MEPs in Brussels will vote today on proposals that would allow those who illegally provide and download content online to be banned from using the internet.

The so-called Telecom Packet of regulations aims to harmonise laws between European countries.

Among the amendments is a call for a European "three strikes" law. This would see users banned from the web if they are caught downloading illegal content three times.

Digital rights campaigners say that the government should not be allowed to dictate what services can and cannot be used on the internet, which was conceived as a free and democratic service.

And Internet Service Providers (ISPs) protest that the law would effectively force them to police the internet themselves. UK industry body the Internet Service Providers Association has called for self regulation as the way forward.

Music and film distributors have expressed concerns over the internet eroding their businesses.