MPs ready to fight Digital Economy Act in Parliament, says Huppert

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In an exclusive interview with Broadbandgenie.co.uk, Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert has revealed a group of MPs are organising support to make key amendments to the Digital Economy Act, which was rushed through 'the wash' at the end of Labour's last term in government.

The Act contains several controversial sections, particularly around broadband blocking and disconnections, that Huppert described as “deeply worrying”. There are also serious implications for public Wi-Fi use. He said: “There's this assumption that if you have someone's IP address, you know who it is that's responsible, which is simply wrong; it falls apart in so many ways.”

Huppert tabled an early day motion, 'Effects of Digital Economy Act 2010 on Use of the Internet', on his first day in Parliament which, while receiving limited support so far, has helped those opposed to sections of the Act find other MPs with similar concerns.

According to new MP Huppert, the vote on the Act was taken in “very odd” circumstances: it was the dying days of Parliament and many MPs were not about to stay in London in the middle of an election to vote on something they didn't really know anything about.

He continued: “I would've been there, because I care about it, but there simply wasn't time to educate all of them.

“But we're better organised now. A number of us are working on things we can do with the Digital Economy Act. It has to go back to Parliament for approval, and in this case there has to be a vote, which is quite rare. It hasn't been scheduled yet, but there will be an opportunity for those of us who have a case to make a case against sections of the Act to do so.”

Broadband Genie editor Chris Marling added: “It is heartening to hear important sections of this act, clearly rushed through without any time being paid to them, will not be let through so easily this time. While putting a stop to illegal file sharing is of great importance, is vitally important consumer rights are protected in the process.”

Read part one of the Julian Huppert interview here.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Broadband Genie is the UK's leading independent broadband, mobile broadband and smartphone comparison website, providing consumers with an unbiased source of information on prices and contracts and allowing them to compare providers in an independent environment. Broadband Genie was launched in March 2004 as the first dedicated consumer comparison site for broadband, while Mobile Broadband Genie was the first independent mobile broadband comparison site, launched in October 2007. The sites were combined in 2010, with the addition of smartphone comparison. The site is one of the most popular in its field, regularly featuring in the national press. http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk

2. All queries and interview requests should be directed to Chris Marling at Broadband Genie:t 0844 415 5531 / f 0871 6618553 / m 07908 327303 / chris.marling@genieventures.co.uk