New 'Enemies of the Internet' Listed In Reporters Without Borders Study

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New 'Enemies of the Internet' Listed In Reporters Without Borders Study

Posted by Soulskill on Tuesday March 13, 2012 @07:45AM from the beware-the-anti-tube-legislation dept.

New submitter Warmlight writes "The BBC reports that 'Bahrain and Belarus have been added to Reporters Without Borders' annual list of "enemies of the internet." They join 10 other nations on the campaign group's register of states that restrict net access, filter content and imprison bloggers. India and Kazakhstan have also joined RWB's list of "countries under surveillance" because of concerns that they are becoming more repressive.' I wonder how ACTA will affect this in the next year? In their report, they say, 'Resistance to ACTA is stronger than ever and the treaty may not see the light of day. Vigilance must be maintained.'"

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Bahrain exempt under "But they give us oil" clause by elrous0 · 2012-03-13 07:51 · Score: 3, Insightful

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia can do whatever they like as long as they keep that sweet, sweet crude coming. I've got an SUV to fill.

--
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
Re:Hm by GameboyRMH · 2012-03-13 07:52 · Score: 3, Funny

The purest form of free speech allows censorship?

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"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Re:Bahrain exempt under "But they give us oil" cla by GameboyRMH · 2012-03-13 07:54 · Score: 1

Not RTFA'ing is fair game, but it's clear that you failed to RTFS.

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"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
See, it used to be by Compaqt · 2012-03-13 07:54 · Score: 4, Insightful

the Internet was just "our little private world", like Second Life.
It wasn't "real life". It was just a separate little thing.
Nobody (especially governments) cared about since, mostly since they didn't even know about it.
Now that everybody's on it, they want:
-Nothing exposing misdeeds (US)
-Nothing about the Nazis (Germany)
-Nothing about competing brands (France)
-Nothing offensive (India)
-Nothing about how the rest of the world lives (China)
and so on.
If only there, there were another interconnected network ... hmm.

--
I'm not a lawyer, but I play one on the Internet. Blog
1. Re:See, it used to be by betterunixthanunix · 2012-03-13 08:07 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  If only there, there were another interconnected network ... hmm.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidonet
  
  --
  Palm trees and 8
2. Re:See, it used to be by cpghost · 2012-03-13 08:24 · Score: 1
  
  If only there, there were another interconnected network ... hmm.
  Some of us are still running UUCP nodes over POTS phone lines just for the heck of it. Others are running various darknets on top of the main IP network (Freenet, RetroShare, and many, many others). There are also UUCP-based or even IP-based packet radio out there if you have a HAM license...
  
  --
  cpghost at Cordula's Web.
3. Re:See, it used to be by cpu6502 · 2012-03-13 08:29 · Score: 1
  
  I used to get Fidonet through my local BBS, but now I have no idea how to access it. (It's not easy like usenet which can be reached through google.)
  
  --
  My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
4. Re:See, it used to be by forkfail · 2012-03-13 08:32 · Score: 1
  
  Not exposing the misdeeds of Nazis is offensive to the rest of the world; several different magazines have written articles on this.
  
  --
  Check your premises.
5. Re:See, it used to be by tlhIngan · 2012-03-13 09:05 · Score: 1
  
  If only there, there were another interconnected network ... hmm.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidonet
  
  Fidonet actually has a claim to fame on this - while governments are restricting net access, the lowly modem is often free and clear as POTS aren't monitored as heavily, so the passage of messages through Fidonet is often much easier and much safer. It's just a lot slower as it's basically computers synchronizing with each other daily via modem.
  And apparently it's been used for just that purpose to get information out.
6. Re:See, it used to be by antdude · 2012-03-13 10:15 · Score: 1
  
  Internet 2? :P
  
  --
  Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
7. Re:See, it used to be by shutdown+-p+now · 2012-03-13 12:20 · Score: 1
  
  The problem with FidoNet is that it's explicitly non-anonymous by design. Also, since network topology is geographical, it's fairly easy to trace things, and for stuff that matters most of the time (e.g. correspondence between two citizens of the same country), falls entirely in the jurisdiction of a single government - so if it's oppressive, it can easily obtain evidence or wiretap.
8. Re: See, it used to be by gidds · 2012-03-14 02:32 · Score: 1
  
  If only there, there were another interconnected network ...
  THERE IS ANOTHER SYSTEM
  
  --
  Ceterum censeo subscriptionem esse delendam.
Great list by gmuslera · 2012-03-13 07:57 · Score: 5, Interesting

The country that promoted SOPA, PIPA, ACTA, taken hostile control of the root dns, made raids overseas for Megaupload and others, have laws that force big companies like google/facebook/etc to give them their customers information and a "few" more is somewhat absent there. We need the Archenemy of the Internet list for it?
1. Re:Great list by GameboyRMH · 2012-03-13 08:07 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  You know I tried to write a post describing how what these countries are doing is worse, but the only thing they do that's worse is put people to death in some cases.
  Also:
  
  Kazakhstan was added to the list after being said to have cut communications around the city of Zhanaozen during a riot
  And what is routinely done in first-world countries in cities where the G8/G20 is being held?
  
