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Germany Legislates For Mandatory Web Filters
An anonymous reader writes "Germany's Minister for Families has announced a legislative initiative to force ISPs to implement a government-mandated block list (in English), which will be updated daily. The BKA (Germany's equivalent of the FBI) will be in charge of generating and maintaining the list. As usual, this is being brought in under the 'fight child porn' guise. The minister is quoted as saying: 'We must not water down the problem' in reply to being challenged that this law and technology could be used to censor other content. She then went on to say: 'I can't know what wishes and plans future governments will develop.' She has agreed the principle of the legislation with the interior minister and the technology minister, which in German coalition government terms means it's pretty much a done deal."
This is called a slippery slope argument and it is a logical fallacy.
Blocking sites with illegal content can be done without destroying freedom of speech.
The blacklist MUST be public. If it isn't then yes political speech can be restricted. Frankly it all ready is in much of the EU anyway.
Before throwing up your hands and crying foul why not see if it can be done correctly.
While I really don't think this will solve the problem with kiddie porn I am also not going to scream foul over it.
See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
Ok.. CP rings and traders know how to host websites in nations either without laws or with rampant corruption, but they don't know how to run a proxy?
What manner of idiots are these bureaucrats? I think they make this woman look intelligent.
Heck, ted stevens understands the internet more than these schmoes.
Anyway, ZEIG HEIL germany! Lets whip out those arm bands next!
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That is a given. But trying to stop people from accessing Kiddie Porn is a good thing. You will get zero traction from the general population trying to keep access to kiddie porn.
You can get traction trying to keep it from being abused.
See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
The thing is that if the list is public and they try and slip in a site that shouldn't be blocked then people in an other country will find out and post it on news sites. If the German government blocks Slashdot, Digg, or CNN then you will know that they are censoring political speech.
"Because there's no such thing as "correctly." The whole point is to take discretionary power away from the people and put it into the hands of government."
The Government is elected by the people in Germany at least. The people of Germany have decided that some speech isn't protected. Actually a LOT of political speech is not protected in a lot of EU countries. Things like pro Nazi speech is a good example. I kind of have a mixed feeling about that. While a world without Nazis really makes me smile it is still political speech even if it is ugly, nasty, stupid speech.
But that is my opinion and frankly it really has no standing. It is up to the people of Germany to decide what is best for them. What I think and what you think if you are not a German citizen really doesn't matter.
See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
You being modded flamebait is proof that Slashdot is a joke on your behalf.
Sod off.
Considering there is:
1) Porn
2) Hardcore Porn
3) Crazy Hardcore Porn
4) OMG doesn't that hurt Ultra Hardcore Porn
5) German Porn
The Germans want to censor the internet now?
I can just see their internet filter:
If Hoff = Protrayed.Badway
Then Internets = NIEN!
Else
Then Internets = JA!
Endif
He's creating the demand for it... You're whole premise is that if no one watched child porn it would still exist. That's ridiculous.
Why haven't you taught them about the dangers of being an imbecile and posting on the internet, based on your extensive personal expertise doing both?
"The government grants you rights, not the other way around."-- beav007. Yes, these people really exist...