In its review of the Copyright Amendment Bill, the New Zealand Commerce Select Committee heard further evidence as the internet industry body InternetNZ and the New Zealand Labor Party voiced it disapproval of disconnecting users caught infringing copyright. New evidence suggests that disconnecting users for infringing copyright is over the top.

The Copyright Amendment Bill was brought to the New Zealand Parliament in February. The Bill contains stipulations that make Internet service providers (ISPs) responsible for infringements by users. The bill proposes that a "three-strike" system should be put in place. With the policy, a user who has violated terms three times would be sanctioned with fines and a possible six-month disconnection from the ISP.

Jordan Carter, InternetNZ's policy director, told the committee that disconnecting users as a punishment was out of line.

"People are using the internet for a huge range of important economic and social tasks. Cutting off their accounts is akin to banning someone from using the postal system because they were caught posting copied music CDs," Carter said.

"It is also arguable that the suspension of internet access breaches important human rights, such as the freedoms of expression and assembly," added Charles Chauvel, a New Zealand Labor MP.

The Commerce Select Committee will gather evidence until a report is released in mid-October.