TalkTalk has created a special ‘brightdancing’ advertisement, made famous by X Factor, as a protest against Lord Mandelson’s plans to disconnect people accused of internet piracy without a trial.

Over the past few weeks millions of X Factor fans have been exposed to ‘brightdancing’ – using torches or mobile phones to create images out of light. These are used to illustrate TalkTalk’s sponsorship of the show.

The specially commissioned brightdance from Michael Bosanko, the original brightdancing artist, features a pair of scissors cutting a computer cable. The film will be used as part of TalkTalk’s ongoing online campaign against Lord Mandelson’s plans and may also be used in an X Factor ad break

TalkTalk believes Lord Manelson’s approach is based on the principle of ‘guilty until proven innocent’ and substitutes proper judicial process for a kangaroo court.

What is being proposed is wrong in principle and it won’t work in practice. We know this approach will lead to wrongful accusations.

The unintended consequence of Lord Mandelson’s plan will be to encourage more wi-fi and PC hi-jacking and expose more innocent people to being penalised.

TalkTalk will continue to resist any attempts to make it disconnect its customers unless directed to do so by a court or recognised tribunal.

In the event we are instructed to disconnect or ‘throttle’ customers’ connections we will challenge the instruction in the courts.

Last week we launched a campaign against Lord Mandelson’s plans called Don’t Disconnect Us (www.dontdisconnect.us). We urge people to visit the website and to sign the petition to make their opposition to these draconian and disproportionate measures known.