Protest over 'ludicrous' internet law at Parliament

KENT BLECHYNDEN/Dominion Post

BLACKOUT: Protestors rail against new 'guilt by accusation' internet copyright laws due to come into effect next week at Parliament.

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About 120 people gathered at Parliament today to protest against a contentious New Zealand internet law due to come into effect next week.

Many waved placards and several had their mouths taped.

The law at the centre of the furore is Section 92a, a proposed amendment to the country's copyright law, due to come into force on February 28.

British actor Stephen Fry has added celebrity heft to the campaign.

Protestors at Parliament included Internet Service Providers (ISPs), artists, musicians, writers, and bloggers - most of them holding up plain black placards, and some with taped mouths - protested and presented a petition at lunchtime.

The written version of the petition was signed by 148 but the on-line version garnered more than 10,000 signatures.

Protestor Peter Lanbrechtsn, a 33-year-old computer consultant, said he was appalled at both the former Labour-led and current National-led governments' approach to copyright in the digital domain.

"They aren't really listening to people. They don't understand the true implications of it.

"This is just a completely ludicrous law to try and enact.

"My concern is it is creating a situation where you are guilty until proven innocent," Mr Lanbrechtsn said.

This was contrary to the bill of rights and natural justice, he said.

The law instructs internet service providers that they "must adopt and reasonably implement a policy that provides for termination" of accounts used by anyone deemed a "repeat infringer" – regardless of whether the person has been convicted of a crime or not.

The new law would mean internet service providers would have to take on the role of "gatekeeper", blocking online access to anyone accused of flouting copyright laws and illegally downloading films and music.

The law says ISPs – such as Telecom and Vodafone - must disconnect internet service to anyone "repeatedly accused" of accessing copyrighted material online.

United Future leader Peter Dunne compared the law to the controversial and now repealed Electoral Finance Act.

"It represents the same threat to freedom of speech," he said.

Mr Dunne said he would table the petition today.

Richard Wood from Internet New Zealand said his organisation would like to see the controversial law canned or at least stalled until something better could be established.

"We need a thorough review of the copyright act so it works in the digital age," he said.

Mr Wood was hopeful the Government would act given the uproar and clear causes for concern.

"I would think it's essential that they take some action because there's clearly an issue here that affects basic human rights."

Labour MP Clare Curran is set to table a bill today which will attempt to address the concerns.

Meanwhile, a separate protest at Parliament over the war in Sri Lanka, featuring about 100 people, was happening simultaneously.

BLACKOUT

- The BlackOut protest is the brainchild of a Kiwi organisation called the Creative Freedom Foundation which is urging users to replace their avatars on all internet sites with a black box to illustrate what the internet could look like following the law change.

- Blacked out boxes have been appearing on social networking websites such as Twitter, Facebook, My Space and Bebo.