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UK Porn Filter Will Censor Other Content Too, ISPs Reveal

torrentfreak.com

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Re: UK Porn Filter Will Censor Other Content Too, ISPs Reveal

#41

I'd like to see some direct information on what was actually said by the ISPs and where it's come from. This article is a lot of speculation based on a statement that they've said something and then an existing service offered by one ISP. Clearly they're not going to block games and dating sites which this service does so it's not clear why we should assume that it's any sort of useful template for what's proposed. I…

> Clearly they're not going to block games and dating sites which this service does so it's not clear why we should assume that it's any sort of useful template for what's proposed.

Why won't they block games or dating sites?

That Talk-Talk product was put in place in response to earlier requests by MPs to "protect children", which is why mobile content tends to have filters now.

It seems that filter is as good a model as anything else for what the filter will be.

Re: UK Porn Filter Will Censor Other Content Too, ISPs Reveal

#42
post #24

Well DUH! Some of the politicians like to say it'll be the same sort of system that's on mobile phones here. These have two characteristics - 1. The filter is full of holes 2. What's blocked is pretty arbitrary For instance, I was at a music festival last year (Beautiful Days), and access to the online site map and festival schedule was blocked as 'adult' content. The festival itself was full of kids and teenagers (b…

Wait, is there already a government-imposed web filter on mobile phones in the UK? And you can't opt out? When did this happen? What were the justifications given when it was put into place? Does it also apply to GSM tablets and devices tethered to your mobile?

I'm not sure if it affects all carriers or not. But you can opt-out, you just have to go through an age-verification process - usually providing a credit card number to confirm you are over 18.

Re: UK Porn Filter Will Censor Other Content Too, ISPs Reveal

#43
post #22

A possible silver lining - if you're against the filters that currently exist (blocking child porn), someone might infer you're a paedophile, which would be bad for you. If you opt out of porn filters, you'll go down on a list of people who want porn. If you opt out of everything-filters, the only thing that can really be implied is that you want access to something , which is somewhat less easy to blackmail with.

Exactly. If I disable all all those filters, I can credibly argue that I'm against filtering on principle, not necessarily because I want to view any of those things.

I just wonder how long until they start using this infrastructure to compute a profile that determins things like your social security contributions or security clearance. They could also threaten to take the children away from people who disable the filters or force them into some kind of "re-education" program.

Re: UK Porn Filter Will Censor Other Content Too, ISPs Reveal

#44

This deserves a lot more of a response but for now I'll just leave this: Liberty is about the ability of the individual to do things that others disapprove of. You don't need liberty if everyone else approves of your actions. As a corollary, the exercise of liberty does not require a justification, because it's a liberty, practicality or "usefulness" or what-have-you play no part in it. It's onerous to require someon…

> People often dismiss out of hand the notion that tyranny could possibly take hold over the first world democracies of the west in the 21st century. And to that I can only sigh. Perhaps it will not be known as tyranny, perhaps someone will come up with a different, more apt name once, if, we are in the clutches of it, but it will be every bit as bad and every bit as difficult to throw off, if not more so.

Jesus fucking christ you people should go look at what happens in real dictatorships sometime.

A voluntary filter is not tyranny and it's fucking disgusting to compare optional filtering of semi-random webcontent with governments who murder and torture their citizens.

Re: UK Porn Filter Will Censor Other Content Too, ISPs Reveal

#45
post #24

Well DUH! Some of the politicians like to say it'll be the same sort of system that's on mobile phones here. These have two characteristics - 1. The filter is full of holes 2. What's blocked is pretty arbitrary For instance, I was at a music festival last year (Beautiful Days), and access to the online site map and festival schedule was blocked as 'adult' content. The festival itself was full of kids and teenagers (b…

Wait, is there already a government-imposed web filter on mobile phones in the UK? And you can't opt out? When did this happen? What were the justifications given when it was put into place? Does it also apply to GSM tablets and devices tethered to your mobile?

Nah, it's not government imposed and you can opt out. I think all the operators have one though.

Opting out usually requires you to call the operator, though sometimes you can do it through their web portal if you have a credit card (they'll charge and then refund it). I assume it blocks stuff through tethered devices too. Dunno really.

Justifications? Most likely "OMG THINK OF THE CHILDREN!".

