Press & PR

A number of UK broadband customers have defended their internet service providers (ISPs) against proposals that they should monitor illegal downloading on their networks.

Recent government recommendations have placed a responsibility for curbing the recent rise in unauthorised filesharing with the ISPs, with enforcement to be carried out in conjunction with the record industry.

The Register explains that the system would work by setting up an agreement in which record industry bodies pass on evidence of illegal filesharing to ISPs, which they would then examine and reprimand the offending user accordingly, usually with a probationary three-strike rule.

If the user continues such activity, they could then be banned from the service.

The petition asserts that it is unfair to laden ISPs with this responsibility, as they cannot be expected to monitor net usage.

Filesharing has become a prominent issue in recent weeks following a sharp rise in the number in the amount of data being shared without permission.

A recent study by moneysupermarket.com has found that around 20 per cent of UK broadband customers have downloaded data illegally.

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