Net censorship spreads worldwide...
 

"Repressive regimes are taking full advantage of the net's ability to censor
and stifle reform and debate, reveals a report.

Written by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) pressure group the report
highlights the ways governments threaten the freedom of the press.

The report has a section dedicated to the internet and the growing roster of
nations censoring online life.

This censorship is practised on every continent on Earth, said the report."

Not so shocking is it?

--Im

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4973114.stm

Re: Net censorship spreads worldwide...
 

On Fri, 05 May 2006 02:17:18 -0400, Imhotep <imhotep@nospam.com>
wrote:

>"Repressive regimes are taking full advantage of the net's ability to censor
>and stifle reform and debate, reveals a report.
>
>Written by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) pressure group the report
>highlights the ways governments threaten the freedom of the press.
>
>The report has a section dedicated to the internet and the growing roster of
>nations censoring online life.
>
>This censorship is practised on every continent on Earth, said the report."
>
>Not so shocking is it?
>
>--Im
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4973114.stm

Things like that should be kept quiet ...
--
Jim Watt
http://www.gibnet.com

Re: Net censorship spreads worldwide...
 

On Fri, 05 May 2006 09:40:32 +0200, Jim Watt <jimwatt@aol.no_way>
wrote in <la0m52d48q6qd2q41re7tlt3d41t9dnurk@4ax.com> :

|>On Fri, 05 May 2006 02:17:18 -0400, Imhotep <imhotep@nospam.com>
|>wrote:
|>
|>>"Repressive regimes are taking full advantage of the net's ability to censor
|>>and stifle reform and debate, reveals a report.
|>>
|>>Written by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) pressure group the report
|>>highlights the ways governments threaten the freedom of the press.
|>>
|>>The report has a section dedicated to the internet and the growing roster of
|>>nations censoring online life.
|>>
|>>This censorship is practised on every continent on Earth, said the report."
|>>
|>>Not so shocking is it?
|>>
|>>--Im
|>>
|>>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4973114.stm
|>
|>Things like that should be kept quiet ...

Am curious. Can you offer a reason for your advisory?

Naturally there is going to be a certain amount of "censorship"
in any country, of whatever type.

Would you care to explain in more detail?

Incidentally, have finally managed to get an order through for
"Spy ware Doctor" and an associated program, but only through the
Australian company. Finally got a valid Internet address for
them, valid phone number, etc.

Purchased "Spy ware Doctor", but disappointed to find that
registration procedure required personal name, which I find
unacceptable.

Oh well, if cannot get them to rectify this, can always cancel
the service and get a refund.

There was a special offer on "Privacy Guardian" but this not only
had the above defect but also demanded that I insert a Dell
installation disk.

Probably could find it if looked, but can't help wondering why
the company would ask for it at all. Why should they need
information to modify my system, or even seek to do so?

I might mention that even canceling the installation procedure
wasn't that easy.

Have notified the company about these issues but no reply as yet.

Personally, I find both of the requests unreasonable and am
tempted to cancel the order. I simply see no reasons for either
requirement.

Regards,

Re: Net censorship spreads worldwide...
 

On Fri, 05 May 2006 08:36:19 GMT, zadoc <zadoc@invalid.com.au> wrote:

>On Fri, 05 May 2006 09:40:32 +0200, Jim Watt <jimwatt@aol.no_way>
>wrote in <la0m52d48q6qd2q41re7tlt3d41t9dnurk@4ax.com> :
>
>|>On Fri, 05 May 2006 02:17:18 -0400, Imhotep <imhotep@nospam.com>
>|>wrote:
>|>
>|>>"Repressive regimes are taking full advantage of the net's ability to censor
>|>>and stifle reform and debate, reveals a report.
>|>>
>|>>Written by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) pressure group the report
>|>>highlights the ways governments threaten the freedom of the press.
>|>>
>|>>The report has a section dedicated to the internet and the growing roster of
>|>>nations censoring online life.
>|>>
>|>>This censorship is practised on every continent on Earth, said the report."
>|>>
>|>>Not so shocking is it?
>|>>
>|>>--Im
>|>>
>|>>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4973114.stm
>|>
>|>Things like that should be kept quiet ...
>
>Am curious. Can you offer a reason for your advisory?

I am taking the **** and also reproducing the story and the
link in order that more people get to read it because I agree
with the original poster.

Lets keep discussion of the other matter to a seperate thread.
--
Jim Watt
http://www.gibnet.com

Re: Net censorship spreads worldwide...
 

