Digg.com Attempts To Suppress HD-DVD Revolt

fieryprophet writes "An astonishing number of stories related to HD-DVD encryption keys have gone missing in action from digg.com, in many cases along with the account of the diggers who submitted them. Diggers are in open revolt against the moderators and are retaliating in clever and inventive ways. At one point, the entire front page comprised only stories that in one way or another were related to the hex number. Digg users quickly pointed to the HD DVD sponsorship of Diggnation, the Digg podcast show. Search digg for HD-DVD song lyrics, coffee mugs, shirts, and more for a small taste of the rebellion." Search Google for a broader picture; at this writing, about 283,000 pages contain the number with hyphens, and just under 10,000 without hyphens. There's a song. Several domain names including variations of the number have been reserved. Update: 05/02 05:44 GMT by J : New blog post from Kevin Rose of Digg to its users: "We hear you."

Comments

Re:Credibility

[McFadden]

Yeah, funny how people get that much more outraged at censorship when they're the ones being censored

I think you're right, but I'd go further. Frankly, I think this whole thing has little to do with censorship. There are a few hardcore Digg users out there who are genuinely outraged about the whole thing. But for every one of them, there are a thousand idiot 12 year-olds who are just enjoying causing chaos, like 12-year old usually do.

Frankly, the same goes for the entire MPAA/RIAA fiasco. This encryption key situation has nothing to do with the MPAA trying to censor its codes, and everything to do with the greed-driven individual wanting to be able to copy as much free music, movies and other IP as they can get there grubby mitts on. Any time the MPAA/RIAA takes action, it raises the possibility of this pot of gold being taken away. Which no one wants.

Don't get me wrong. There are a core group of genuine activists who truly care about individual freedoms: the right to use something you bought in whatever way you want, the removal of restrictive DRM etc. They eloquently advocate consumer rights and fight for the rest of us to have these freedoms. But for the average moron in the street, this has nothing to do with that. It's about being able to copy stuff for free. The genie is out of the bottle. People can get stuff without paying and now they don't want it to end. Does average Joe really care about the poor individuals being sued because they downloaded a few songs. Fuck no. Of course they don't. What they care about is whether it will affect them when they download the new Avril Lavigne album (for the record, I did, and it's shit).

The anti-DRM/consumer rights cause is a fine one. But for most people, it's nothing more than a pathetic charade. When I say "I believe that DRM is evil, and the RIAA are assholes for suing people using P2P networks" what I really mean is "I want to keep downloading free stuff without any problems". The majority of people who try and pretend otherwise are just fucking liars.

Wow...just wow

[HanoverFist]

This whole thing is pathetic. What we have here is a password. The password, coincidentally in hex, is patented in conjunction with the HD-DVD patent. The hex # itself cant be controlled. But passing it around with the intent to circumvent a patented product is illegal. Period. Don't care what self-righteous, ignorant soapbox the internet is on this week. The fact is they have the right, by any sane and logical examination, to control their products. This whole "They can't stop us from posting the numbers" crusade is just flat out self-righteous and ignorant. If you're honestly so for this then let's see all your personal passwords and such on the internet for all to see so we can use what you have to our hearts content. I mean seriously, you do NOT have the right to that word or series of letters/numbers. And clearly you don't see a right to personal property here. So screw your supposed right to personal data and your hard earned hardware. I want it too. Sure they can change their password, but hell thats a lot of work for something that shouldn't have to be done in the first place. Not if a little common respect was followed. This is why we elect individuals to lead. Because people behave like retarded sheep on crack.

Re:I'd like to say...

[bjd145]

And digg is supposed to be a shiny example of the wonderful benefits of Web 2.0?! Give me Web 1.0 any day.

I guess the wisdom of crowds isn't so wise. Well at least for 14-18 year old geeks.

Re:Digg management are full of hypocrites

[catmistake]

That's not speech. That's vandalism, harrassment... cyber-terrorism, maybe... but not speech.

Re:I'd like to say...

[catmistake]

Whatever. Bombarding a site with the same repetitious non-news is not speech.