Leveson wanted big news publishers regulated. He proposed very stringent measures against news publishers that did not join a “self regulatory” body. His target was big, powerful news companies that could intimidate or ignore individuals whose rights they violated.

Last weekend, the three main parties negotiated a deal. Websites will be regulated if they publish news, have multiple authors, and run commercially. That covers a lot of small websites and blogs.

Leveson never intended to regulate small-scale and amateur bloggers but this poorly-written law threatens to restrict the power of individuals to debate topical matters in the blogosphere.

Big Brother Watch have proposed an amendment which would exempt “[publishers] who do not exceed the definition of a small or medium-sized enterprise…” from the legislation. The amendment has been put down by Lord Lucas. It needs to garner cross-party support.

If you have a minute today, please email the people who negotiated this consensus deal, and ask them to back off and leave the Internet out of Leveson.