Net providers get Digital Economy Act judicial review
TalkTalk and BT have been granted judicial review of the Digital Economy Act by the High Court. A judge will now scrutinise whether the act is legal and justifiable, and could make wide-ranging recommendations. BT and TalkTalk argued that the legislation had been "rushed through parliament" before the election.
Internet service providers (ISPs) are unhappy with the part of the act that requires them to take action against suspected illegal file-sharers. Depending on the judge's ruling, the government may be forced to change or even scrap the legislation.
More debate
Andrew Heaney, director of strategy and regulation at TalkTalk said he was "very pleased" that the High Court had recognised the concerns of ISPs. "The act was rushed through parliament in the 'wash-up' with only 6% of MPs attending the brief debate and has very serious flaws," he said. During the parliamentary debate about the Digital Economy bill, held in the final days before the parliament was dissolved before May's general election, some MPs complained that it needed more debate because of its complex nature.
"The provisions to try and reduce illegal file-sharing are unfair, won't work and will potentially result in millions of innocent customers who have broken no law suffering and having their privacy invaded," said Mr Heaney.
Read the full story at BBC Technology