Is Anne Robinson the internet's biggest villain?

The UK Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) has drawn up the shortlists for its annual naming and shaming of the good and bad in all things internet.

There are five nominees in the 'hero' and 'villain' categories. They are:

Hero Award
- All-Party Parliamentary Internet Group (APIG), for "launching the public inquiry into data retention and access laws".

- Richard Allan MP for Sheffield Hallam. The LibDem IT man, a panellist on silicon.com's Agenda Setter 2002 committee (http://www.silicon.com/as2002), is named because of "ongoing support and understanding of the internet and internet industry".

- Hugh Blunkett, for helping his father, the Home Secretary, to better understand privacy fears.

- Elizabeth France, the ex-Information Commissioner, for "her stance on data retention legislation".

- The Home Office's Simon Watkin, for his work between the various industry interest groups and his department.

Villain Award
- Anne Robinson's BBC Watchdog programme, for a report on spam that was "more intent on vilifying ISPs than educating consumers".

- The Home Office, for the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security (ATCS) Act and continued delays with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).

- Oftel, "for (among a host of other things) failing to ensure expedient local loop unbundling by BT which has hindered both competition in the telco sector and the development of Broadband Britain".

- The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for supporting 'right to hack' proposals, among other things.

- Telecoms analysts, for "their substantial contribution to the meltdown in the telecommunications and internet sector".

The association said the lists "reflect the people and organisations that have helped or hampered ISPA's work to defend and promote the interests of the internet industry".

Also announced were five nominees for the Internet Watch Foundation Award for Developments in Online Safety:

- BBCi, for online safety advice for parents and young people
- Childnet, for Kidsmart
- Department for Education and Skills, for Parents online
- NCH, for NCH IT OK
- WISE KIDS (Wales Internet Safety Education for Kids)

Other shortlists will be announced in January, with winners taking their prizes - reluctantly or otherwise - at an awards ceremony on 20 February at a West End hotel.