BT, Virgin Media (no relation), Orange, Tiscali, BSkyB, and Carphone Warehouse, the top 6 UK ISPs have joined forces with the UK government to put an end to illegally downloaded music. Hundreds of thousands of letters will go out to suspected ‘criminals’ warning them of the crackdown. Hard-core file sharers could have their broadband speed greatly reduced to try and stop them.

Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the BPI, which represents the music industry, said: “All of the major ISPs in the UK now recognise they have a responsibility to deal with illegal file-sharers on their networks.”

Illegal music downloads are illegal, I have no arguement, someone has worked to produce it and should get paid. With legitimite MP3 download sites competing so heavily, it’s not expensive to purchase the music you listen to.

What of our privacy? Does this mean that our in and out web data is being monitored and analysed?

In everything we do, we have a thing called choice and freedom. I walk into my nearby shop and I can choose to steal a Mars bar or buy it. I can choose to browse for hours on end while snacking on their frosties cereal, or I could choose to buy some gum and get out. I don’t expect or want the shopkeeper to attach himself to me the second I hit the door, holding my hands by my sides and walking me around, it’s invasive. Though I choose not to steal Mars bars and open their cereal boxes, the freedom to choose makes me feel human. I for one don’t want my freedoms removed.