Choice lashes piracy code decision claiming it will create an ‘internet filter’

Consumer group Choice has spoken out against the government’s decision to allow content creators and licensees to create a code to tackle piracy, saying it will increase costs to all internet users and see the creation of an internet filter.

Yesterday Attorney General George Brandis and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull handed responsibility of dealing with online content piracy back to the industry, giving them until the end of April to come to consensus and create a code on how to deal with copyright infringers.

This will mean internet service providers (ISPs) must agree to how much data on users they hand over to rights holders, as well as measures they would be prepared to take for repeat offenders.

Choice CEO Alan Kirkland said: “Outsourcing the piracy crackdown to industry is far from a soft option, because it carries the potential for serious sanctions against consumers including internet disconnection.