If the Internet industry does not better regulate itself, then public and political opinion may force tighter regulation upon it, warns Ofcom, which still has an eye on local loop unbundling
The Internet could face tougher regulation unless the industry does a better job of sorting out pressing issues, the deputy chairman of Ofcom said on Thursday night.
Speaking in Central London at the annual ISP Awards, or ISPAs, Richard Hooper warned of action on everything from improper content, spam and piracy to local-loop unbundling. If you do not regulate yourselves," said Hooper, "then the danger is that the political and public opinion machines will come down the turnpike at you. Don"t underestimate the power of these bodies."
As the new super-regulator, Ofcom oversees the UK"s broadcasting and telecommunications sectors, and rolls up several agencies, including the Oftel, the Radiocommunications Authority, the Independent Television Commission, the Broadcasting Standards Commission and the Radio Authority.
"Newspapers are intensely interested in [content, spam, and piracy] issues," warned Hooper. "You are working in an area where public opinion and political opinions can come together very forcefully."