Future Forecast: What if the Digital Economy Bill Passes as is?
Determining which part of the bill will remain intact to be debated upon this coming April (when the Digital Economy Bill will be re-read on the 6th) is pretty much close to impossible, but we can paint a pretty good picture of how the UK would turn out if they pass the Bill the way it is now.
First off, Ofcom will have a lot on its hands. Establishing 2mbps connections is all a matter of time, as technology trends would eventually allow networks to reach that point. If the bill introduces a deadline however, expect to see plenty of petition and motions to push the date back to a more reasonable time.
Game distribution companies will have to contend with a new classification system (though players would simply raise a curious eyebrow since we already have Pegi). Game developers on the other hand, would enjoy a new tax break that would allow them to allocate more funds in game development –potentially opening up new job opportunities within the industry.
ISPs, businesses and establishments offering internet and WiFi services would have to restructure their operations. ISPs would have to spend millions in the monitoring of internet activity and for creating a system that would enable them to notify government officials, users in question and other related parties should a subscriber be suspected of engaging in illegal internet activities.
For businesses and other establishments, having internet connection accessible would leave them vulnerable to problems arising from activities of their users on the system. Expect to see free WiFi hotspots to start shutting down one after the other and internet cafes to close up shop.
The worst part of this all is that the internet will lose its charm. The UK would have sacrificed freedom and connectivity for a blind shot at curbing piracy –which, as no prediction is needed, would hardly even cease.
Get to know more about the effects of the Digital Economy Bill at V3 UK.
Tags: Piracy
