Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Lawmakers Want to Block Pornography at the Expense of Free Speech and Privacy

eff.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 65 posts

Re: Lawmakers Want to Block Pornography at the Expense of Free Speech and Privacy

#51

Post by colejohnson66 »

gremlinsinc wrote: post #45
4ad wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would Apple do such a thing? Presumably there would be fines if they didn't comply. If everybody is doing it (which is just Google and Apple, really), nobody gains or loses and advantage, so why would they care?

Apple could take a gamble and cease operations in states that require the changes, thus pissing off constituents and making them back pedal and change the laws. A lot of Apple users aren't too bright (1000+ Mac Mail TS issues while serving a stint at a major shitty hosting firm owned by EIG), and would be lost without their apple devices. Device manufacturers could instead sue on grounds that it's not their responsib…

> A lot of Apple users aren't too bright (1000+ Mac Mail TS issues while serving a stint at a major shitty hosting firm owned by EIG), and would be lost without their apple devices.

Was that sentence really needed?

Re: Lawmakers Want to Block Pornography at the Expense of Free Speech and Privacy

#52

Post by [deleted] »

DavidSJ wrote: post #48
deathanatos wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The writing and grammar on that site is terrible, but the double-entendre on that question takes the cake: > the retailers can set the amount to be what it feels the market can bare. I'm hoping that wasn't intentional.

The writing and grammar on that site is terrible, I’m sorry to do this, but I think you mean that the writing and grammar are terrible, not that they is terrible.

[deleted]

Re: Lawmakers Want to Block Pornography at the Expense of Free Speech and Privacy

#53

Post by avcdsuia »

userbinator wrote: post #11

Device manufacturers would be forced to install "obscenity filters" on cell phones, tablets, computers, and any other Internet-connected devices. I vaguely remember reading about a similar effort in China many years ago --- that failed silently. Trying to tie this into "human trafficking" is a cruel diversion, just like pornography, terrorism, and drugs. "Let's make the world safer" seems to be the common thread in a…

You are refering to the Green Dam Youth Escort. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Dam_Youth_Escort

Re: Lawmakers Want to Block Pornography at the Expense of Free Speech and Privacy

#54

Post by lsc »

userbinator wrote: post #11

Device manufacturers would be forced to install "obscenity filters" on cell phones, tablets, computers, and any other Internet-connected devices. I vaguely remember reading about a similar effort in China many years ago --- that failed silently. Trying to tie this into "human trafficking" is a cruel diversion, just like pornography, terrorism, and drugs. "Let's make the world safer" seems to be the common thread in a…

>"Those who give up freedom for security deserve neither."

so, this is generally attributed to Franklen, and makes a lot more sense in context:

"those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

It's not really that there's a problem with trading freedom for security; we all do that. But mind the exchange rate!

Re: Lawmakers Want to Block Pornography at the Expense of Free Speech and Privacy

#55

Post by philsnow »

> Anyone who wants to unlock the filters on their devices would have to put their request in writing, show ID, and verify that they’ve been shown a “written warning regarding the potential dangers” of removing the obscenity filter.

A near-future dystopian fiction could involve the opposite, with people being required to show their ID and aver that they've been shown a "written warning regarding the potential dangers" of installing censorship software on their devices, abrogating the decision of what's decent to either the state or to the device manufacturer, and paying $20 for the privilege.

Re: Lawmakers Want to Block Pornography at the Expense of Free Speech and Privacy

#56

Post by echevil »

mmirate wrote: post #49
echevil wrote: post #44

Sigh... If the lawmakers want to copy from China, why not copy their gun control laws first and actually save some lives..

Because copying their gun control laws would, at best, not save any lives. If you outlaw guns, then only outlaws will have guns.

A few decades ago, before China enforced strict gun control laws, gun ownership were also quite common in China, and it was also a big problem. Now China is way more safer than America (in terms of violent crimes)

Well, I was being sarcastic and don’t actually believe it would work that well for US. But gun control laws certainly saved many lives in China, and there is at least hope that it could actually save some American lives. It would make it much harder for new outlaws to obtain guns at least

Re: Lawmakers Want to Block Pornography at the Expense of Free Speech and Privacy

#57

Post by interfixus »

justonepost wrote: post #37

A better way would be to require all browser makers or OS makers add an easy to use child protection filter that can be easily enabled by parents. This is a serious issue and while the OP bill is obvious censorship, all parents want more easy control.

> * all parents want more easy control*

Refuted. I am a parent. I do not want 'more easy control'.

Re: Lawmakers Want to Block Pornography at the Expense of Free Speech and Privacy

#58

Post by Gibbon1 »

jordan801 wrote: post #32
saagarjha wrote: post #8

> Those filters could only be removed if consumers pay a $20 fee. Wait, what? Why should a fee to opt out exist?

Because they don't care about the moral and psychological aspects of the content filtered. They care about making money and they know that people will buy the opt out.

> they don't care about the moral and psychological aspects

I disagree. Authoritarians are always obsessed with being able to control peoples access to sex. Because that's a powerful lever you can use to control people.

For instance dominionist evangelicals and polygamist Mormons are obsessed with taking sexual rights away from women and commoditising access. Keeping young people and especially young men from access to porn, same deal.

Re: Lawmakers Want to Block Pornography at the Expense of Free Speech and Privacy

#59

Post by justonepost »

interfixus wrote: post #57
justonepost wrote: post #37

A better way would be to require all browser makers or OS makers add an easy to use child protection filter that can be easily enabled by parents. This is a serious issue and while the OP bill is obvious censorship, all parents want more easy control.

> * all parents want more easy control* Refuted. I am a parent. I do not want 'more easy control'.

Really? You don't want to be able to easily ensure that your pre-teens aren't able to easily access violent porn?

Alright, I guess "all" is little hyperbolic. But I think the sentiment stands firm.

I also think we need to avoid censorship as much as possible, and ensure parents have more control by default is the best path forward. Otherwise we'll end up with a solution like the UK has where age registration has to be done by everyone.

Re: Lawmakers Want to Block Pornography at the Expense of Free Speech and Privacy

#60

Post by bb88 »

aerotwelve wrote: post #43

Point of personal privilege: I am so embarrassed that Iowa is on that list. If your state happens to be listed, please remember to vote in November. There has to be serious electoral consequences for every politician who thought it was a good idea to put their name on such an abhorrent piece of legislation. Freedom of speech is not an in-app purchase.

Really, that makes you embarrassed?

Not US Rep. "McCarthy was an American Hero" Steve King? https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/steve-king-iowas-embarr...

Not giving gun permits to the blind? https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/08/iowa-g...

Not the Iowa State Basketball Coach making out with the coeds? http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/article_37ac54e3-06c1-563...

THAT... THAT embarrasses you about Iowa?

Post reply on HN