14 DAY TRIAL // In less than a year, Australian legislators have managed to put together, propose, debate and approve a law that will force national Internet providers to implement systems that restrict access to copyright-infringing websites.
Targeting torrent sites, this new law known as the Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill was approved with a vote of 37 to 13 and will be effective immediately after the Governor-General signs it.
Voting for the law were the Australian Liberal, National and Labor parties, while only the Green party and a few independent senators opposed it.
There's something shady about this newly voted law
Controversy has surrounded the legislation ever since it was submitted to Parliament back in March 2015, mainly due to the quick and expedite way through which it passed through the entire legislating process.
Spirits were quickly inflamed during the Parliament's review process, when only one committee meeting was held, during which only one amendment was made to the bill, and that was to simplify the process through which sites could be added to the block list.
A week prior to the legislation being voted, a special exception for VPN providers was rejected, even if large tech groups intensely lobbied for this modification.
According to the Green party, consumer rights groups, tech companies, and ISPs, the bill in its current state is way too vague and can allow government agencies to ban more than just torrent sites.
So who's footing the bill?
TorrentFreak also reports the bill is also vague because it does not detail who will pay the technical costs of implementing this torrent blockade, the only reference being "primarily be borne by those parties who are seeking the remedy."
This could mean Hollywood studios or music production companies, but it can also mean the Australian government itself if torrent sites aren't added to the list at the specific request of copyright holders groups like the MPAA and RIAA.