On which subject - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTeENEQkBKE

Re: UK Porn Filter Will Censor Other Content Too, ISPs Reveal

#46
post #24

Well DUH! Some of the politicians like to say it'll be the same sort of system that's on mobile phones here. These have two characteristics - 1. The filter is full of holes 2. What's blocked is pretty arbitrary For instance, I was at a music festival last year (Beautiful Days), and access to the online site map and festival schedule was blocked as 'adult' content. The festival itself was full of kids and teenagers (b…

Wait, is there already a government-imposed web filter on mobile phones in the UK? And you can't opt out? When did this happen? What were the justifications given when it was put into place? Does it also apply to GSM tablets and devices tethered to your mobile?

There is filtering on most mobile phone data contracts in the UK.

YOU CAN OPT OUT. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO OPT OUT OF THE PROPOSED FILTERS TOO.

Justifications: "Children have too easy access to very hard core porn. Provide filtering, or we'll regulate you".

Re: UK Porn Filter Will Censor Other Content Too, ISPs Reveal

#47
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's already there, developed by the US military no less. It's called Tor. If the installing and usability was improved it might catch on for normal people concerned about their privacy.

Installing Tor on Windows is a breeze, it even comes with a modified Firefox browser that enables your tor session when you open it.

For what it's worth, it's actually as easy on Linux and Mac as well. There is a prevailing myth that Tor has this enormous learning curve and is only for neckbearded hacker masterminds, and it could not be any more wrong. This is by design - The Tor Project wants anonymity to be for everyone who desires it.

Re: UK Porn Filter Will Censor Other Content Too, ISPs Reveal

#48
post #44

This deserves a lot more of a response but for now I'll just leave this: Liberty is about the ability of the individual to do things that others disapprove of. You don't need liberty if everyone else approves of your actions. As a corollary, the exercise of liberty does not require a justification, because it's a liberty, practicality or "usefulness" or what-have-you play no part in it. It's onerous to require someon…

> People often dismiss out of hand the notion that tyranny could possibly take hold over the first world democracies of the west in the 21st century. And to that I can only sigh. Perhaps it will not be known as tyranny, perhaps someone will come up with a different, more apt name once, if, we are in the clutches of it, but it will be every bit as bad and every bit as difficult to throw off, if not more so. Jesus fuck…

Exactly, nothing like that could ever happen here.

Re: UK Porn Filter Will Censor Other Content Too, ISPs Reveal

#49
post #44

This deserves a lot more of a response but for now I'll just leave this: Liberty is about the ability of the individual to do things that others disapprove of. You don't need liberty if everyone else approves of your actions. As a corollary, the exercise of liberty does not require a justification, because it's a liberty, practicality or "usefulness" or what-have-you play no part in it. It's onerous to require someon…

> People often dismiss out of hand the notion that tyranny could possibly take hold over the first world democracies of the west in the 21st century. And to that I can only sigh. Perhaps it will not be known as tyranny, perhaps someone will come up with a different, more apt name once, if, we are in the clutches of it, but it will be every bit as bad and every bit as difficult to throw off, if not more so. Jesus fuck…

This perfectly illustrates my point. Of course this is not full on tyranny. It's just baby steps toward something which could represent a diminution in individual liberty every bit as severe and oppressive as full-on tyranny. As I said, maybe when that day comes people will have come up with a better name for it. For now we either call it tyranny and risk people dismissing it, as you have done, or we dare not call it tyranny and risk people not seeing it as a serious threat.

P.S. At what level of infringement of individual liberty between "just a little" and "full on raging tyranny" is it acceptable to take notice and be seriously pissed off?

Re: UK Porn Filter Will Censor Other Content Too, ISPs Reveal

#50
post #44

This deserves a lot more of a response but for now I'll just leave this: Liberty is about the ability of the individual to do things that others disapprove of. You don't need liberty if everyone else approves of your actions. As a corollary, the exercise of liberty does not require a justification, because it's a liberty, practicality or "usefulness" or what-have-you play no part in it. It's onerous to require someon…

> People often dismiss out of hand the notion that tyranny could possibly take hold over the first world democracies of the west in the 21st century. And to that I can only sigh. Perhaps it will not be known as tyranny, perhaps someone will come up with a different, more apt name once, if, we are in the clutches of it, but it will be every bit as bad and every bit as difficult to throw off, if not more so. Jesus fuck…

You shouldn't compare your situation with people on the other side of the fence because theirs is always worse than yours.

You should just shut your mouth until yours is as bad as theirs.

This is basicly what you are saying.

And no surprise, I disagree with you!

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