On Fri, 05 May 2006 12:39:48 +0200, Jim Watt <jimwatt@aol.no_way>
wrote in <1mam52dj4la11u15s0elqgo6qqsoc6vbnd@4ax.com> :

|>On Fri, 05 May 2006 08:36:19 GMT, zadoc <zadoc@invalid.com.au> wrote:
|>
|>>On Fri, 05 May 2006 09:40:32 +0200, Jim Watt <jimwatt@aol.no_way>
|>>wrote in <la0m52d48q6qd2q41re7tlt3d41t9dnurk@4ax.com> :
|>>
|>>|>On Fri, 05 May 2006 02:17:18 -0400, Imhotep <imhotep@nospam.com>
|>>|>wrote:
|>>|>
|>>|>>"Repressive regimes are taking full advantage of the net's ability to censor
|>>|>>and stifle reform and debate, reveals a report.
|>>|>>
|>>|>>Written by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) pressure group the report
|>>|>>highlights the ways governments threaten the freedom of the press.
|>>|>>
|>>|>>The report has a section dedicated to the internet and the growing roster of
|>>|>>nations censoring online life.
|>>|>>
|>>|>>This censorship is practised on every continent on Earth, said the report."
|>>|>>
|>>|>>Not so shocking is it?
|>>|>>
|>>|>>--Im
|>>|>>
|>>|>>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4973114.stm
|>>|>
|>>|>Things like that should be kept quiet ...
|>>
|>>Am curious. Can you offer a reason for your advisory?
|>
|>I am taking the **** and also reproducing the story and the
|>link in order that more people get to read it because I agree
|>with the original poster.
|>
|>Lets keep discussion of the other matter to a seperate thread.

Fair enough, they are separate issues, so I suppose will have to
read the original BBC cite.

Before I do so, though, I will raise the issue that some
censorship can, IMHO, be justified.

No, am not particularly interested in political or pornographic
censorship, am just pointing out that complex societies such as
those which we live in could easily be seriously disrupted with
only a minimum amount of expertise.

So lets say that hypothetical terrorist "T" doesn't know how to
do this from a scientific or engineering point of view.

However, if there is no censorship at all, worldwide, "T" can
access this from some site on the net? Is there not some
argument for a degree of "censorship" here?

What do we mean by "censorship" anyway? Political censorship on
political views?

Sexual censorship on the grounds that some material may "offend"
someone, somewhere, somehow?

Religious censorship on the same grounds?

.....But isn't this a lot different than "censoring" material or
sites that provide same, on how to sabotage an organized, but ill
protected society?

Personally, I think we have to face the fact that "first world"
societies were designed for maximum freedom, and little thought
was given to possible sabotage, destruction of essential
infrastructure, mass poisonings, etc.

Although various "terror novels" have dealt with a variety of
these.

So again, before I even read the article, lets take a quick look
at news censorship. Is it even possible these days in most
countries?

Sexual censorship? There isn't even any general agreement on
what should or should not be available. There is so much
disagreement on the issue that perhaps the only solution is to
set up a separate domain for the more extreme forms of "pay
porno" but am not even sure that this would work all that well.

Anyway, just some preliminary thoughts, when I read the article
cited may come back with more detailed views.

Cheers,

Re: Net censorship spreads worldwide...
 

zadoc wrote:

> On Fri, 05 May 2006 09:40:32 +0200, Jim Watt <jimwatt@aol.no_way>
> wrote in <la0m52d48q6qd2q41re7tlt3d41t9dnurk@4ax.com> :
>
> |>On Fri, 05 May 2006 02:17:18 -0400, Imhotep <imhotep@nospam.com>
> |>wrote:
> |>
> |>>"Repressive regimes are taking full advantage of the net's ability to
> |>>censor and stifle reform and debate, reveals a report.
> |>>
> |>>Written by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) pressure group the
> |>>report highlights the ways governments threaten the freedom of the
> |>>press.
> |>>
> |>>The report has a section dedicated to the internet and the growing
> |>>roster of nations censoring online life.
> |>>
> |>>This censorship is practised on every continent on Earth, said the
> |>>report."
> |>>
> |>>Not so shocking is it?
> |>>
> |>>--Im
> |>>
> |>>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4973114.stm
> |>
> |>Things like that should be kept quiet ...
>
> Am curious. Can you offer a reason for your advisory?

I firmly believe in free speech yet, I have witnessed the erosion of it. Ask
yourself why would any country need to regulate your free speech rights?
Answer that, you will understand why I posted this.

> Naturally there is going to be a certain amount of "censorship"
> in any country, of whatever type.

Why? Why does any country need censor your free speech? Do you live in
China? Do you want to live in a country like China? Governments only need
to censor you if they are not doing their "job" and do not want people
sharing ideas in a "grass roots forum"....


