Axe the Act

2011 June 16

The Pirate Party is constantly working hard to protect the rights of citizens across the country. From the outset we have been vocal critics of the Digital Economy Act. The Act was forced through in the dying days of a discredited parliament and survived a judicial review. It has seen popular opposition and objection from business, it has been rejected by those who it will have an impact on as well as those who must enforce it.

The Law now is still as bad as now as when it was first proposed.

There is still hope though. This law is being challenged again, on the 14th of June a group of brave MPs, Julian Huppert, MarkDurkan, Andrew George, Robert Halfon, Eric Joyce and Tom Watson brought an Early Day Motion to the House. The Motion criticises some of the worst aspects of the bill, and presses for a much needed re-examination. We would urge anyone who opposes this legislation, anyone who values freedom of expression and open access to the Internet to offer their support to these MPs.

The threat of Internet Filtering - "To belong here is to believe in these things"

2011 June 10

This week the Home Secretary Theresa May unveiled the Coalition Government's optimistically titled new counter terrorism strategy 'prevent'¹.  'Prevent' is being billed by the Government as a way to deal with all forms of terrorism and extremism that the country is supposedly overrun by, as well as things like non-violent extremism and harmful ideas being disseminated by groups hell bent on... well, something.  

The problem with this approach, as with any that intends to change how people think and what ideas are attractive, is how we define the threat.  When we look not at terrorism, but at extremism, extremist views or radicalisation we leave ourselves open to making some fundamental mistakes, to trading fundamental freedoms and rights for protection against an  ill defined enemy.  

A Message from the PPUK Leader

2011 June 05