Three ISPs Agree To Block Child Porn

Goobergunch and other readers sent in word that Sprint, Time Warner, and Verizon have agreed to block websites and newsgroups containing child pornography. The deal, brokered by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, occurred after Cuomo's office threatened the ISPs with fraud charges. It's of some concern that the blacklist of sites and newsgroups is to be maintained by the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an NGO with no legal requirement for transparency. Here are two further cautions, the first from Lauren Weinstein: "Of broader interest perhaps is how much time will pass before 'other entities' demand that ISPs (attempt to) block access to other materials that one group or another feels subscribers should not be permitted to see or hear." And from Techdirt: "[T]he state of Pennsylvania tried to do pretty much the same thing, back in 2002, but focused on actually passing a law ... And, of course, a federal court tossed out the law as unconstitutional. The goal is certainly noble. Getting rid of child porn would be great — but having ISPs block access to an assigned list isn't going to do a damn thing towards that goal."

Comments

Killing the Internet.

[Odder]

Let's see:

• Plans to charge per site access, as if they were cable channels.
• Plans to kick off people at will, as if it were about "piracy".
• Now, plans to block sites.

If all of these things come about, the internet will be like cable TV and there will be no free press.

Re:slippery slope

[Wavebreak]

Also in Finland. Caused somewhat of a stir when a site listing banned addresses got banned itself, for linking to kiddie porn. Exactly how can a list like that be held to any standard of accountability rather than sliding into full-blown censorship if you can't even keep a list of *what* gets banned?

According to CNET, they are blocking all of USENET

[PRMan]

Actually, it's far worse than anyone thought. They aren't filtering a few minor websites, they are actually blocking major portions of USENET:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-9964895-38.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

Time Warner will now block all of USENET

Sprint will now block all alt.* newsgroups

Verizon will now block large, unnamed sections of USENET.

So, whoever said "USENET will be shut down in the name of 'protect the children'" on the poll last week, you win!

Re:False positives, misleading true positives

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

Are all you guys crying "Child porn is so awful!" really saying that if a hot young, busty and curvaceous 15 year old was standing naked in front of you, you wouldn't be aroused?

No. Ten seconds after any 15 year old begins to speak, most adults develop an acute urge to gouge out their own ears and let out a long, tormented wail.