How can I avoid disconnection?
From Digital Economy Act Info
This Page Is Currently Under Construction And Will Be Available Shortly, Please Visit Reserve Copy Page
Firstly and most importantly - Don't download (or access) copyrighted material. This site in no way condones copyright infringement. People in favour of the Digital Economy Act have sometimes labelled those objecting to the act as encouraging copyright abuse, but that isn't the case.
Secondly, this is currently believed to be a three-strike system, whereby you would receive three letters before disconnection. So if this isn't your third letter, don't panic just yet.
If you think you have downloaded copyrighted content
Most importantly: stop!
If you think you haven't downloaded copyrighted content
Find out if somebody else with access to your internet connection has done so. If not, then ensure your wifi connection is secure (could one of your neighbours be using your connection without permission?). However given so much of the act refers to IP addresses, it could be a case of digital mistaken identity, as IP addresses change periodically, may be assigned to more than one subscriber and can be faked. Your ISP may be able to provide you with information on why they believe it was your connection that is alleged to have infringed copyright.
Also UK ISP TalkTalk said on 8 April 2010 that they would fight copyright holders in court before disconnecting anyone.
You wouldn't accept the Royal Mail opening your post to see if you've been sent anything in the post that you shouldn't have, so why should your ISP be forced to tell people what you've accessed?
Long before this bill was passed there were already numerous technical ways of combating detection. It's expected that many of these will be used by people not infringing copyright, simply to avoid the potential accusation of it. For further information see How can I avoid my ISP or others spying on my Internet traffic
This really is an own goal on the part of the act, as science journalist Ben Goldacre said on Twitter:
- Chatting to nerd spook friend last wk who says #DEBill is a drag for them as everyone will encrypt their traffic. Currently only baddies do.

