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Vietnam Deploys Cyber Warriors to Fight ‘Wrongful Views'

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Re: Vietnam Deploys Cyber Warriors to Fight ‘Wrongful Views'

#31
post #9
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Us tech people" are the ones enabling them to censor though. From the article: "Facebook this year removed 159 accounts at Vietnam’s behest, while YouTube took down 4,500 videos, or 90 percent of what the government requested".

That's nonsense. Countries are responsible for making up their own laws, not foreign techies.

Most of the time, these companies are actually stronger than the government, even if they are not, there are a lot of ways they can choose to resist the orders.

Re: Vietnam Deploys Cyber Warriors to Fight ‘Wrongful Views'

#32
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it behooves all techies to reread and really think about the Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace every now and then: https://www.eff.org/cyberspace-independence

I am deeply against censorship, consider myself a libertarian and wouldn't personally work for Facebook. I deeply sympathise with this manifesto. But I'm also a consequentialist and I believe the Vietnamese are overall better served with a censored Facebook/Youtube than no Facebook/Youtube at all. I also don't believe that getting 100% of techies on our side is a realistic strategy.

It definitely isn't. There's also the "something you build can be used for evil or for good" aspect, too.

When I say enable, I am talking about stateless nonprofits creating platforms where people can communicate freely, express themselves freely, and if they need to - organize protests to protect their freedoms. Things like Signal are great steps toward it, but we need more.

Re: Vietnam Deploys Cyber Warriors to Fight ‘Wrongful Views'

#33
post #9
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Us tech people" are the ones enabling them to censor though. From the article: "Facebook this year removed 159 accounts at Vietnam’s behest, while YouTube took down 4,500 videos, or 90 percent of what the government requested".

That's nonsense. Countries are responsible for making up their own laws, not foreign techies.

If you are from the US, be aware that even United States spies on its citizens, and recently-activated social media screening is just another step towards it.

Re: Vietnam Deploys Cyber Warriors to Fight ‘Wrongful Views'

#35
post #33
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's nonsense. Countries are responsible for making up their own laws, not foreign techies.

If you are from the US, be aware that even United States spies on its citizens, and recently-activated social media screening is just another step towards it.

sorry to break it to you some citizens can be traitors relaying on the "I know his people" and he's a good chap belongs to the right club does't work as a vetting procedure as we found in the UK with the cambridge 5 and others

Re: Vietnam Deploys Cyber Warriors to Fight ‘Wrongful Views'

#36
post #4

I'm sure they are getting their playbook from their Chinese friends. Even Japan is getting more heavy handed than they were, and in Asia, they are the most liberal of all governments in comparison. Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, all heavy handed as regards the Internet. Russia, China, most of the former Balkan states, Turkey... Brazil, even.

Internet is just one channel where you can express opinions. Many journalists are jailed even today based on their opinions, and I feel it's on us tech people to enable them the free speech they deserve.

>I feel it's on us tech people to enable them the free speech they deserve.

It's clearly not a technical problem, so it's foolish to try to find a technical solution. This kind of silicon valley elitist Tellerism is doing more harm than good in cases like these.

Re: Vietnam Deploys Cyber Warriors to Fight ‘Wrongful Views'

#37
post #29
post #20

London Metropolitan Police already has an Online Hate Speech Hub with varying reports of staff (5-20?). This is in spite of admissions they do not have enough resources to respond to property offenses.

This might be of interest: The UK Crown Prosecution Service uses " definitions agreed with the National Police Chiefs' Council to identify racist or religious incidents/crimes and to monitor the decisions and outcomes: "Any incident/crime which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person's race or perceived race" or "Any incident/crime which is perceived…

[deleted]

Re: Vietnam Deploys Cyber Warriors to Fight ‘Wrongful Views'

#38
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you are from the US, be aware that even United States spies on its citizens, and recently-activated social media screening is just another step towards it.

sorry to break it to you some citizens can be traitors relaying on the "I know his people" and he's a good chap belongs to the right club does't work as a vetting procedure as we found in the UK with the cambridge 5 and others

I agree, but this is a slippery slope, and be mindful that warrantless surveillance is technically illegal (or not, i don't know what patriot act brought these days). It's a slippery slope because there is no end to it. It starts with surveillance - which evades privacy, then comes your freedom of speech, then your freedom to choose.
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