Government announces internet 'cut-off' date

Government announces internet 'cut-off' date

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Wednesday, 28, Oct 2009 01:12

By Lewis Bazley.

Regular filesharers could see their internet connections cut from July 2011 under planned government legislation, it has been announced.

Business secretary Lord Mandelson, speaking at the 'C&binet' digital creative industries conference, said that if filesharing levels had not dropped by April 2011 then internet connections could be cut three months from that date.

However, Lord Mandelson stressed cutting connections was a "last resort" and would come after a 'three-strikes' policy, with repeat offenders receiving warning letters of increasing severity and seeing internet speeds reduced.

"It must become clear that the days of consequence-free widespread online infringement are over," Lord Mandelson told the conference.

"Technical measures will be a last resort and I have no expectation of mass suspensions resulting."

Representative group the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) which includes members of Radiohead and Blur, endorse a 'three-strikes' policy, though the FAC's proposals conclude with a restriction on internet connection speeds, rather than the severing of a connection itself.