The digital economy bill is a highly controversial bill. Many of us believe that it threatens to severely infringe fundamental human rights, by allowing the disconnection of internet accounts for alleged copyright infringement, and also by new 'website blocking' laws that could result in new ways to suppress free speech and legitimate activity. There are also dangers to business, through restrictions on provision on open wifi networks, that could damage our economy.

But our worry today is that none of this will be properly debated by parliament. Last week, Harriet Harman MP failed to give the commons any reassurances that this important, complex and controversial Bill will be properly scrutinised by our elected MPs.

Democracy and accountability will be sidestepped if this bill is rushed through and amended without debate during the so-called 'wash-up' process. The thousands of people we know to be contacting their MPs with concerns will find their faith in politicians even further undermined.

For these reasons we are writing to ask that those most controversial parts of the bill – clauses 11-18, covering 'technical measures' and court orders for website blocking – either be properly debated, or be taken out of the Bill and subjected to genuine democratic scrutiny in a new parliament.

Signatories:

Anthony Barnett, openDemocracy

Billy Bragg

Lord Errol

Bridget Fox, Liberal Democrat PPC, Islington South & Finsbury

Jo Glanville, Editor, Index on Censorship

John Grogan MP

Andrew Heaney, Director of Regulation, TalkTalk

Julian Huppert, Liberal Democrat PPC, Cambridge

Julia and Simon Indelicate, The Indelicates

Jim Killock, Executive Director, Open Rights Group

Nicholas Lansman, Secretary General, ISPA

Graham Linehan, screenwriter

Caroline Lucas, Leader, Green Party

Baroness Miller

Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner

Tom Watson MP

Lord Whitty, Chair, Consumer Focus