Hello All,
There's good news and bad news on the internet censorship front. As it is always a good practice, I'll start with the good news:
From PC Magazine:
"Under the Digital Economy Act, officials were allowed to ask the court to block Web sites dedicated to copyright infringement. A review of that law, however, 'concluded the provisions as they stand would not be effective, according to U.K. communications regulator Ofcom (Office of Communications). As a result, "the Government will not bring forward the Act’s site-blocking provisions at this time.'"
Yes, the key words are "at this time," but clearly there are major questions about the viability of such censorship-oriented legislation. Unfortunately, the chorus of sycophants and bootlickers called the U.S. Congress is planning its own version of such a law:
The Internet Blacklist Bill -- S.968, formally called the PROTECT IP Act -- would allow the Department of Justice to force search engines, browsers, and service providers to block users' access to websites that have been accused of facilitating intellectual property infringement -- without even giving them a day in court. It would also give IP rights holders a private right of action, allowing them to sue to have sites prevented from operating.
There's good news and bad news on the internet censorship front. As it is always a good practice, I'll start with the good news:
From PC Magazine:
"Under the Digital Economy Act, officials were allowed to ask the court to block Web sites dedicated to copyright infringement. A review of that law, however, 'concluded the provisions as they stand would not be effective, according to U.K. communications regulator Ofcom (Office of Communications). As a result, "the Government will not bring forward the Act’s site-blocking provisions at this time.'"
Yes, the key words are "at this time," but clearly there are major questions about the viability of such censorship-oriented legislation. Unfortunately, the chorus of sycophants and bootlickers called the U.S. Congress is planning its own version of such a law:
The Internet Blacklist Bill -- S.968, formally called the PROTECT IP Act -- would allow the Department of Justice to force search engines, browsers, and service providers to block users' access to websites that have been accused of facilitating intellectual property infringement -- without even giving them a day in court. It would also give IP rights holders a private right of action, allowing them to sue to have sites prevented from operating.
Short of armed insurrection, the only way to prevent such legislation from being passed on behalf of big business and the entertainment industry is to make our voices heard loud and clear to the sheep on the hill. To do so, please click the link below:
Bash the Fash
Letter sent.
ReplyDeleteRevan0357, I sent mine too; hope the backlash gives these jokers something to think about
ReplyDeleteYeah, I mean.....it's just a big WHY!?!?
ReplyDeleteOur government sure does have a penchant for wasting a colossal amount of time and money on stupid shit, just like their failed war on drugs.
ReplyDeleteGaragePunk66, well said. Given the very real issues the country has, this kind of ridiculous legislation, is, as you said, a colossal waste of time and money
ReplyDeleteMail sent.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the UK and I don't really foresee any UK Govt actually blocking websites. Having said that they'll start going for individuals' more proactively with the intention of spreading fear to others of the potential consequences of being slightly too free and messing with The New World Order. Fuck 'em all.
ReplyDeletesunday, :)
ReplyDeleteSir Billy Himalaya, ah yes, they'll take a page from Machiavelli: spreading fear to manufacture consent
ReplyDeleteIt's not a waste of money when it is the taxpayers money. The internet is so enjoyable and just fine the way it is because the government with it's Merdas turns to shit touch have kept their grubby paws off of it. Crybaby Hollywood moguls are mad no one wants to see their shit ridden remakes and cgi with no plot or story and just download them to save money and now the music lovers will have some of that shit roll downhill. Sharing is caring and fvck the RIAA. I spend way more than I should on albums, discs, concert videos some of which I never would of heard about without the internet.
ReplyDeleteWinston Smith, well-stated; I am in total agreement. I have discovered so much music through sharing and I buy many more CDs now then I did before I got into music sharing. Thanks for the great comment!
ReplyDeleteCBO Says PROTECT IP Will Cost Taxpayers Over $10 Million Per Year To Censor The Internet
ReplyDeleteby Mike Masnick
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), who tries to estimate the cost to taxpayers of all new laws proposed by Congress has put out its report on the PROTECT IP Act, noting that it will cost taxpayers $47 million from 2012 to 2016. Specifically, the CBO notes that the Justice Department would have to go out and hire 48 new people (22 special agents and 26 support staff) to act as Hollywood's censor police -- and that the annual cost will run about $10 million. Separately, the CBO notes that outside of the cost for taxpayers, the law would certainly impose costs on a variety of tech companies, by placing liability and requirements on them in regards to sites picked by Hollywood and the Justice Department to censor (you know, sites like that bastion of "piracy," the Internet Archive, which Hollywood has already put on its evil pirates list). However, it does not estimate that additional cost on those companies, since it will depend heavily on "future judicial proceedings."
thank you for the article memory hole, not only do they take away a free internet, they fucking tax us in order to do it.
ReplyDeleteWinston is right on the money! Downloading music has actually greatly increased my annual spending on music and music related items. The mainstream media is more interested in cash cows than it is in substance, shame on those stupid fucks. We're living in an dismal American Idol atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteGaragePunk66, I'm with you- I have discovered and purchased so much more music since getting involved in music sharing. It's free promotion of the music for god's sake!
ReplyDelete