How Can We Oppose the Digital Economy Bill?
In all seriousness; how can we? It has to be stopped. I am interested in practical advice that will make an actual difference, not just an egoistic debate. I have written to my MP about it, but that’s a technique to make pissing into the wind look efficacious; nothing has ever come of any letter I have written to any MP.
David Mitchell pointed out that the only successful political protest of the present Labour administration was the Fuel Protest, which was successful because it physically denied the whole country access to petrol. One million people marching prior to the invasion of Iraq - the largest march in the UK ever - had no influence at all on Tony Blair’s decision to go to war. Only when put under the kind of pressure that the Fuel Protesters created, will the government acquiesce.
Do we have to adopt their tactics? If so, how? And if not, what do we do?
We have about a month to act. Let’s hear some ideas.
March 4th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
I’d argue that the fuel protests were basically gangsterism rather than a successful protest - a small selfish minority denying others access to a necessary resource UNLESS they do what they’re told.
Anything supported by the Daily fucking Mail has got to be a bad thing…
March 4th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
I don’t disagree Stu, but regardless of their interest or intent, their tactics were the only ones to affect government policy, and that’s definitely worth taking note of.
March 7th, 2010 at 10:35 am
I’ve been thinking a bit about all this.
As Doctorow points out[1] this law affects EVERYONE on a connection. If the law goes through we’d need to get a patsy inside EMI who can download illegally and get the entire company connection shut down.
I’m sure Mark Thomas would have a few related ideas, something along the lines of mass contravention of the law perhaps?
The good news is that the Lords are giving the Bill a tough time.[2]
[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4S4siQAfY4
[2] http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/mar/02/digital-economy-puttnam
March 7th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Yes, on the first point it’s such a badly written piece of legislation that there are countless loopholes like that to be exploited. On day one of the bill I’d like to get a £1 laptop, find some unsecured WiFi network somewhere, and leave it permanently downloading everything Fergal Sharkey has ever recorded.
On the second point, I would love to see a million machines all lined up waiting for the very second the bill comes into effect all simultaneously ripping the Pirate Bay for almost anything, for days and days and days.