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Mandated Mediocrity

Posted by jamie on from the in-case-you-didn't-know dept.

I took some time over the last few days to sample what kind of political speech is censored by a typical filtering software package. The result is a report released jointly by EPIC (EPIC's copy) and Peacefire (Peacefire's copy). The software this time is N2H2 Bess, and if you're an American K-12 student, there's roughly a one-in-three chance you're forced to surf the net with its 'help.' It bans political speech ranging from campaign finance reform to the Second Amendment to Minnesota newspapers' election coverage.

My favorite block was the Traditional Values Coalition. Can I say "you reap what you sow" or would that just be rude?

In other news:

(an unrelated) Coalition To Promote Voluntary Net Filtering, Standards

"A new coalition of high-tech companies and industry groups is hoping to shift the focus of the national debate over Internet filtering by promoting the value of filtering software as an exclusively voluntary parental tool. ... the Committee on Internet Management and Safety will tout the value of filtering products while at the same time opposing legally mandated filtering."

Did they say "exclusively voluntary"? Good on 'em! Let's have a real debate about the value of this software, so that people can make up their own minds rather than having the government decide what's best for our schools and libraries. A level playing field would be a lot better than what we have now.

9 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Bravo! by NecroPuppy · · Score: 5

    It can't block the porn, but it can keep those awful psychopathic, raving, criminal politicians away from the kids. Way to go!

    --
    I like you, Stuart. You're not like everyone else, here, at Slashdot.
  2. How to Deal With Filtering Software by Homebrewed · · Score: 5

    They do this at my kid's school, first, I'll find out what software they're using. Then, in the privacy of my home network, I'll sit down with my 12-year-old and we'll figure out how to break it.

    1. Re:How to Deal With Filtering Software by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 5

      Why not? Should we be good sheep and go along with whatever the government wants us to do?

      Not a chance. I would rather teach my daughter to base her decisions on independent thought than some arbitrary "It's for the children, Tipper!" standard. If some law conflicts with my (or my children's) rights, then I don't have a problem with practicing civil disobedience. That's how we Americans got what few liberties we still have left.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  3. Getting Past the Censorware with Long Ip's by Lostman · · Score: 5

    I quote my sourceS: 2600 Magazine

    Obtain the IP address of the server you are attempting to connect to (through networksolutions whois if you wish). Then, take the individual octets and convert them to their binary equivalent (make sure to pad them with leading zeros to get the full 8 digits). Next string the binary numbers together and convert that (I suggest scientific calculator) to base 10 (decimal). Then you can just take that number, and go to http://thatnumber.

    WalkThrough
    www.2600.com
    207.99.30.230
    207 01100111
    99 01100011
    30 00011110
    230 11100110

    11001111011000110001111011100110(base 2)
    equals 3479379686 (base 10)
    http://3479379686 to get to 2600.com

  4. Bess, NH2. by kev-san · · Score: 5

    I'm 15 years old and attend a public high school here in suburban Denver. We surf through the Bess proxy which has blocked articles from Wired [the infamous Courtney Love speech], Salon [these articles are "constantly changing" and often include "sexual content." In my opinion, we go out in the hallways and hear far worse.], and even /. [some quickies have been blocked]. Luckily, the sysadmin isn't the brightest guy. A few other /.ers at the school and I have edited netscape.cfg so we could change the proxy at will. Bess involves censorship of unpopular ideas and must be stopped immediately.

  5. Re:Details? by jafac · · Score: 5

    it's worse than "doesn't work".

    You think the IT labor shortage is rough now?
    We're raising a whole generation of technical cripples.

    How?

    I spoke to my son, and several other members of his class, ages range from 12-13yrs. They all have nice computer in the lab, and decent internet connections, and N2H2 filtering software. Every single one of these kids said that the internet was a useless waste of time, there was nothing on it worth seeing or reading that wasn't filtered. There were a few lame "educational" and commercial sites, and that was it.

    In other words, kids aren't using computers, (except to learn Word and Excel). They aren't interested in the internet, only a few, and I'm guessing those are the ones who have access at home to unfiltered connections, who may or may not be looking at goatse.cx, but at least have the wide world of news and information at their disposal through the web.

    Basically, all these billions we're spending to wire the schools and libraries is a big waste of money and time.

    --

    These are my friends, See how they glisten. See this one shine, how he smiles in the light.
  6. A cgi converter for the lazy: by Anne+Marie · · Score: 5

    xdata.org/ip.html. Just type in the domain name, and off you go. The output for slashdot.org, for example, is:

    Decimal
    8/8/8/8-bit. http://64.28.67.48
    8/8/16-bit.. http://64.28.17200
    8/24-bit.... http://64.1852208
    32-bit...... http://1075594032

    Octal
    8/8/8/8-bit. http://0100.034.0103.060
    8/8/16-bit.. http://0100.034.041460
    8/24-bit.... http://0100.07041460
    32-bit...... http://010007041460

    --
    -- Anne Marie
  7. Best way to beat Censorware by doublem · · Score: 5
    Most radical ways to demonstrate your point about censorware
    1. Go to Library. Use a black marker to "protect" everyone else from printed content that would be blocked by censorware the library uses
    2. Do the same at school
    3. In public places (Classroom of teacher who advocates censorware, floor of the house or Senate) use a loud air horn to "protect" everyone from anything that censorware would block. This means Dick Army never gets to speak. Ever.


    There are a number of really good ways to beat censorware.
    1. Lawsuits. Sue the people trying to keep your child from seeing dangerous things like the Writings of Rush Limbaugh
    2. any trick found on 2600.com
    3. Bootable BEOS CD reconfigured to use the school's or Library's internet connection
    4. Bootable BSD CD reconfigured to use the school's or Library's internet connection
    5. Bootable Linux CD reconfigured to use the school's or Library's internet connection
    6. Bootable QNX CD reconfigured to use the school's or Library's internet connection
    7. I'd say Do your web surfing from home but that is not an option for students who cannot afford a computer at home.
    This is all an annoyance for people who have a home computer with an Internet connection, but a real disaster for people who do not.
    --
    "Live Free or Die." Don't like it? Then keep out of the USA
  8. I cannot believe this by jayfoo2 · · Score: 5

    sorry about the re-post, I formatted poorly, bad me.

    I just read this on N2H2's site. I cannot believe that they actually say this publically.

    "Own the Education Desktop Own the education desktop by reaching teens and tweens where they learn the most--the classroom.

    N2H2 is the leader in filtering Internet content for schools all across the United States. In doing so, we reach over 13.5 million* students who view 4 billion online pages a year. And our sponsorship and advertising opportunities let you be a part of every Web page they explore.

    Through our various properties, including Searchopolis.com, the N2H2 ResourceBar and the filtered search and homework resource channels of StarWarsKids.com, we deliver you unprecedented penetration, exposure and public relations opportunities in the difficult-to-tap education space. And because we deliver the largest online audience of tweens and teens in an educational environment, we know what students are doing online.

    In the classroom, 1800 different sites comprise 80% of the page views, making it virtually impossible for a company to launch an effective online advertising campaign during the school day--except with N2H2. To learn more about what students are doing online, and what this means to your brand, download a free copy of the N2H2 1st Quarter Learnings Report White Paper.

    Experience the success that N2H2 has delivered to leading companies such as Nickelodeon, Microsoft, Chevron Cars, Family Education Network, the Office of National Drug Control Policy and more. We invite you to navigate through our site, view our Online Media Kit, and contact us to receive more detailed information on how your brand can own the education desktop."

    Can a company actually be classified as evil?