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German Publishers To Use Sniffers to Censor Web
Anonymous Coward writes "The IDG News Service reports the industry "is proposing a system to detect illegal content on Web sites, and block access to those sites via German ISPs." The blocks would be installed at "key Internet junctions" that would disallow access to the offending sites. Andy Müller-Maguhn at the Chaos Computer Club is quoted in the story, and calls the scheme absurd." This scheme has been floated before - looks like it's going full speed ahead.
Although Germany does restrict certain political activities related to National Socialism, and like France, has a certain societal interest in supressing Nazi memorabilia, nostalgia, or political expression, the system is designed to restrict or otherwise control online music transfers.
Personally, I believe that political expression on the net should not be limited by political bounderies-- suppress Nazi sites and you essentially give China the moral authority to control Tibetan political expression on the web, but that's just my opinion.
In any case, I believe that there is even less of a foundation for giving control over information flow to German Music Companies-- which is really what this is all about.
Six million.
And with that, I invoke Godwin's Law. End of thread.
"If ignorance is bliss, may I never be happy.
-- Veni, vidi, dormivi
If it's automatic, the mirrors will soon be blocked as well... Moreover, if it's really automatic there will be a new kind of denial-of-service attack: somehow make it appear as if the site is sending content which matches the signature that the sniffer is looking for, and vlammm! site instantly inaccessible...
Say no to software patents.
Just curious. I'm not very knowledgeable about encryption or stuff at lower network levels, but wouldn't using HTTPS for looking at the websites stop the sniffers? I
And you can't block ALL encrypted traffic, seeing as how there's so much business that depends on it...
--
Libertarianism is rich wolves and poor sheep playing gambler's ruin for dinner.
Maybe because of that rare L. Ron Hubbard collection of rap tunes, including the infamous "Fight the Thetan"?
Seriously, though, since the German government already considers the CoS a business rather then a church, then it might be listed as "illegal" in terms of fraud if they referred to themselves as a religion on any Germany-based servers.
Not that I care what happens to the CoS, mind you...
I don't think this has a chance in Hell(tm) of working right. There are just too many ways to get around it.
Kierthos
Mr. Hu is not a ninja.
What's to stop them from blocking other "objectionable" content? I don't hold much truck with the CoS, but I can see them trying to block Scientology, and the slippery slope starts...
General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
The article describes a system that the German phonographic industry would like to see implemented... no government enforcement of this is mentioned, just that they want to open a dialogue with ISPs, none of whom, according to the CCC's spokesman, want to install it.
Bit early to start panicking, yet.
this could be just what the Internet needs to remove the filth and perversion
I totally reject the idea that somebody else should take it upon themselves to decide what is filth and perversion. I am a rational intelligent adult perfectly capable of making my own decisions in such matters.
no one has a legitimate need to view pornography or bomb making schematics or the formulas for illicit drugs
Absolutely and incontrovertably wrong.
There are many people for whom pornography is necessary to achieve normal sexual function. Bomb making schematics are an essential part of police and emergency response training. A degree in chemistry or chemical engineering requires an understanding of exactly the principles that are used to make these bombs in order to avoid their construction accidentally in a manufacturing or laboratory environment. Formulae for illicit (and illegal) drugs are required for physicians and chemists to be able to understand and treat the effects of these substances. In many cases any illicit drug is in fact a legal drug, just taken by someone without a prescription for the drug.
The fact is that there are many people that benefit from the free availability of these materials.
Your posting is one of the most dangerous and ill-advised that I have ever seen on this site. What you are advocating is an almost complete evisceration of both freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and supression of much knowledge that is fundamental to our technology based civilization.
MOVE 'ZIG'.
Let's face it, no one has a legitimate need to watch "Friends."
Both statements are equally true.
So tell me, where is the line drawn?
More importantly, who draws it?
I think "Friends" is mind warping propaganda. I want it banned. All websites about the topic should be shut down and their limbs cut off.
Even better, say I am in a minority religion and the majority religion (here in NA, that's Christianity) doesn't like it. They want it shut down. They say it's evil and makes kids shoot each other in schools (not true at all). Because of jerks like you, my say is repressed by the majority. Not only that but my views are seen as illegal. My right to exist as I am, for all intents and purposes, ends, at least in the fucked up country you want.
Have I demonstrated why free speech should be all-emcompassing, yet?