STOP MEDDLING MANDY

Stephen Fry backs Digital Economy Bill protests

The petition, which was started by Talk Talk, the internet service provider, calls on the Government to reconsider its plans to disconnect persistent illegal file sharers from the internet. The proposals form part of the Digital Economy Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament.

The petition reads: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to abolish the proposed law that will see alleged illegal filesharers disconnected from their broadband connections, without a fair trial."

Charles Dunstone, chief executive of Talk Talk, has been a vocal critic of the Government's plans to cut off the internet connections of suspected illegal filesharers, claiming it could infringe human rights.

“We don't support copyright infringement in any way but we live in the real world and understand that no amount of policing and censorship will solve the problem,” he said. “It doesn't matter how many websites are blocked, how many services are shut down or how many individuals are pursued, people will always find ways to access copyrighted content for free.”

Talk Talk has told its customers that it will not surrender account details to rights holders who claim their copyright has been infringed, unless ordered to do so by a court. The internet service provider also pledged to fight the proposed legislation, and refused to disconnect those users accused of illegally sharing files over the web and infringing copyright unless legally compelled to do so.

Sign the petition at; http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/dontdisconnectus/