UK joins France in disconnecting Internet users for illegal downloading

Britain will likely join France in pulling plug on Internet connection for illegal downloading. Under proposed legislation people who repeatedly download copyright-protected films and music could have their Internet connection cut off. While previous bill versions included only broadband speed restriction under new plans users may face full disconnection.

As the proposal earlier pushed firth by France came into divergence with the regulation of EU the same bill in UK version could face a conflict with a European Parliament ruling that bans European Union governments from cutting off a user's Internet connection without a court order. A final version of that measure must still be negotiated with the European Council.

In the legislation proposal the responsibility to catch users was laid on the Internet service providers. They will have to issue written warnings to subscribers whose IP addresses have been spotted accessing a download site. After this copyright owners will be able to obtain details of such orders through court orders and file their lawsuits against suspected offenders.

But how ISPs will be able to trace whether a user downloaded a file illegally remains uncertain. Among those files that are shared illegally on the corresponding sites these same sites are used by a number of artists whose compositions are downloaded for free at their consent. For this the bill advocates said that ISPs will know which sites are legal and which are not.

Meantime, Internet provider TalkTalk said it would "strongly resist" government attempts to oblige Internet service providers to act as Internet police. TalkTalk said disconnecting alleged offenders "will be futile given that it is relatively easy for determined filesharers to mask their identity or their activity to avoid detection."