Comments on: Disconnected rights

By: The worst of both worlds

The worst of both worlds — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:08:55 +0000

[...] The sanction is disproportionate. Internet access is used for communication, education, news and media consumption, delivery of Government services, etc. Cutting off someone’s Internet access is, in the present day, a serious and worrying sanction, and as more services and aspects of citizenship move to online delivery, disconnection becomes even more serious. (I explain this point in more detail here). [...]

By: Blackout Ireland - Some Questions | Andyaz

Blackout Ireland - Some Questions | Andyaz — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:32:24 +0000

[...] Daithí , a cyberlaw expert, makes a strong argument for why the punishment may not fit the crime: “The present-day Internet includes communication (email), socialising (IM, social networking etc), media consumption (websites, blog, streaming, etc), media creation (ditto), access to Government services, online commerce, etc. Now imagine that the sanction for a, let’s face it, relatively minor crime (copyright infringement, while economically significant, is hardly manslaughter), includes no use of the postal services, highly limited access to shops, no permission to read a newspaper, reduced ability to use public services or get public information, and more. That’s no minor sanction.” [...]

By: Daithí

Daithí — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:43:42 +0000

Given that this post is all of a sudden quite relevant again, I should add that my analysis here is quite generous, in terms of proportionality – some of the behaviour being discussed in the context of the Eircom deal is quite likely subject to civil proceedings alone, rather than criminal sanctions. This of course makes my original point even stronger, but then again I would say that, wouldn’t I?

By: Digital Rights Ireland » Three unproven accusations and you’re out - why the Eircom / IRMA deal is bad for internet users

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:40:42 +0000

[...] onto ISPs while sidelining the Oireachtas and the democratic process. It’s disproportionate. Daithi makes this point well: The present-day Internet includes communication (email), socialising (IM, [...]