Minister confirms site blocking discussions

We have received a reply from Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, about new website blocking discussions.

He has confirmed that discussion are ongoing between rights-holders and Internet Service Providers about ‘self-regulatory’ site-blocking measures.

We believe website blocking is a bad idea, especially on a self-regulatory basis where vital judicial oversight is bypassed.

The good news is that he has promised to invite civil society groups to participate in future discussions on the matter. In our reply we suggested, alongside Open Rights Group, that he consider Global Partners, Liberty, Article 19, and Consumer Focus.

You can help by writing to your MP explaining why website blocking is a bad idea and why it’s important civil society groups are represented.

24 March 2011

Dear Jim Thank you for your letter of 28 February about our recent meeting with stakeholders to discuss alternative plans for site-blocking measures in the Digital Economy Act (DEA). Jeremy and I met with key players from the digital economy on 23 February to discuss developing new ways for people to access content online. Coming out of this meeting was a proposal for a Working Group to be formed to look at industry self-regulatory measures to tackle online copyright infringement through site-blocking. I recognise that it is very important that consumer interests are considered very carefully, and we will be inviting consumer representative groups to participate in future discussions on the issue. ED VAIZEY MP Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries

Please help by writing to your MP