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New Zealand Looks at Internet Censorship
David writes "The New Zealand Government 'Select Committee', upon reviewing censorship law, has issued a report which among other things, recommends that ISPs face compulsory licensing "in order to control their behaviour", the forcing of a code of conduct upon ISPs, and recommends the implementation of an internet filtration programme not dissimilar from that of Australia's (although it is hazy on the details of what this would mean). They're starting to become really worried about the dangers of the internet."
It would help if people actually read the report. First, its not a 'Government' Select Committee, its simply a Parliamentary Committee. Its a report to the Parliament, which includes some recommendations to the Government (which they are not bound to implement). Second, it recommends a voluntary code of practice for ISPs, as a first step. This isn't cause of 'hue & cry' about internet censorship - which if some of the earlier commenters are correct is irrelevant anyway...
Come on NZ. Didn't you pay any attention to what happened with the "censorship" in Australia? It was a complete failure.
Any attempt to censor the internet, short of taking over every router on the border, is destined to fail.
"Smoking helps you lose weight - one lung at a time" -- A. E. Neumann
"Our concern is not really to stop people looking at pictures; it's to stop the abuse of children involved in the making of this [hardcore] material," and where there is a clear case of child sexual abuse, no jurisdiction will defend it, he says.
Whoa, did I read that right? A government official saying something reasoned and intelligent when it comes to child porn? A clear understanding of the underlying problem? No blanket statements? No fear of the new medium? No desire to put everyone in jail and pull out the innocents later? No "gateway to other crimes" theories? No fallacious logic ("95% of child abusers have some form of pornography on their computers. Therefore, there's a 95% chance that anyone with any porn on their computer is a child abuser.")?? This guy has an actual concern for children, and doesn't just use "save the children" to advance an agenda??
Damn! All we have here is John "Under God" Ashcroft. If everybody is as clued in as this NZ guy, I'll take the censorship, thanks!
Personally I believe that ISP's should be given the same common carrier status as phone companies: they are not liable for any content traveling through their system.
This would not prevent them from being able to act against persons violating the law. Ie: kiddy porn is illegal in most countries. If you try to host kiddy porn, you are breaking existing laws and can be nailed with traditional laws and warrants.
Not hosting the content on the ISP? Then why should the ISP be responsible for someone elses actions? Help them find the source, sure, but again under already established laws.
If you arrange to have someone killed via the phone that does not make Ma Bell an accessory to murder.
If when planning terrorist activities any carrier could be held liable then I'd save to say it's time to lock up every phone & cellular company - they're aiding and abetting terrorism!
So why should it be different for the net and ISP's?
Protect the children?? When are we going to protect ourselves from this ridiculousness?!
Blockwars: a realtime multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
"They do not preach that their god will rouse them, a little before the Nuts work loose." Kipling, 'The Sons of Martha'
If you are in favor of sites that expose children in erotic sex acts or that promote killing people, you are the one with the problem, not me.
No, it's people like you who are the problem!
The danger with cencorship is who decides what is right and what is wrong? Your idea of acceptable may be very different from mine. Who's right?
American's love their guns on TV. Europeans tend to prefer skin. Personally I think the Europeans have that one right.
Your argument about Kiddie Porn and Child Endangerment, software piracy, and violence, are already covered by existing laws . They don't need extra regulations to make them illegal... they already are!
I am in favor of being able to conduct myself as I see fit, as long as I do not break any existing laws, whether you like what I have to say or not. It's called free speech and it's a fundamental freedom. Nobody says you have to listen to me. But don't you dare to shut me up because it upsets you!
Blockwars: a realtime multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
"They do not preach that their god will rouse them, a little before the Nuts work loose." Kipling, 'The Sons of Martha'
"We're pretty hopeful that the outcome from all this might be more people making a real commitment to self regulation rather than seeing some draconian regulation introduced."
How is forced self-regulation any different than a law that does the same thing? It's like saying "give me your lunch money or I'll kick your ass and take it!" Admittedly, less ass-kicking is involved, but otherwise you feel just as bad.
I disagree; goatse sent shivers up my spine when I saw it a year or so ago, but ALT-F4 remedied the damage (mostly). I don't think it should be illegal or censored; I didn't follow the other link because I assume it's similar. Who should decide which sites are like the ones above? I'd prefer to decide for myself.
If you are in favor of sites that expose children in erotic sex acts
Define child. It's a bit different (legally) depending where you reside. Are non erotic sex acts ok? Is softporn ok? Who pidgeonholes sites? Maybe Ashcroft?
child endangerment
What about McDonalds.com? They propose feeding kids fatty foods; that's child endangerment.
Software piracy
I 'pirate' software even though I've already bought it; I hate cataloging windows id#'s and putting in a game cd when I want to play so I 'pirate' them though I've paid. Try and use an appropriate term; either copyright infringement, license infringement or DMCA infringement.
If you are in favor of promoting sites that expose children in erotic sex acts or that promote killing people, you are the one with the problem, not me.
What about cnn.com? They extensivily covered the Clinton scandal; you might consider Melinsky a child. They promote war in Iraq (killing people).
Could you clarify your points?
[sarcasm]Of course this is all about stopping pr0n, and NOTHING to do with stopping people from being able to download movies and music.[/sarcasm]
Funny how groups in both Australia and New Zealand starting kicking up a stink about "Filtering", so soon after visits by american "entertainment" industry lobbyists.
http://jesus.everdense.com/
Here in the US we have lots of 9-5 parents who do not have the time or desire to intervene in their kid's lives as needed. A free Internet allows for graphic porn and worse, especially thru bulkmail at any major public e-mail domain. My own accounts are flooded with junkmail ranging from things illegal in some US states to things better left at the server they came from. Freedom has its prices, and many parents need to intervene more in what their kids are doing. Grnted, that is tough when both parents are working, but latchkey kids can just as easily unlock internet sites unintentionally. Governments are opportunistic creations that tend to centralize power at every opportunity, and here in the US you will find no better example. Post 9-11 there are groups here that have been advocating for deprivation of freedom of communication in order to prevent terrorism, prompting many of our mirror governments (similar to us but not necessarily our puppets; Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc.) to advocate the same. I concur with you that to such freedom for security is too high a price to pay, but unfortunately the freedom to speak of such things is protected by the very freedoms they seek to revoke. Hopefully we can balance freedom with responsibility, but who knows.
As long as there is a Second Amendment, there will always be a First Amendment.
This really shouldn't have been modded off-topic, it IS on topic. Internet filtering is EXACTLY what China uses on their own citizens to stop them from viewing objectionable material online.
Currently NZ says they're only going after porn. Maybe someday they'll decide that they should block any websites which are critical of THEIR government.
Censors don't fix problems, they hide them and pretend they don't exist...
N.
"Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence." - Charles de Gaulle