As the Digital Economy Bill nears passage in the UK, a growing number of opponents are urging a slowdown in process. Instead of an accelerated ‘wash-up’ path, concerned citizens are advocating a more traditional legislative debate and review. “Democracy and accountability will be sidestepped if this bill is rushed through and amended without debate during the so-called ‘wash-up’ process,” an open letter recently declared.

Signatories on the letter included Billy Bragg and Andrew Heaney, director of Regulation at TalkTalk. “The thousands of people we know to be contacting their MPs with concerns will find their faith in politicians even further undermined,” the letter continued.

Those ‘thousands’ are already estimated to be past 10,000, and the protest wave is just beginning. That could sidetrack the fast-track, and force closer scrutiny.

The bill includes measures for disconnecting infringing accounts, albeit for fixed periods of time and for the most egregious offenders. Also of concern is the effect the bill will have on wifi networks, especially in businesses. “There are also dangers to business, through restrictions on open wifi networks, that could damage our economy,” the letter noted.