A report from a Joint Select Committee has slated the Digital Economy Bill, claiming it could be a risk to human rights.

The Human Rights Joint Select Committee has come out against the Digital Economy Bill, claiming it could breach the rights of internet users.

Focusing on the proposals that deal with illegal filesharing, the committee has released a report detailing where its concerns lie.

The technical measures that could be taken by the Government and ISPs seemed to be the committee’s biggest bug to bear, due to a lack of definition.

“The scope of the measures will be defined in secondary legislation and could be wide-ranging,” the report said.
“We do not believe that such a skeletal approach to powers which engage human rights is appropriate. There is potential for these powers to be applied in a disproportionate manner which could lead to a breach of internet users' rights to respect for correspondence and freedom of expression.”

The report also raised concerns about clause 17 of the bill, which would allow the Government to change copyright law without going through the full legislative process...

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