Britain’s Digital Economy Bill: Bought and Paid For?

The shit is really hitting the fan in Britain with the introduction of the government’s new Digital Economy Bill. Just about everyone, except the people running the entertainment industry, is up in arms about the draconian restrictions and penalties that can be leveled against Internet users considered to be doing stuff that will now put you in the same category as serial killers.

All it requires for you and your entire family to be cut off from Internet access… For fucking ever! Is to be accused of copyright infringement. Note: I said accused. The accuser i.e. music or film company, can make your life hell without evidence, or taking you to trial. You can also be fined $75,000 if you are accused of file sharing. ISP’s are required to spy on their customers in an effort to root out these “criminals.” Failure to do so can result in fines for the ISP of up $400,000.

There’s also going to be a stringent new rating system for video games that could prohibit both advertising and sales of “gnarly shit” and excessive tits & arse to young wankers. But you know the little tossers will find a way around that.

Lord, Peter Mandelson, the Business Secretary, who has had to resign from office twice in the past few years for highly dubious activities, but always comes back… Just like herpes, will now be able to ask for any penalties (even jail) and enforcement mechanisms he sees fit. He has also said he will appoint private militias financed by the music and film industries to enforce these measures. Fuck me, sounds like Blackwater in Iraq!

The really juicy bit is that Mandelson only got gung ho about all this Internet shit after spending time with zillionaire, David Geffen. It seems that they had a long chat over dinner with members of the Rothschild banking dynasty at the family’s holiday villa on the Greek island of Corfu.

British newspapers reported in August that: “Until the past week Mandelson had shown little personal interest in the Digital Britain agenda. Then suddenly Lord Mandelson returned from holiday and effectively issued this edict that the regulation needs to be tougher.” As usual, the mealy-mouthed politico (who has never actually been elected to office, usually being appointed by uber mealy-mouthed Tony Blair) denied that the Champaign and caviar, along with the TBE (Thick Brown Envelope) passed under the table had any influence on his sudden interest in the Internet.

Still, all in all, it’s just further proof of the death rattle of two severely fucked up industries. Film and music. As PSFK readers are more than well aware, the knuckle draggers who run them still don’t get it. Take a look at the “thinkindie” organization as an example of how smart people will survive, while the Towers and Virgins go the way of the dinosaurs… Along with douchenozzle BDA’s.

George Parker is the perpetrator of adscam.typepad.com, which is without doubt, one of the most foul and annoying, piss & vinegar ad blogs on the planet. He is the author of MadScam and his new book, The Ubiquitous Persuaders, which is currently setting the ether ablaze (and which you can order now on Amazon). He will continue to relentlessly promote the crap out of it until you are forced to stab yourself in the eyes with knitting needles.