Another Possible Roadblock for Net Piracy Regulations
The net piracy regulations that are being outlined by the government may meet with protests from more than just service providers. A poll shows that the harsh guidelines may not go down well with a majority of the general public either.
YouGov’s first time poll of public opinion about the proposed governmental action against internet offenders has yielded some startling results. A staggering 70% of the voting population is unhappy with the harsh stance taken by the government.
The government’s proposal, revealed earlier by Lord Mandelson, mooted a plan to restrict or disconnect the broadband service of users suspected of illegal download. The plan was forwarded after fervent appeals, primarily from the music industry, were made to implement a system of checks to prevent and curb piracy over the internet.
The poll was conducted by YouGov to determine the reaction of people across the
Providers TalkTalk and T-Mobile have been voicing their concerns about government interference in this area for quite some time now. They claim that these rules will hamper the competitiveness and freedom for the broadband provider in the industry, thus leading to reduced interest by new investors. They also fear that the regulations may end up punishing innocent people who are victims of WiFi hijacking.
The poll found a mere 16% of the populace agreeing with the government’s stand. This shows very clearly that any political party that adopts this stern stance may fare badly in the elections, as a significant proportion of the voting bank comprises of customers who use the internet for a range of activities.