The Open Rights Group Advises For Transparency

Trying to avoid certain complications that come with website blocking, while also having in mind transparency and accountability, the Open Rights Group asked internet providers to make the lists of blocked websites (provided by the music industry) public.
This year, the British Phonographic Industry managed to block, with the help of internet providers, The Pirate Bay and Newzbin2 throughout UK’s territory. However, these two were just the primary targets; the obtained injunctions enable the BPI to block other websites that allow access to “rogue sites” through alternative addresses. These lists are sent to internet providers, which ultimately apply the blockage.
But the Open Rights Group raises an alarm, asking for transparency and accountability, since this method can easily lead to mistakes.
For example, The Pirate Bay injunction allows the music industry lobby group to ask ISPs to block “Download music, movies, games, software! The Pirate Bay - The galaxy's most resilient BitTorrent site, sub-domains and any other IP address or url whose sole or predominant purpose is to enable or facilitate access to The Pirate Bay website”.
The latest collateral damage was The Promo Bay, a completely legitimate website launched by The Pirate Bay.
The ORG is confident that other websites could share the same unfortunate path.
“The BPI intends to obtain blocking orders for some 50-100 websites. Each order allows the BPI to create a ban list of clone sites or IP addresses,” Jim Killock, ORG’s executive director, said.
“These ban lists could end up blocking perhaps 500 or more domains and IP addresses, all at the behest of the BPI.
There is a clear need for transparency, as mistakes are already being made, and are only being corrected because of public pressure. We call on ISPs and the BPI to publish the blocking lists in the name of legal transparency and public accountability,” he concluded.
What will be the answer of the BPI is to be seen. Stay tuned!

News Picked - Untouched