And in June the Digital Economy Act comes into being. This new legislation will see a major shift in UK digital policy that mainly attacks online piracy. And the key element of the act is   likely to have repercussions generally in the Western world. The bill basically allows for the suspension of Internet connections for those who repeatedly infringe copyright (following warnings from their ISP). The entertainment industry has been pushing for this kind of move, and many major studios and record labels will be very happy if it succeeds in reducing piracy.

But how is this going to work? Well if file-sharing is identified and warnings made then the piracy need to drop by 70%. If it doesn’t then technical measures like internet disconnection for individuals and families can be used. Websites deemed as offenders can also be blocked. Indeed, if piracy is related to a business then there is a possible fine of up to £50,000. This is pretty heavy stuff, and it will be interesting to see how strictly – and broadly – these methods will be enforced.

With a new UK government potentially looming and some controversy at the speed that bill was passed – it is possible that some of these elements will be tempered. But either way it is quite possible that this bill will set a precedent for other countries to follow. And one thing is for sure, the entertainment industry will be very happy that some action is being taken. Thousands of film and music makers will also be watching this development with great interest.

On Monday, the UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown appeared to be making the universal availability of superfast broadband a big election issue. His idea is to use a small landline tax and some BBC license fee to provide 100 megabit coverage for the whole country (the current average is 4Mbps). The Conservatives plan is for this system to be built through commercial competition.

The Prime Minister said, “We say that Britain’s digital future must be a future for all, not just for some. But if every household is to benefit, then it is fair that every household contributes to meeting this goal.” It’s true that some rural communities already lack even basic broadband access, and they may also miss out on this super fast internet for commercial reasons under the Tory plan.

However it’s created, the UK government thinks this new fibre-optic network will have a big impact on public services and jobs. “Superfast broadband is the electricity of the digital age. And I believe it must be for all – not just for some,” Brown said, arguing that it goes beyond the convenience of online shopping. Although there is no argument that there would be a lot of shopping! Not to mention changes in games and entertainment.

A speedy internet is useful for many things (sadly this definitely includes illegal file-sharing) but how much use is it really to governmental sites and processes? It could well save the government a lot of money in paperwork and man-hours. But the average local council website is fairly basic so it’s hard to see how huge internet speeds are necessary. One thing we can assume is that some jobs will be lost as more services go online, but with luck, many more could be created and Gordon’s dream can be realised.

Things are set to change that’s for sure. And, we should find out what happens very quickly online!