Slashdot Mirror
Zimbabwe to Block & Censor E-mail, Identify Users
securitas writes "The BBC's Patrick Jackson reports that Zimbabwe's government plans to require ISPs to 'divulge details of e-mails deemed offensive or dangerous' and to provide 'government officials user details relating to material featuring anything from obscenity to "anti-national activities".' Last year Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe said that IT and communications technologies like the Internet were used 'by a few countries in the selfish interests of those countries which are in quest of global dominance and hegemony.' There is some confusion about the proposed provisions and if they mean that ISPs will be legally required to monitor e-mail or simply assist in government and criminal investigations, as many other countries require."
Is this what the US is heading towards eventually in its pursuit of "national security"?
AC to try and avoid getting caught [or jsut because I'm lazy?]
Hmmmm....I wonder what happens if I send an email to someone in there that is spamming me and I send them an ascii art of middle finger. Would that considered offensive by the government for them to send the death squad at me in US?
-- Amazing how the Internet still humms along.... -- Dispite all the flaws of Micro$oft in their software!
Robert Mugabe! He asked me to help him move $47 million in unclaimed funds from his country to the US and he would give me 15% for my troubles. I've already sent him the $15000 in transfer fees, so it's just a matter of days until I'm rich!!!
Dear Sir,
Firstly I must first solicit your confidence in this transaction. I am President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and it is my great regret that the IT and communications technologies like the Internet worth $35,432,000USD are being held hostage by the selfish interests of those countries which are in quest of global dominance and hegemony.
If I may beg your assistance in freeing the ITs, I will be happy to name your family the beneficiary of their accounts. Thank you in advanced for your anticipated cooperation.
Best Regards,
Mr. Robert Mugabe
that a genocidal maniac would try to stop the free passage of information!
C'mon, censored Internet usage is the LEAST of the troubles in Zimbabwe. How about famine? Wholesale murder of the farmers? Hmm?
The latest Slashdot meme.
This stupid government will try anything to silence us. Whenever someone tries to speak out agaiasdalkfj
[NO CARRIER]
Slavery is alive and well in Zimbabwe, what's a little censorship?
SO ... WHEN DOES ZIMBABWE TAKE OVER NIGERIA? I THINK I'LL START A FUND TO COLLECT MONEY TO HIRE MERCENARIES TO HELP THEM WITH THE INVASION. TO HELP ME OUT, I'LL NEED A CC# OR BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION POSTED IN THIS THREAD.
... junk text follows:
HELP STAMP OUT NIGERIAN SCAMS - AND ALL THE LOOT FROM THE NIGERIAN TREASURY WILL BE SENT TO THOSE WHO POST HERE!
friggin lameness filter ruining my joke
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That'll be easier said than done, what with all the spam and all. 90%+ of spam would be considered offensive...
I suffer from attention surplus disorder.
He's almost as evil as George Bush!
My cousin's new husband is currently wanted by the Zimbabwe government for being involved with the student unions there. He's currently just completing a law degree in south africa, and Mugabe and his merry lot only really pose a threat to him if he tries to return to Zimbabwe, as he discovered when he tried to visit his family there and only escape with a few minutes as some government thug payed one of his regular visits to relatives. He's even met Mugabe's nephew, or similar, not a very nice chap apparently.
On the actual topic, though, I'm presuming this will apply to ISPs inside zimbabwe, and if so, are they going to block ISPs in South afica or other nearby countries?
"There is some confusion about the proposed provisions and if they mean that ISPs will be legally required to monitor e-mail or simply assist in government and criminal investigations, as many other countries require."
Come on, this is a dictatorship we're talking about here, which one do YOU think?
SIR SORRY WE ARE DOING BEST WE CAN BUT WE HAVE RUN INTO LEGAL FEE PROBLEMS AND ARE MOVING ALONG QUICKLY POSSIBLE.
WITH GRACE GOD WE WILL COMPLETE SHORTLY THE TRANSFER PLEASE REMEMBER YOU CAN HELP MY COUNTRY IF YOU COULD PLEASE SEND $500 FOR LEGAL DOCUMENTS TO ENCLOSED ADDRESS.
Sincerely
RBORT MUGBE
Lots of caps:
This is a block of text with no caps that you should ignore. Nigerian spams without caps? Psh. It'll never happen. This is a block of text with no caps that you should ignore. Nigerian spams without caps? Psh. It'll never happen. This is a block of text with no caps that you should ignore. Nigerian spams without caps? Psh. It'll never happen. This is a block of text with no caps that you should ignore. Nigerian spams without caps? Psh. It'll never happen.
Fortunately, the amount of pornographic spam going around would effectively make this very difficult.
Unknown host pong.