Internet use, responsibility?

**george formby** · 5th May 2011, 14:48

After watching Fair Go I got to thinking about my legal standing as an internet provider ( I own an interweb cafe ) re the recent law changes.

The upshot was that the person who has the connection / pays the bills is responsible for what that connection is used for.
I cannot monitor how my computers are used & cannot stand as judge & jury over my customers.

IMHO the law is unworkable, what are KBers thoughts on this & is their really a risk of prosecution?

**wysper** · 5th May 2011, 14:51

The public libraries have battled with this dilemma for a while too.
Not sure what the resolution will be, but in this case the law does look to be unworkable in the real world.

I guess places providing wifi hotspots will be similarly worried.

**oneofsix** · 5th May 2011, 14:54

Originally Posted by george formby

After watching Fair Go I got to thinking about my legal standing as an internet provider ( I own an interweb cafe ) re the recent law changes.

The upshot was that the person who has the connection / pays the bills is responsible for what that connection is used for.
I cannot monitor how my computers are used & cannot stand as judge & jury over my customers.

IMHO the law is unworkable, what are KBers thoughts on this & is their really a risk of prosecution?

If you are a registered ISP don't you just have to send the notice to whoever is on the IP address using he contact details they have provided? Does seem like a bit of a black hole

**george formby** · 5th May 2011, 14:59

Potentially I could get my 3 strikes in an afternoon depending on whether I have to wait for the postman or get online notification that I'm being naughty.

I will keep my fingers crossed that the first case comes from a police computer, hospital, school, council wifi spot etc.

It's bizarre but I have to take it seriously, tis my livelihood after all.

**MSTRS:Me** · 5th May 2011, 15:00

It's kinda similar to the one where if your car is snapped speeding (say) you get the ticket, and are stuck with it if you can't prove who was driving at the time.
Except in this instance, your car keys are left in the ignition so you really have no control.

**george formby** · 5th May 2011, 15:06

Originally Posted by MSTRS

It's kinda similar to the one where if your car is snapped speeding (say) you get the ticket, and are stuck with it if you can't prove who was driving at the time.
Except in this instance, your car keys are left in the ignition so you really have no control.

My sediment exactly. No doubt it's a case of guilty until proven innocent too & how can you do that?

**Scuba_Steve** · 5th May 2011, 15:10

If our legal system was as it should be then you are innocent until proven guilty & guilt must be proven beyond reasonable doubt, unfortunately our legal system is corrupt so cross your fingers & hope for the best

**george formby** · 5th May 2011, 15:17

Anecdotal info claims that the big corporation's are behind this (warner, sony,etc) to protect their interests, fair enough, but I shudder to think that gummints are passing this kind of legislation due to pressure from business & are prepared to put innocent or ignorant users in the firing line to appease the media & entertainment industry.

I wonder if somebody turned around & said you will have to run your campaign ads on the Maori channel if you don't play ball?

**oneofsix** · 5th May 2011, 15:22

Originally Posted by george formby

Anecdotal info claims that the big corporation's are behind this (warner, sony,etc) to protect their interests, fair enough, but I shudder to think that gummints are passing this kind of legislation due to pressure from business & are prepared to put innocent or ignorant users in the firing line to appease the media & entertainment industry.

I wonder if somebody turned around & said you will have to run your campaign ads on the Maori channel if you don't play ball?

more like someone said the Hobit was scouting non-NZ locations

**Oblivion** · 5th May 2011, 19:48

This law is so full of holes

Why did they let the US pressure us into this

**SMOKEU** · 5th May 2011, 21:24

That law is going to be very hard to enforce. I'm going to keep on downloading 30GB+ of torrents every month. Phuck the government and their corrupt propaganda.

**Berries** · 5th May 2011, 23:55

Originally Posted by george formby

I wonder if somebody turned around & said you will have to run your campaign ads on the Maori channel if you don't play ball?

I wouldn't complain. The Maori channel has gone international now Hone has gone off on another one.

**\m/** · 5th May 2011, 23:56

I listen to a lot of death and black metal which is extremely hard to find in stores and on tardme/ebay, so illegal downloading is often the only way to get a copy, I am more than willing to pay for it but that often isn't an option. I will continue to download regardless of this bullshit law, the big mainstream record companies and their government puppets can get fucked.