Imhotep

Re: Net censorship spreads worldwide...
 

zadoc wrote:

> On Fri, 05 May 2006 12:39:48 +0200, Jim Watt <jimwatt@aol.no_way>
> wrote in <1mam52dj4la11u15s0elqgo6qqsoc6vbnd@4ax.com> :
>
> |>On Fri, 05 May 2006 08:36:19 GMT, zadoc <zadoc@invalid.com.au> wrote:
> |>
> |>>On Fri, 05 May 2006 09:40:32 +0200, Jim Watt <jimwatt@aol.no_way>
> |>>wrote in <la0m52d48q6qd2q41re7tlt3d41t9dnurk@4ax.com> :
> |>>
> |>>|>On Fri, 05 May 2006 02:17:18 -0400, Imhotep <imhotep@nospam.com>
> |>>|>wrote:
> |>>|>
> |>>|>>"Repressive regimes are taking full advantage of the net's ability
> |>>|>>to censor and stifle reform and debate, reveals a report.
> |>>|>>
> |>>|>>Written by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) pressure group the
> |>>|>>report highlights the ways governments threaten the freedom of the
> |>>|>>press.
> |>>|>>
> |>>|>>The report has a section dedicated to the internet and the growing
> |>>|>>roster of nations censoring online life.
> |>>|>>
> |>>|>>This censorship is practised on every continent on Earth, said the
> |>>|>>report."
> |>>|>>
> |>>|>>Not so shocking is it?
> |>>|>>
> |>>|>>--Im
> |>>|>>
> |>>|>>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4973114.stm
> |>>|>
> |>>|>Things like that should be kept quiet ...
> |>>
> |>>Am curious. Can you offer a reason for your advisory?
> |>
> |>I am taking the **** and also reproducing the story and the
> |>link in order that more people get to read it because I agree
> |>with the original poster.
> |>
> |>Lets keep discussion of the other matter to a seperate thread.
>
> Fair enough, they are separate issues, so I suppose will have to
> read the original BBC cite.
>
> Before I do so, though, I will raise the issue that some
> censorship can, IMHO, be justified.
>
> No, am not particularly interested in political or pornographic
> censorship, am just pointing out that complex societies such as
> those which we live in could easily be seriously disrupted with
> only a minimum amount of expertise.
>
> So lets say that hypothetical terrorist "T" doesn't know how to
> do this from a scientific or engineering point of view.
>
> However, if there is no censorship at all, worldwide, "T" can
> access this from some site on the net? Is there not some
> argument for a degree of "censorship" here?
>
> What do we mean by "censorship" anyway? Political censorship on
> political views?
>
> Sexual censorship on the grounds that some material may "offend"
> someone, somewhere, somehow?
>
> Religious censorship on the same grounds?
>
> ....But isn't this a lot different than "censoring" material or
> sites that provide same, on how to sabotage an organized, but ill
> protected society?
>
> Personally, I think we have to face the fact that "first world"
> societies were designed for maximum freedom, and little thought
> was given to possible sabotage, destruction of essential
> infrastructure, mass poisonings, etc.
>
> Although various "terror novels" have dealt with a variety of
> these.
>
> So again, before I even read the article, lets take a quick look
> at news censorship. Is it even possible these days in most
> countries?
>
> Sexual censorship? There isn't even any general agreement on
> what should or should not be available. There is so much
> disagreement on the issue that perhaps the only solution is to
> set up a separate domain for the more extreme forms of "pay
> porno" but am not even sure that this would work all that well.
>
> Anyway, just some preliminary thoughts, when I read the article
> cited may come back with more detailed views.
>
> Cheers,

The problem with sensorship is that it it subjective. The other problem is
that it is a lie. Look at the recent Google vs The US Government. The US
Gov. wanted Google to submit users who were going to child porn sites *AND*
1 million randomly chosen users and the sites they visited. Ask yourself a
question. If the US gov was really after people who visited child porn
sites why the request 1 million random users?

Here is the problem. Freedom is the most precious thing you can have. As
soon as you take away a little bit, you open the door to take away more.
Governments know that they are not taking care of the needs of the "many"
but instead are taking care of the needs of the "few" (ie the rich). In
order to maintain the illusion that they are taking care of the "many", you
need to maintain the illusion and keep people separated, for when people
unite change is much easier to obtain....this is why their is a push for
censorship. DON'T FALL FOR IT!

Imhotep

Re: Net censorship spreads worldwide...
 

Imhotep wrote:
> "Repressive regimes are taking full advantage of the net's ability to censor
> and stifle reform and debate, reveals a report.
>
> Written by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) pressure group the report
> highlights the ways governments threaten the freedom of the press.
>
> The report has a section dedicated to the internet and the growing roster of
> nations censoring online life.
>
> This censorship is practised on every continent on Earth, said the report."
>
> Not so shocking is it?
>
> --Im
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4973114.stm
>
>
If you've ever sat in a meeting with others, you'll quickly understand
that it's human nature to not welcome negative attention.

No, it's not surprising, nor is it unexpected from individuals holding
office in powerful institutions.

What's truly unexpected is the growing number of those in historically
democratic republics who don't find it troubling that any criticism of
their leaders is deemed unpatriotic.