UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?
publications.parliament.uk
UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?
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Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?
#2And so it has begin, the great firewall of the UK
Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?
#3Important note for readers from the US: while the UK has a legal right to free speech (via the Human Rights Act, which in turn is based on the EU Convention on Human Rights), it is diluted by opt-out provisions for public health and safety, and undermined by other laws: notably the Obscene Publications Act (1958) -- although enforcement of the OPA against works of written fiction has collapsed in the past two decades -- and other anti-terrorism statutes which make it an offense to be "in possession of material likely to be of use in the commission of acts of terrorism" (or, more nebulously, inciting acts of terrorism).
Suppressing political discourse (even extremist political discourse) and using an anti-porn filter to do so is of course a horrible precedent to allow, but it's important to bear in mind that the UK has no equivalent of the solid US first amendment right to free speech.
Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?
#4And so it has begin, the great firewall of the UK
Hadrian's Firewall?
Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?
#5Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?
#6...and the definition of "extremist" is defined by...? (And of course, it will eventually include "anyone opposed to the Great Firewall of Chi^H^H^H^H Britain, as its own continued existence becomes the main purpose of such tools)
Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?
#7...and the definition of "extremist" is defined by...? (And of course, it will eventually include "anyone opposed to the Great Firewall of Chi^H^H^H^H Britain, as its own continued existence becomes the main purpose of such tools)
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Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?
#8I instinctively reached for the 'share' button. Glad I read TFA just before I shared this, because there is no way the source says that Cameron's Net Nanny is being used to block extremist sites. All it says is that extremist sites have been taken down. That's not good, nor is it necessarily better, but let's at least be accurate, rather than try to spin this.
Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?
#9What is this? The second post in short order making up stuff about Camerons statements about blocking.
I detest Cameron, but nobody is served by making up stuff like this - there's more than enough objectionable stuff in actual quotes from him.
The only mention of "extremist narrative" says this:
> The Prime Minister: We have put in place some of the toughest controls that one can possibly have within a democratic Government, and the TPIMs are obviously one part of that. We have had repeated meetings of the extremism task force—it met again yesterday—setting out a whole series of steps that we will take to counter the extremist narrative, including by blocking online sites. Now that I have the opportunity, let me praise Facebook for yesterday reversing the decision it took about the showing of beheading videos online. We will take all these steps and many more to keep our country safe.
It does not anywhere indicates that the much heralded (and vastly overdramatised) porn filter has any role in this.
It is possible Cameron is up to something. It is also possible he is talking about going to court and getting a court order to take down specific sites. And quite likely, that, much like his "porn filter", it is a bunch of hot air.
Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?
#10Cameron was answering in response to the following question
> Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East) (Lab): Two weeks ago, the head of the Security Service warned about the extent of Islamist extremism. This week, two individuals have been charged with serious terrorist offences. What is the Prime Minister going to do in January when, as a result of his Government’s legislation, some of those whom the Home Secretary has judged to pose the greatest threat to our security are released from the provisions of their terrorism prevention and investigation measures?
> The Prime Minister: We have put in place some of the toughest controls that one can possibly have within a democratic Government, and the TPIMs are obviously one part of that. We have had repeated meetings of the extremism task force—it met again yesterday—setting out a whole series of steps that we will take to counter the extremist narrative, including by blocking online sites. Now that I have the opportunity, let me praise Facebook for yesterday reversing the decision it took about the showing of beheading videos online. We will take all these steps and many more to keep our country safe.
Because of the nature of Prime Minister's Questions, it can't be concluded that this is going to become legislation. It shouldn't be a surprise that the government wants to do, or is talking about doing this.