[wellylug] wellylug Digest, Vol 47, Issue 8 - Big Brother Censorship

[Jethro Carr]

On Mon, 2009-07-13 at 19:50 +1200, Lindsay Hunter wrote:
> Like Jethro, I can see what the community is trying to address here.  
> There is an alternative.  It would not be a big jump in technology for 
> both the filtered and unfiltered net be available, and the user chooses 
> to request filtering by their ISP.  There will be a cost involved, but 
> it probably manageable  given they have already trialled the filtering.

This is a situation I'd be happy with, there are already providers out
there that provide optional filtering for those who want it.

(Although at the end of the day, it's pretty rare to find something you
didn't want to see unless you actually go looking for it, so filtering
does seem kind of pointless IMHO).


> What is more difficult to address is the strategy of suppressing, or at 
> least discouraging child abuse through porn. It would be better to look 
> after the children at source, at least for the children?

I think the strategy of going after pay sites and the people who support
them combined with social support of dysfunctional families is really
the best way to minimize it.


> The existence or otherwise of a power elite is another matter.  I am not 
> a believer in such things, or conspiracies.

I doubt the existence of a "power elite" there are just people with
different motivations and varying levels of morals who are in positions
of power.


>  I have yet to see any abuse 
> of the video cameras in the UK but I expect it is possible.  Can you 
> provide an example?

I haven't heard of the UK surveillance network being used for anything
nasty, but I tend not to keep that up to date with UK events.

There's more background with internet filtering being used to restrict
freedom of speech, with countries like China and Iran using it to shut
down political speech.

The proposed (scrapped?) filter for AU that was leaked also appeared to
have some minor political websites on it as well as pro-euthanasia
websites.


regards,
jethro

-- 
Jethro Carr
www.jethrocarr.com/index.php?cms=blog
www.amberdms.com
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