Britain is Off My List of Holiday Destinations - Internet Insanity!

I have relatives in Great Britain and I'd love to visit them - but after the recent complete insanity of their "Digital Economy Bill" there is no way I will ever again go there - at least until they repeal any such insane laws. It's bad enough them having so many closed circuit cameras all over the place - but this is too much!

And I vow never to purchase anything that is published by a british media publisher either (I'll purchase directly from an artist though). They've successfully lobbied the British Government to install what I can only call the worst law ever for British consumers. It subverts the courts and gives an appointed commissioner powers that some Kings and Queens have wished for. I wonder if Queen Elizabeth understands that she now has a rival?

The law, currently before parliament, would put in place a regime that completely ignores many of the precepts of a "free and democratic society," like that of being able to address your accuser and defend yourself against allegations before being punished. A whole internet connection, used by a family for example, might be cut off due to the actions of one individual - and that individual may not even be in the house if the typical unsecured wireless access point is available to someone parked out on the street. No warning and no recourse.

The presumption of guilt that this law portrays is meant to keep the buggy-whip manufacturers of the 21st century completely in control over their wares - even though their business model is so severely broken that even some of their artists who were their staunchest supporters early in the game are now leaving them as fast as they can.

I thought the US government was bad with their work to get their ACTA treaty passed - and maybe they are. At least the British are only going after their own people, not the rest of the world (yet).