Nicolas Sarkozy and BT dubbed 'internet villains'

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.