The digital economy bill spawned from the government’s Digital Britain report has passed the crucial third reading in the House of Commons, meaning it is now likely to be passed into law. Several last minutes changes have been made though, including a change to rules on tackling piracy.
The controversial digital economy bill was passed by 189 votes to 47 at the third reading late last night, but not without some changes. The key provision that ISPs would have to notify subscribers of alleged copyright infringements remains however: if alleged pirates continue, ISPs will then implement technical measures such as traffic shaping, slow speeds or account suspension, rather than total disconnection. ISPs that fail to do so can be fined up to £250,000.
But Labour has been forced to make compromises to pass the bill through the House before Parliament is dissolved in the run up to the election. Broad powers to block infringing sites through clause 18 have now been shifted to an amendment in clause 8, which allows for the secretary of state for business to order the blocking of a “location on the internet which the court is satisfied has been, is being or is likely to be used for or in connection with an activity that infringes copyright.”
Clauses giving greater power to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom have also been dropped, along with plans to enable a replacement of ITV regional news bulletins across the country. In a separate finance bill, the proposal for the 50p monthly landline tax to achieve a minimum 2Mbps broadband speed nationwide has also been dropped.
The digital economy bill will now go to the House of Lords, where peers will vote on the new amendments before it is passed into law.
Out TBC | £TBC | Parliament Publications (Via Paid Content)
