Rushed through at the end of the last Parliament, the Digital Economy Act included provision for internet pirates to have their connection turned off by their ISP. A group of ISPs challenged this, but have been overruled, except that the court will look into who must pay for anti-piracy measures, and this will be clarified later.

As a result copyright holders will be able to ask the ISPs to investigate anyone suspected of illegal file sharing or downloading, and, after warning them to stop, insiste that they cut off the pirate's internet access if they continue to do so.

ISPs are worried that insufficient thought has been given to what might happen if the issue is not clear cut, as there is no procedure for an appeal defined, and also because they do not see themselves in the role of the Internet police.