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

scratches head

[circletimessquare]

so the guy is catching pedophiles, in the act, and you are disgusted that he gets paid, as a reporter, to report on something interesting to the public

!?

even more amazing, as of this quote, you have been rated as 4, interesting

trying to understand how you or those who voted you up think is something i cannot begin to fathom

you were joking, right?

folks

[circletimessquare]

trying to stop child pornographers, or, in another recent slashdot article, terrorists, with bullshit tactics, is of course absurd

however, a lot of the responses here amount to attacking the RATIONALE for fighting terorrists and child pornographers

no: child pornographers and terrorists are real. furthermore, the desire to stop them is valid. both observations are 100% true

therefore, if you want to stop the implementation of bullshit moronic tactics, think up some SUPERIOR, EFFECTIVE tactics on your own. and watch bullshti tactics fade away

but if you think attacking the RATIONALE for doing works, you are just as dumb and out of touch with reality as the government bureacrats you are heckling. because the rationale for doing what they do is 100% sound. and is not going away. nor should it go away

you want to stop bullshit tactics? good for you. so propose some effective tactics. but attacking the rationale for these bad implementations is a failure on your part to understand reality just as much as the stupid government bureacrats fail to understand reality

people have a valid right to desire to stop child pornographers and terrorists. so put on your thinking caps and think up some good tactics. this is far more effective than being derisive to the rationale for doing what dumb bureacrats do