French president,Nicolas
Sarkozy, and BT were both nominated as
internet villains in the Internet Service Providers Association
10th Annual UK Internet Industry Awards.
ISPA said Sarkozy was nominated because of his
proposed new tax on internet access and mobile phone use to
fund France's two public television channels.
BT Wholesale was nominated, "For changing the whole engineering
plan for 21CN only six months before the launch date."
David Cameron got a nomination too for his efforts at buddying
up with the music industry and trying to appeal to a younger
audience. The government did not escape either. HM Revenue &
Customs was slammed, "For failing to take the protection of
people's personal data seriously and highlighting bad practice in
protecting data by losing computer discs containing confidential
details of 25 million child benefit recipients."
The music industry, represented by the
BPI, the trade body for the
British recorded music industry, was also given the big thumbs down
owing to its heavy-handed approach against consumers rather than
engaging in constructive dialogue with the internet industry when
dealing with filesharing.