UK Says ISPs Must Block Access to The Pirate Bay

What’s the Latest Development?

Following a court order from the UK’s highest judiciary, the country’s Internet service providers are now legally required to prevent their customers from accessing the Swedish torrent-hosting website The Pirate Bay. “The UK is not the first country in Europe where the Pirate Bay is blocked by court order. Similar verdicts were already handed down in Italy, The Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium and Finland previously.” In response the court’s action, the UK Pirate Party is offering a reverse proxy which will allow the public to access the site. 

What’s the Big Idea?

While five of the UK’s six major ISPs have already signaled their intention to comply with the ruling, Virgin Media (one of the five) has said that the blockade will not ultimately succeed unless media companies are prepared to offer “compelling legal alternatives” to piracy. The British digital rights advocate The Open Rights group said: “Blocking the Pirate Bay is pointless and dangerous. It will fuel calls for further, wider and even more drastic calls for Internet censorship of many kinds, from pornography to extremism.” Despite a (short) history of legal blockades, use of The Pirate Bay continues to grow. 

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