The Digital Economy Bill has created quite a stir in the UK following the passage of the controversial bill through the house of lords. The 97 page bill is now scheduled to be discussed in full on Tuesday 6 April in a session scheduled to last just 2 hours. Outstanding items will be reviewed behind closed doors, prior to the general election in what is referred to as the “wash up”
I believe that to give such a complex and wide reaching set of legislation thorough scrutiny, engaging in proper debate is the only route to achieving a formula that will allow the digital economy in the UK to flourish and at the same time provide sufficient legislation for protection of creative works.
Democracy is about debate, and the Digital Economy Bill is too important to not be subject to the full democratic process.
The bill, critical parts of which are now amendments written by protectionist lobbyists, has generated a lot of posts on twitter via the hashtag #debill, flashmob protests, fundraising to pay for advertising against the bill being passed, and mobilised many to write to their local MP.
I wrote to my MP, Glenda Jackson, stating my position quite clearly as being pro-digital, pro-creative-commons and anti-piracy. I was specifically asking for the bill to simply receive proper scrutiny, rather than to be passed behind closed doors or simply thrown out. The reply from Glenda Jackson, received the very next day, is clearly not a response to my specific questions or appeal and talks only about filesharing.
Have you written to your MP? Did you get a response to your letter, or a generic response to the bill?
