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How the Catalan government uses IPFS to sidestep Spain's legal block

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281–290 of 565 posts

Re: How the Catalan government uses IPFS to sidestep Spain's legal block

#281
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The spanish constituion explicitly states that Spain is an indivisible country. Hence, the Constituional Court (that is elected by the parliament) has ruled out that any referendum about independence is illegal. At this point, the government says that both them and the judiciary powers are just defending the democratic rules, and Catalonia's government is the one at fault for all this hassle. The problem is that it i…

The Constitutional Court hasn't ruled out yet. Just suspended it while they deliberate. That's why most of the actions taken have been ordered by the Attorney General and not a court... Because the ref is not illegal :)

Why would the TSJC judge be ordering things like taking apps and websites down, if the referendum weren't illegal?

Re: How the Catalan government uses IPFS to sidestep Spain's legal block

#282
post #46

It seems shocking that Spain a member of the EU is resorting to these tactics. Can you discuss some of their justifications for doing so?

I'm not a lawyer and I don't have an opinion on the Spanish government's or judicial system's concrete actions to stop a illegal law to take effect, but: the only websites, posters, etc. being seized are those paid for and organized by the Catalan government. Any association, political party, or individual is completely free to campaign for whatever they want, including independence. We have a Spain-wide constitution…

Not true at all. You are either misinformed or malicious.

Private organisations websites like assemblea.cat have been banned.

Lots of signs drawn, designed, printed by people have been seized by police. Including signs that only said "democracy".

Private citizens have been arrested for mirroring the websites with their own resources. That's political prosecution, stop hiding behind the law.

Please don't spread misinformation.

Re: How the Catalan government uses IPFS to sidestep Spain's legal block

#283
post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The fact that it is how this referendum was designed doesn't mean it's fair. E.g. why would a foreigner that's been living in Catalonia for a few weeks, and plans to move away within a month to never return, have more of a say than a Catalan that spent 40 years there but had to move abroad two months ago in search of a job?

That's not how it works. You might want to read about it before having an opinion on a straw man. For the record: Spaniards living in Catalonia for at least 6 months can vote. Foreigners can't, like in General or Regional elections.

I was basing it on what the parent commenter said. I can't really tell if he's in the wrong or you are because, as you said, I haven't looked it up myself.

Even with your version my fairness argument stands. How is it fair that a Catalan expat isn't allowed to vote, and an Andalusian that might be there just for a few months is? Expats are certainly allowed to vote in General elections.

Re: How the Catalan government uses IPFS to sidestep Spain's legal block

#284
post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>We have a Spain-wide constitution. The Catalan government decided it has a democratic mandate by the people of its region to not abide by it. The NORMAL reaction by the state is to apply it, and stop the Catalan government from breaking it. It's only oppresive insofar laws and the judicial system are opressive. Of course, the American Revolution was also illegal by the laws of the British. It's also oppressive in th…

I'm not even arguing the Catalan government actions aren't _justified_, as the American Revolution may have been. My point is that the Spanish judiciary's reaction is just that of a normal, European, liberal democratic state under rule of law. (It's my opinion that it's _not_ justified, though: there's a fair chance of getting through the necessary changes to allow a referendum and other self-government demands by fo…

No, it's not a reaction most liberal democracies in the EU would have.

MPs all over Europe (Denmark, Switzerland, Finland to name a few) have asked the Spanish government to stop prosecuting and negotiate a referendum.

Re: How the Catalan government uses IPFS to sidestep Spain's legal block

#285
post #13
post #2

Author here. I've tried to keep the article as apolitical as possible, while giving some context to provide the setting. Anyway, I'm very interested in knowing if the used crypto is sound or not, and stirring a discussion around possible alternative approaches. Ask me anything if you want to know further!

Alternative approach: Instead of using the IPFS2HTTP gateways (that can easily be censored, as gateway.ipfs.io has already been censored in Catalunya), run a IPFS daemon locally that cannot be censored (but is not anonymous either). I live in Catalunya and wrote this tool for doing just that, in a easy way. It 1) starts a go-ipfs daemon locally, 2) opens up the referendum website in your default browser, via localhos…

You can help with the anonymity with the Tor transport. We created it to enable OpenBazaar nodes to use our network over Tor.

https://github.com/OpenBazaar/go-onion-transport

Re: How the Catalan government uses IPFS to sidestep Spain's legal block

#286
post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect that those who want to separate Catalonia from the rest of the country wouldn’t agree with the human right of the people in the Barcelona metropolitan are to choose by themselves their own future...

They do agree though. Barcelona, Aran, whatever. You name it. Just start the political movement and it'll be respected. I think it's a fair ask.

It won't be respected by all, not even by all ERC politicians. Don't fall into the trap of thinking Catalonia is somehow free of hypocrites:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnMA7KdGxn0

Re: How the Catalan government uses IPFS to sidestep Spain's legal block

#287
post #49

It seems shocking that Spain a member of the EU is resorting to these tactics. Can you discuss some of their justifications for doing so?

Catalan parliament has deployed a referendum law with +1 MPs, breaking regional Catalan law, silencing opposition and its own constituent powers. The referendum law states that any positive result from the referendum will result in a declaration of independence, with or without agreement with the central government. Trying not to be get too biased, I'd conclude that Spanish central government is trying to protect the…

You can be biased as long as you're truthful. Sadly, you are not being truthful.

Catalan Parliament passed a law with more than 50% of the vote. In a Parliamentary democracy, Parliament is sovereign.

The law says that if YES wins, there will be a mandate for independence and negotiations will start with the central government.

If the result is NO the Catalan Parliament will dissolve the government and call for regional elections.

More than 80% of Catalans want a legally binding referendum, regardless of pro or against indy.

Re: How the Catalan government uses IPFS to sidestep Spain's legal block

#288
post #239
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The spanish constituion explicitly states that Spain is an indivisible country. Hence, the Constituional Court (that is elected by the parliament) has ruled out that any referendum about independence is illegal. At this point, the government says that both them and the judiciary powers are just defending the democratic rules, and Catalonia's government is the one at fault for all this hassle. The problem is that it i…

> The spanish constitution ... was drafted 40 years ago by a Franchist establishment concerned with maintaining a certain degree of continuity. It's not surprising that the people most oppressed by Franco are not particularly happy with the result. Besides, the Wilson doctrine is usually more relevant for this sort of movements than whichever piece of paper is supposed to be law here or there. A population cannot be…

That Constitution was voted in referendum by the whole country, and the support it got in Catalonia was even greater than in Madrid.

> the people most oppressed by Franco

Let's at least agree that this is subjective.

Re: How the Catalan government uses IPFS to sidestep Spain's legal block

#289
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At first yeah, I'm surprised too. Is the Catalan government a private organization? Or is it technically a part of the Spanish state. Private organizations can organize, fund, and promote whatever referendums they want. And the Spanish govt. would just say they don't recognize the result. But if the organizer is not a private organization, but instead a public institution, then it's likely abuse of authority and fund…

The Catalan government is the government of the autonomous region of Catalonia. So, I'd say "neither". They are a public institution, but their authority comes from the people, not from the central state.

Sadly, Spain and many Spaniards can't see that. They keep claiming Spain "owns" Catalonia and also claim Catalan Devolution only exists because they "allow it"

Re: How the Catalan government uses IPFS to sidestep Spain's legal block

#290
post #170
post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the Spanish government wants to redirect or modify the contents of the page, then you would get a different hash than the one provided by Catalan officials.

How do IPFS links work, such that modification of what they point to modifies the hash of the document where the link is?

You use IPNS to give a static name and change the root hash of that name when you update content.
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