Slashdot Mirror
UK Gov. Clueless About Own Internet Blacklist
spge writes "Computer Shopper magazine has interviewed the UK Home Office about its relationship with the Internet Watch Foundation and discovered that the government doesn't actually know what the IWF does, although it still plans to force UK ISPs to subscribe to the IWF's blacklist. The main story makes for interesting reading, but the best bit is the full transcript of the interview. Short version: the IWF investigates suspected child porn websites and adds any it finds to a list that ISPs can use to block these sites; uk.gov wants ISPs to use this list; however, the IWF is not an official government organization, does not appear to have legal permission to view child pornography, and quite possibly is breaking the law by doing so."
They're going to be getting some interesting job applicants, aren't they?
"Common sense will be the death of us all"
How do you report a crime without self-incriminating yourself since viewing said crime is a crime?
I suddenly feel the urge to register a complaint with the cambridge police reporting that there's a large stash of illegal images at so-and-so offices. 'Tis that I'm not anywhere near, or I'd be very tempted indeed.
is what it's about. If they don't know what the IWF is actually doing, then when it goes wrong, they can say "wasn't us". That is standard practice for the current UK government. Fred Goodwin's pension? We didn't know about that. UK residents being totured by the CIA? Wasn't us. 400 needless deaths in a hospital? We've given local health authorities responsibility for maintaining standards. Etc etc.
Oh no... it's the future.
It would have been the spokesman's responsibility to say "I am not in the know about this, let me check back with the relevant departments first".
No, here in the UK we like to appoint people without any technological clue into jobs where they're making technical decisions.
If the representative they send is likely to be representative of the people in charge: technologically incompetent.
Quite a large population "guesses that the government does an adequate job"... and anyway, it can't be changed.
The government "guesses that the advisors do a good job", and anyway, it can't all be checked, and we're better off with than without them.
I guess that my boss is doing a good job, but anyway, I cannot do his job, and I am clueless what he actually does all day.
I guess that the news agencies are telling the truth, but anyway, I can't go out to check it all myself.
And apparently, the UK government guesses that the IWF's blacklist is a good thing... and anyway, it's already there and its use can't be checked (easily by PM's themselves).
We're all guessing, and the system is easy to hijack. And we're all convinced that it cannot be changed, and therefore we're stuck.
I guess you all knew that already, didn't you?
If they're speaking in the name of the Home Office, then the title is spot on. Also, the transcript explicitly states that all questions were sent to the Home Office a full day before the interview "to give them plenty of time to prepare". If they can't even prepare properly, then not only is the Home Office clueless, but the PR man is useless at his job.
Regardless, what you said is exactly what's wrong with the UK government*: too many f*cking PR men with their dial set to constant spin-cycle. (Never mind too many unelected officials making decisions and influencing policy).
Who are these nameless idiots anyway? "A home office spokesman", doesn't (s)he have a name?
* Likely to continue under the Tories as well.
'If Christ had tweeted the sermon on the mount, it might have lasted until nightfall.' - John Perry Barlow
UK gov. clueless
i think that everyone must understand why we consider child porn to be so highly illegal. because it means exploitation of a minor. so the decision of blocking nude pics of children must be based on whether a child was exploited or not. its like i tell a person that lying is wrong, without the person understanding the logic behind my statement. now this setup works well until there is a situation where speaking the truth will result in the death of an innocent person, but lying may save a life.
Wealth is the gift that keeps on giving.
i think that everyone must understand why we consider child porn to be so highly illegal. because it means exploitation of a minor.
Bullshit. I hope you don't believe your own words. Child porn is illegal because of religious (neo)-conservatism. Child exploitation is generally either legal or condoned (when it does not involve sex). Believe me the same nut-jobs who don't want children having sex are the same ones who want them physically abused through corporal punishment, childhood death sentences, and making cheap running shoes in India and China, etc. There is a lot of dishonesty and hypocrisy in the think-of-the-children crowd. If I ever see a concerted effort by the think-of-the-children crusaders in banning all child acting, and not just pornography, then I would take them more seriously then their vary obvious religious lifestyle and mentality would demonstrate.
Yeah, and the lying example is sad. Most people lie as naturally as they breathe or urinate. It's just another hobby.
I think you're a truly sick individual and want nothing to do with you.
Flaimbait and insults. I'm disappointed but not surprised. There are a lot of people who have hate in them, hate enough to defend hurting their own children and calling people who are honest and peace-loving like myself "sick". It's not surprising, it's disgusting. But unfortunately that is the way people are. We have to live with each other. Although I'm sure you would rather have me be killed or put into a concentration camp, because that's the kind of hate I perceive coming out of you. Illogical, unrestrained, and willing to fight for the religious abuse that you were indoctrinated with.