Cable Drops Website Block Plan

Vince Cable today ditched plans to block websites which host copyright-infringing material.

The business secretary called the switch an example of the “big changes” which are bringing the law “up to date”.

He estimated that the change in legislation would benefit the economy to the tune of £8 billion over the next few years.

The shift is based upon the conclusions of the Hargreaves Review by telecoms regulator Ofcom, which considered whether current legislation is fit for purpose in the digital age

Don Foster, Liberal Democrat media and culture committee co-chair, defended the changes, saying they would help “further develop” the UK as a world leader in the creative industries.