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Venezuela's Chavez To Limit Internet Freedom

terets1 writes "Reuters reports that Venezuela's leader, Hugo Chavez, issued a call on Saturday for 'internet controls' to prevent rumors and inaccurate reporting from spreading. He specifically cited a case in which a website incorrectly reported that a senior minister had been assassinated and kept the story up for two days. Many of Venezuela's opposition movements use social networking sites to communicate. It is not apparent at this time exactly what kind of controls Chavez has in mind or whether those controls will be similar to the controls in Iran that have been used to silence opposition movements. Chavez said, 'The Internet cannot be something open where anything is said and done. Every country has to apply its own rules and norms.'"

18 of 452 comments (clear)

  1. Not insightful by betterunixthanunix · · Score: 0, Troll

    Who modded this insightful? I guess they are tired, it is a bit early on a Sunday morning.

    --
    Palm trees and 8
    1. Re:Not insightful by Runaway1956 · · Score: 0, Troll

      "Those who modded the post as "Insightful" probably read the post and marked it as such because they feel it is insightful."

      Or, some of the right wing crazies had a few mod points. Bashing Obama is today's most popular conservative sport.

      Now, if someone were to make an "insightful" post regarding US politics and censorship, they would have to include a few observations about Bush's Un-patriotic act, and the fact that Bush was all in favor of the ACTA treaty. Unfortunately, Obama also seems to favor that idiotic treaty which will subject governments around the world to corporate dictates.

      All I see in the original post, is Obama bashing, no insight whatsoever.

      --
      "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
  2. Re:Way to go by Scrameustache · · Score: 0, Troll

    Yes, used to, you google illiterate fuck

    Read the list I linked to, you stupid, stupid fuck: ONE of the TV stations did not get its license renewed, and you infer from that that all private TV stations have closed! How fucking long were you denied oxygen at birth? How many drops on your head did it take to make you hold on to that retarded conclusion after being provided facts correcting your idiotic belief?

    --

    You can't take the sky from me...

  3. Re:The same kind of policies... by Alpha+Prime · · Score: 0, Troll

    Coming soon to Obamaland!

    That's pure and utter bullshit! You've been listening to Faux News too much! Try listening to real news sources, not the Republican Propaganda Machine that is Faux News.

  4. Context by H4x0r+Jim+Duggan · · Score: 1, Troll

    This sort of thing will not be considered in Europe or North America, and us residents of those places will pat ourselves on the back for our love of liberty...

    The difference between Venezuela and our countries is that in our countries, the ruling class own both the media and politicians. In Venezuela, they just own the media.

    Chavez has some bad policies, and we're right to criticise those policies, but the context is important for forming an accurate opinion rather than a knee-jerk chauvinist one.

    1. Re:Context by H4x0r+Jim+Duggan · · Score: 0, Troll

      > To say the ruling class owns the politicians is a circular statement.

      You're assuming the politicians aren't puppets.

      Look at ACTA. There's nothing in there for the citizenry.

      And what do our representatives think is worth debatin? A: Whether instruments of infringement should be destroyed "promptly" (US/EU/Mex), or "without delay" (Canada), or whether a time shouldn't be specified (Aus). Wow, thanks guys.

  5. Re:Not according to Sean Penn by nodd · · Score: 0, Troll
    Excuse me, but why should defamation not be punishable? What he said is,

    "Every day, this elected leader is called a dictator here, and we just accept it, and accept it. And this is mainstream media. There should be a bar by which one goes to prison for these kinds of lies."

    And there is, you can go to jail for these false accusations. But of course, it's much more eye-catching using a title like "Sean Penn: Journalists who call Hugo Chávez a dictator should be jailed" than writing the actual quote.

  6. Re:Not according to Sean Penn by Scrameustache · · Score: 1, Troll

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/11/sean-penn-hugo-chavez-venezuela

    Wonder who is classified a dictator in his mind...

    Since I don't think Chavez is a dictator, and I can't speak for Penn, let me show you an example of someone I think of as a dictator.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pervez_Musharraf#Emergency_declared_in_Pakistan
    Emergency declared in Pakistan
    On 3 November 2007 Musharraf declared emergency rule across Pakistan. He suspended the Constitution, imposed State of Emergency, and fired the chief justice of the Supreme Court.[87] While addressing the nation on State Television, Musharraf declared that the state of emergency was imposed in the country. In Islamabad, troops entered the Supreme Court building, arrested the judges and kept them under detention in their homes. Troops were deployed inside state-run TV and radio stations, while independent channels went off air.

