Google urges government to avoid future-gazing in Communications Bill

Raft of respondents urge government against web site blocking measures

Google has warned the government it must not engage in "futurology" when putting together the first draft of the new Communications Act as it could risk harming firms' ability to innovate in the online world.

The web giant's submission to the call for responses on the new legislation argued the speed of new technological developments, such as 4G mobile networks, means the government must not try to predict future uses of technology.

"Although it is tempting for government to seek to develop legislation that anticipates and copes with future technology developments this should be avoided," it said in its response.

"Legislation that seeks to predict the future risks shaping that development in unnatural directions and creating a market that is ultimately unsustainable."

Instead, it said the government should create an open-ended, non-perspective law that could be adapted as and when necessary.

"We believe it is better to create de minimus [moderate] legislation that can be built on by non-legislative interventions that can respond rapidly to technical and consumer change," it added.

Google also said that while the government may find it "appealing" to create laws that enable it to block or filter content this should also be avoided, citing examples relating to the protection of children online to illustrate why it's an unworkable system.

"The evolution of content online makes such laws quickly irrelevant and perhaps even dangerous, with parents wrongly believing children are protected and therefore absolving their own responsibilities to monitor and advise children on using the internet safely," it said.

"A situation can also arise where governments who peruse these tools quickly fall down a slippery slope, adding more and more types of content to the 'banned' list," it said.

Google urges government to avoid future-gazing in Communications Bill

Raft of respondents urge government against web site blocking measures

The chief executive of TalkTalk, Dido Harding, also argued against web blocking being forced on internet service providers (ISPs).

"There have also been calls for ISPs to compulsory block forms of 'bad' content such as sites promoting terrorism or pornography," she said.

"ISPs must not be forced into the role of policing the internet. Decisions on blocking these must remain the responsibility of the courts and law enforcement agencies."

Internet advocacy organisation the Open Rights Group (ORG) added its voice to the anti-web blocking chorus, arguing it could unjustly disrupt other services.

"Web site blocking [...] risks disrupting the effective functioning of the network, and may easily lead to the blocking of legitimate traffic," it said.

Meanwhile, network firm Cisco used the opportunity to urge the government to look into the liberalisation of more spectrum within the 5GHz range to help firms such as itself develop new wireless products that can operate in this range.

"While there are currently two blocks of spectrum allocated for wireless access systems (including Wi-Fi) at 5GHz, the specific request would be for additional spectrum to be made available, such that there would be one contiguous block from 5150 - 5925 MHz," it said.

"This would provide the spectrum to enable the next generation of Wi-Fi technology to be exploited to the full."

The government hopes the creation of a new Communications Bill, updated from the existing 2003 legislation, will ensure the UK legal system helps firms innovate and grow to benefit the economy.

It intends to have a Draft Bill ready by April 2013.