Blackout

Yes, I know, I know - way too long without posting. I've been so busy that I've hardly sat down in months. However, a ghastly imminent law change here in NZ cannot go uncommented upon.

Amendments to the Copyright Act, allegedly to combat piracy, are due to come into force at the end of this week. These changes going to result in situations where people will be considered guilty of piracy until proven innocent; not the way the law is supposed to work, but hey, a large number of New Zealanders wanted a National/Act government, so these types of law changes shouldn't be unexpected. (Would be nice if politicians would stop rushing through these 'amendments' without notice, in midnight parliament sittings.) This is merely reaping the reward for this massive mistake — another step along the road to an oppressive, free-marketeer's-wet-dream-police-state where we are all the slaves to corporations, living in perpetual fear.

There's not even a requirement to provide evidence of piracy, as this is deemed 'impractical' by politicians, with the result that anyone suspected of piracy will have their internet connection suspended by their ISP. And the definition of what constitutes an ISP is extremely vague, amounting to ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION providing any sort of access at all to the internet - this includes schools, libraries, hostels, universities, hospitals... These are all apparently ISPs now.

The Creative Freedom website explains the situation in much more detail, but suffice to say these changes are opposed on every front, even by groups at polar opposite ends of the political and economic spectrum. No-one wants these laws; politicians are showing how out of touch they are with everyone by going ahead.

To show solidarity with others opposing this law change, my profile has been edited. I strongly encourage you — wherever you may be — to do the same and voice your displeasure.