Internet body opposes policing role

INTERNET BODY OPPOSES POLICING ROLE
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Ben Fenton]
The body representing Internet service providers has cast doubt on the viability of government proposals to make them responsible for identifying and punishing illegal music and video downloaders. Taking a leaf from France’s legislative book, a green paper to be published next week will contain plans to waive privacy rights for Internet users transferring large amounts of data. It follows campaigns by the music and film industry to protect copyrights and clamp down on Internet piracy, blamed for the slump in CD and DVD sales. ISPs would be responsible for monitoring heavy users and identifying those involved in swapping large data files of music and video. But the Internet Service Providers’ Association opposes the idea that it should take responsibility. “ISPs are no more able to inspect and filter every single packet passing across their network than the Post Office is able to open every envelope,” it said.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/6d0480ae-d9c0-11dc-bd4d-0000779fd2ac.html
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