email
The ‘Law Abiding Majority’ doesn’t exist
… “More than six out of 10 people regularly commit crimes against the government, their employers or businesses, research suggests.”
… Ideal Government’s take on it
Department of Health caught editing history to agree with party line
… Dr Rant rants
First Vista only game cracked to work on XP
A worthwhile petition: bring back proper physics education
Some good comment on the ORG evoting report
Some lovely satire from Ken MacLeod: ‘Antichrist role ’could hinder’ Blair’s conversion’
Why is last.fm not joining the day of silence protest
… more info here
TCSOTD 2007-06-20
ORG’s damning report on Electronic Voting has been released
… [14:17] The Register comments on it here
Alan Johnston has been in captivity 100 days
RPCEmu / Arculator: free Risc PC and Archimedes emulation
‘Go to work on an egg’ ad banned
EMI has DRM free sales boom
… ‘Dump the protection increase the sales’ what a surprise
US crowd beats car passenger to death
Chris Ware designed Cover for Candide
TCSOTD 2007-05-23
Police Chief’s ‘Orwellian’ Fears
Over 100,000 innocent young people now on the National DNA Database
ORG is looking for new Board members
Staff asked to snoop for police
Anger at plans for NHS database of gay men
… [16:42] Tim Worstall nails it
Madeleine’s eye holds vital clue
Result of Daily Mail Hatchet Job on Owen Barder
Traffic Wardens to get video cameras
… Someone clearly has too much money to spend. How long until crimes against traffic wardens increase?
… “The technology will also help wardens in their new role of issuing fixed penalties for anti-social behaviour.” Oh dear me.
