Live data from Hacker News

Iraq blocks Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, shuts down internet

netblocks.org

31–40 of 325 posts

Re: Iraq blocks Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, shuts down internet

#31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We need one that uses lasers

Why? Are lasers hard to "jam" (I'm using quotes because it seems weird to use "jam" with optical media, but maybe that's just me)?

All you need is a cloud.

Re: Iraq blocks Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, shuts down internet

#32
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Things like Starlink won't remove a government's ability to cut off internet access. The radio signals aren't hard to jam.

We need one that uses lasers

Remember that you don't jam transmitters, you jam receivers. Blinding an on-orbit receiver is easy regardless of whether you use lasers or radio because you know exactly where it has to be at any given time.

Re: Iraq blocks Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, shuts down internet

#33
Part of me says "Now this is a mentally healthy thing to do!" with regards to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I found social media has been becoming emotionally toxic and highly argumentative. it's so refreshing to not go on twitter in 6 months, only look at facebook to check up on remote friends and once in a while check Instagram to see what friends cross the country are actually doing; minus the false "Look at this new fancy thing!" :)

Do you avoid social media these days? I enjoy HNs because its informative around technology; not politics etc. So relaxing.

Re: Iraq blocks Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, shuts down internet

#34
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't some of them planning to use lasers? They'd have a hard time blocking that.

Lasers between them in orbit is what I've heard, nothing about ground stations, AFAIK.

I could've sworn somebody was planning to use lasers to communicate from the satellite to a ground station, claiming it would improve latency. Maybe I misread.

Re: Iraq blocks Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, shuts down internet

#37
post #4

Starlink can’t come soon enough. Imagine internet beyond the grasp of control freak governments

It will still be owned by a private company you have no control over, which isn't necessarily better

>It will still be owned by a private company you have no control over

I don't have any ethical justification to enslave or coerce or control a person. Why should I have any ethical justification to enslave or coerce or control, if a group of people get together (a company) to do something?

Re: Iraq blocks Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, shuts down internet

#39

Starlink can’t come soon enough. Imagine internet beyond the grasp of control freak governments

Others have stated their objections to your comment, but... my belief is that once StarLink becomes operational, the American Gov. will have oversight & control of it, just like our current ISPs.
Post reply on HN