    Bush More Emphatic In Backing Musharraf
    President Bush yesterday offered his strongest support of embattled Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, saying the general "hasn't crossed the line" and "truly is somebody who believes in democracy."
    Bush spoke nearly three weeks after Musharraf declared emergency rule, sacked members of the Supreme Court and began a roundup of journalists, lawyers and human rights activists.

    --

    You can't take the sky from me...

  7. Re:Way to go by Scrameustache · · Score: 1, Troll

    Wait, wait, were you here when the coup happened?

    Nope, saw the documentary filmed by those who were there, and then went and read every bit of old news I could find on the subject. Then I read up on the recent history of Venezuela, read up amnesty international reports from before and after the Chavez era. You know, good ol' book learning, 21st century style.

    Now, the rest of you comment was incoherent, care to try it again?

    --

    You can't take the sky from me...

  8. Re:The same kind of policies... by Runaway1956 · · Score: 1, Troll

    Anyone would be an utter moron, if he were to trust any single news source. An intelligent person will read as many different sources as he can find the time to read, and compare & evaluate what he reads.

    Faux news exists for the convenience of the conservative utter morons.

    --
    "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
  9. Re:Way to go by binarylarry · · Score: 1, Troll

    I don't think you're going to be able to argument with this brainwashed nutjob.

    --
    Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
  10. Re:Way to go by HungryHobo · · Score: 0, Troll

    Since the summary and TFA don't seem to mention this little tipbit:

    http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&langpair=es|en&u=http://www.noticierodigital.com/&prev=/translate_s%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3DNoticierodigital%26sl%3Den%26tl%3Des

    On the evening of Saturday, the President of the Republic Hugo Chávez has asked the Attorney General's Office and the Minister Diosdado Cabello take legal action against this site by false rumors posted two new forumers in one of our forums and concerned the alleged murder of two ombudsmen linked to the Government.

    Yes.
    Chavez wants this site shut down and the internet controlled because of some rumour posts on the sites forum by some randomers.

    Can't we all just accept that he's evil yet?

  11. Re:Way to go by Scrameustache · · Score: 0, Troll

    but very quietly where not very many people can hear

    Support your assertion.

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    You can't take the sky from me...

  12. Re:Way to go by Scrameustache · · Score: 0, Troll

    Which assertion?
    That their audience has been reduced and as such far fewer people can hear what they have to say?

    Wow, you just keep moving that fucking goal post, don't you?

    --

    You can't take the sky from me...

  13. Re:Way to go by Scrameustache · · Score: 0, Troll

    Scrameustache believes that it isn't censorship if Chavez only censors people who oppose him strongly.
    If there are 10 people talking, 1 opposed, 8 neutral and 1 in favour and Chavez only has the 1 person who's opposed silenced then in Scrameustache's mind that means he isn't really censoring people much since 9 out of 10 weren't censored.

    "I'd like to note that the one tv station that was closed was one of two which openly expressed opposite opinions to the government. "

    You have made me into your straw man, but your argument is empty.
    He did not have every opponent silenced, like you claim.

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    You can't take the sky from me...

  14. Re:Way to go by Scrameustache · · Score: 0, Troll

    And you keep ignoring reality.

    No, you say he censors every dissenting opinion. I say he does not.

    You've trolled me, I admit, you really got me. Congratulation on making me reply to your unending series of bullshit, you must be so proud.

    --

    You can't take the sky from me...

  15. Re:Way to go by HungryHobo · · Score: 0, Troll

    No, you say he censors every dissenting opinion. I say he does not.

    You can say whatever you like but reality disagrees.
    He very clearly does censor dissenting opinion.
    That's what this whole article is about.

    But sure.
    dismiss me as a troll since you don't seem to want to face the real world.

  16. Re:Way to go by AK+Marc · · Score: 0, Troll

    I guess I don't understand. In the US, newscasters have sued (and won) to present purposefully biased stories that I'd call fraud. So our news is nothing other than entertainment with no more truth than Rush Limbaugh or Everybody Loves Raymond. But a country where libelous statements and fraudulent reporting are not "protected speech" this sounds like a reasonable action.

    Yes, I agree that it's a foothold for a slippery slope, but damn I wish that would happen in the US. I'm still waiting for someone to sue Fox News for false advertising, since they call themselves a news station.

    The news was lying about his cabinet members being alive, and other things that are untrue, damaging, and would be legally actionable in the US. He's just working to take actions to force an injunction against fraudulent lies. And people are whining about that because it's Venezuela.