Government Decision: No Internet Disconnection For Illegal Downloaders

The government has revealed it will not terminate the internet connection of web users accused of illegal file-sharing. Under measures to tackle internet piracy set out in the Digital Economy Bill, and heavily backed by Lord Mandelson, a three-strikes rule would see those accused of illegal downloading issued with warning letters and emails. Repeat offenders faced disconnection the web.

In a response to a petition on the Number 10 website that called for the abandonment of "Lord Mandelson's plans to ban individuals from the internet based on their use of 'peer to peer' file sharing", the government said it "will not terminate the accounts of infringers".

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