ffutures | More stupidity

Pointed out by

murphys_lawyer - the police want to be able to take down .UK web sites without a court order, Nominet UK seem to think it's a good idea.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/02/cops_to_get_dot_uk_takedown_powers/

I've sent an email expressing my reservations, text below the cut, I'd recommend others do the same since there are only a few days to do so.

policy@nominet.org.uk
subject Proposed policy changes

I'm writing to express my concern at the take-down policy you propose; are the police seriously expected to be able to judge the merits of e.g. a copyright infringement claim without any reference to the courts, if (for example) Sony tells them that a site has done something that they don't like? Or if an MP, Councillor or Chief Constable decides that a site is posting content he or she personally doesn't like?

This would be a bad precedent and likely to have serious repercussions for freedom of speech. PLEASE think again.