New UK Internet Law - Be Afraid!

The UK is already known as the "CCTV State" and now it looks like things are only going to get worse. 

boingboing have just unveiled a leaked government copyright act proposal that could change the way we use Internet forever. The proposal aims to give the Secretary of State, currently Peter Mandelson, the power to do anything without Parliamentary oversight or debate, provided it is done in the name of protecting copyright.

Mandelson has elaborated on the new proposal, providing the following details:

• The Secretary of State would get the power to create new remedies for online infringements (for example, he could create jail terms for file-sharing, or create a "three-strikes" plan that costs entire families their internet access if any member stands accused of infringement).

• The Secretary of State would get the power to create procedures to "confer rights" for the purposes of protecting rights holders from online infringement (for example, record labels and movie studios can be given investigative and enforcement powers that allow them to compel ISPs, libraries, companies and schools to turn over personal information about Internet users, and to order those companies to disconnect users, remove web sites, block URLs, etc).

• The Secretary of State would get the power to "impose such duties, powers or functions on any person as may be specified in connection with facilitating online infringement" (for example, ISPs could be forced to spy on their users, or to have copyright lawyers examine every piece of user-generated content before it goes live, also, copyright "militias" can be formed with the power to police copyright on the web).

Be afraid, be very afraid! To checkout the full article and follow the updates head over to boingboing.