Digital rights: an election issue

Was the Digital Economy Act an election issue for you? Did it change how you voted, or even what you did in the election?

It seems really clear to us that it has been. From Facebook and Youtube’s online questions, where a Digital Economy Act question topped the poll; to hustings events, where individuals have asked awkward questions, this issue of website blocking and disconnections of families has been an issue. Some of us have made it a doorstep question too.

People do not generally vote on ‘single issues’ and ORG would not be advocating that these potential violations of human rights form the only criteria for your vote.

But what the Digital Economy Act did was signal something very profound about politician’s values.

Did politicians respect democratic process, or support the Act being rammed through without scrutiny; did they understand the values of the younger generation of voters, dependent on the Internet, and placing high value on its profound and positive impact; did they understand that laws have to respect human rights, or were they yet again prepared to compromise them in favour of corporate interests?

The politicians that have understood these questions have not been exclusively from one side of the debate. Bill Cash and John Redwood, as well as David Davies, stood up for our arguments; Labour MPs including Tom Watson, Eric Joyce and Mark Lazarowicz took a stand; Liberal Democrats including Nick Clegg have been highly critical, as well as Greens Caroline Lucas and Adrian Ramsay.

A number of these stand to be elected afresh, including Lucas and Ramsay; and Liberal Democrats Julian Huppert and Bridget Fox; and others you can find among our videos.

Both Huppert and Lucas’ campaigners reported that, in their constituencies, people angry about the Digital Economy Act had either turned up to help their campaigns, or had found it a ‘last straw’ that had made them switch their votes.

Some of the opponents of this Act will have very small majorities, should they be successful, and the anger caused by this Act can contribute to their election tomorrow.

There are some very good reasons to vote for these anti-Digital Economy Act candidates. Their stance on the Act is one of them. But the most important reason is that many of them seem to understand the wider digital rights agenda: data protection, surveillance, freedom of information, copyright reform and the protection of freedom of expression are values that we need to find champions for throughout the new Parliament.