Yes, absolutely. The suspension to which you refer – which would be as a very last resort for serial and serious infringement – would be subject to a strict two-stage process. It would not just happen on the basis of an accusation as you seem to suggest in your question. Firstly there would need to be court order for any of the technical measures that we are discussing in the consultation document to be implemented. Secondly, there would be a right of appeal to a tier one tribunal. I hope that you would not go away with the impression that innocent teenagers are going to be cut off willy-nilly on the basis of an accusation; that is not our intention or is not the effect of what we will propose when we come to publish the bill.

It’s the exact same rhetoric used in the US at the beginning of the ‘Sue ‘em All’ campaign. The RIAA claimed they were only going to go after ‘egregious offenders’. This got them what they wanted. Once they had it, they went after ANYONE. 5 songs, 10 songs .. it didn’t matter, since everyone who shares at all to them is an ‘egregious offender’. The lie allowed them to get what they wanted and they abused it, as anyone with a brain knew they would. This is no different. It not be a ‘last resort’ and WILL be on the basis of accusation, just like like it is here in the US. A court process is worthless when the accused can’t afford to fight. This man is a liar, he knows that this is precisely the effect that will happen, and will say whatever he needs to to get what the lawyers and labels want.