Press release archive for February 2013

The High Court has ordered the UK's largest ISPs to block yet more sites at the request of the music industry. Now Internet service providers must also prevent access to Kickass Torrents, H33T and Fenopy.

Pirate Party Leader Loz Kaye said:

"The British music industry has nothing positive to show from their site blocks and personal legal threats. Looking at sales figures from 2012, you can't draw the conclusion that stopping access to the Pirate Bay did anything to help artists."

The Defamation Bill passed its third and final reading in the Lords today. However amendments to bring in elements of Lord Justice Leveson's press recommendations have now put the bill in danger. The most controversial amendment for a statutory regulator was dropped, but the Government is reported to be considering dropping the bill entirely if agreement can not be reached.

Pirate Party Justice spokesperson Loz Kaye said:

"Libel reform is much needed in English law. The current situation is having a chilling effect on freedom of speech. It can not be right that writers like Simon Singh risk losing everything just for speaking out. The Pirate Party doesn't think the proposals are perfect, but in particular moves to level the playing field between citizens and large corporations are a step forward.

Former NHS service manager Gary Walker spoke out to the BBC claiming he was gagged by the NHS from raising concerns about patient safety. He explained that he felt pressured in to signing a "super gag" agreement because he was afraid of losing his house. It was revealed on the Today programme that this gagging order was also extended to his family. Loz Kaye commented on the situation:

"It is utterly unacceptable that Gary Walker felt forced in to signing away his right to speak up for patients. We should be encouraging people to speak their mind, not ignoring problems. There is no place for 'super-gags' in the NHS, or in any part of our public life."

"Removing the barriers and threats to free speech that have been put in place over the last decade is something that is long overdue and it is important that we take action. When a person can be jailed for light-hearted comments on social media it should be clear to that the law itself is broken . It seems that police and prosecutors have been unable or unwilling to use common sense to decide when to proceed with legal action and the scale of the problem is growing."