The government has unveiled its Digital Economy Bill, which it says will make Britain’s digital economy ‘safer, fairer and more secure’.
The bill recommends that prison sentences for online piracy are toughened and brought into line with the current penalties available for physical infringement.
It also includes measures designed to strengthen protections for citizens.
Among others, it will ‘protect children from online pornography by requiring age verification for access to all pornographic sites and applications’.
Elsewhere, the bill will enable ‘the building of world-class digital infrastructure’, including fast broadband and mobile networks, plus reforms to public service data policies.
Digital economy minister Ed Vaizey said: ‘We want the UK to be a place where technology ceaselessly transforms the economy, society and government.
‘The UK has always been at the forefront of technological change, and the measures in the Digital Economy Bill provide the necessary framework to make sure we remain world leaders.’
The bill will have its first debate at the second reading stage, and it is expected to complete its passage through the Commons and move to the Lords in autumn 2016.
Royal Assent is expected in spring 2017.
For more info, see https://www.gov.uk/government/news/consumer-interests-at-heart-of-digital-economy-bill
The bill recommends that prison sentences for online piracy are toughened and brought into line with the current penalties available for physical infringement.
It also includes measures designed to strengthen protections for citizens.
Among others, it will ‘protect children from online pornography by requiring age verification for access to all pornographic sites and applications’.
Elsewhere, the bill will enable ‘the building of world-class digital infrastructure’, including fast broadband and mobile networks, plus reforms to public service data policies.
Digital economy minister Ed Vaizey said: ‘We want the UK to be a place where technology ceaselessly transforms the economy, society and government.
‘The UK has always been at the forefront of technological change, and the measures in the Digital Economy Bill provide the necessary framework to make sure we remain world leaders.’
The bill will have its first debate at the second reading stage, and it is expected to complete its passage through the Commons and move to the Lords in autumn 2016.
Royal Assent is expected in spring 2017.
For more info, see https://www.gov.uk/government/news/consumer-interests-at-heart-of-digital-economy-bill