  --
  "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
2. Re:Great list by betterunixthanunix · 2012-03-13 08:13 · Score: 1
  
  I don't know of many (any?) developed countries that aren't currently struggling with issues like this.
  So what you are saying is that governments in general have a problem with a network that allows cheap, fast, long-distance and hard-to-control communication between people? Yeah, I guess I cannot really disagree with that: governments want to control everything, and the Internet is a hard thing to control.
  
  --
  Palm trees and 8
3. Re:Great list by gmuslera · 2012-03-13 08:42 · Score: 2
  
  If for you killing is specifically shooting in the heart with a 9mm and not all the other possible ways, yes, the enemies of internet could be just the ones that restrict net access. But restricting net access to the citizens of one of your own cities or even your own country looks less severe than restricting somewhat internet (and free expression, and a lot more) to all the world.
  Don't know what does Iran, Belarus, or Bahrain to you if you do in your own country (provided that is not one of them) something that is illegail in them, but we know what US do.
Re:Hm by GameboyRMH · 2012-03-13 07:59 · Score: 4, Insightful

Ah I think I understand now, if cash can be speech then why not bullets and tanks? They convey much more of a message IMO.

--
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Re:Bahrain exempt under "But they give us oil" cla by FrozenFood · 2012-03-13 07:59 · Score: 1

I agree!
More blood for oil!
I think we need another campain of crusades.
Re:Bahrain exempt under "But they give us oil" cla by Lunix+Nutcase · 2012-03-13 08:01 · Score: 2

Sarcasm detector broke? He was making a quip about how the western governments turns a blind eye to these country's terrible actions to keep the oil flowing.
If the U.S. isn't on that list by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-13 08:03 · Score: 5, Insightful

along with other first-world nations like Australia and the U.K., then the list isn't honest or accurate.
1. Re:If the U.S. isn't on that list by Galestar · 2012-03-13 08:07 · Score: 1
  
  ^ this
  
  --
  AccountKiller
2. Re:If the U.S. isn't on that list by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-13 11:32 · Score: 1
  
  With your asinine comment, you have just proven that you don't know what censorship, corruption, or oppression actually are.
  Fuck off.
Re:"enemies of the West" by interkin3tic · 2012-03-13 08:04 · Score: 4, Insightful

The full list of "enemies" seems to be: Bahrain Belarus Burma China Cuba Iran North Korea Saudi Arabia Syria Turkmenistan Uzbekistan and Vietnam

There's a subtle difference between "We're shutting you down because you're giving people free movies that you don't have the rights to" and "We're keeping you from accessing these websites because they say we are corrupt assholes." Or "We're going to kill you for saying things we don't like online."

Both are bad in my opinion, the US could easily slide into outright internet censorship, and the US is also hypocritical on this matter, but for right now I feel we're not in the same league as, say, Syria.
Re:I bought an iPad! by JustAnotherIdiot · 2012-03-13 08:04 · Score: 2

An iPad? Pfff, that's so last hour. The iPad 45 came out a few minutes ago.

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What do I know, I'm just an idiot, right?
Russia is there; why not U.S.? by cpu6502 · 2012-03-13 08:11 · Score: 4, Informative

"The 'under surveillance' list also includes Russia, which has used cyber-attacks and has arrested bloggers and netizens to prevent a real online political debate."
The U.S. has done the same (usually with a false claim of copyright infringement)
.

--
My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
Mod this Down - WRONG by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-13 08:13 · Score: 1

Anybody with a half a clue would know that Bahrain has little oil and it certainly isn't a factor the reason it is friendly with Western governments.
Thus, moderator, please mod the parent down to oblivion for being utterly and completely wrong.
Facts 1 - elrous0 0.
1. Re:Mod this Down - WRONG by jaymemaurice · 2012-03-13 18:21 · Score: 1
  
  I would think Bahrain is a nice buffer from Iran in control of the straights (indirectly related to oil) and is quite close with Saudi (indirectly related to oil) and the stability of Bahrain is important to regional interests (indirectly related to oil). But that said... come to the region and you will find that there is more then just oil. There is a different way of thinking that is not all bad. And much of the western media and pop culture about the region leaves me scratching my head thinking WTF?
  
  --
  120 characters ought to be enough for anyone
Re:"enemies of the West" by betterunixthanunix · 2012-03-13 08:17 · Score: 2

"We're keeping you from accessing these websites because they say we are corrupt assholes."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikileaks

the US is also hypocritical on this matter, but for right now I feel we're not in the same league as, say, Syria.
Does the US order soldiers to open fire on protesters? No, of course not, we prefer to have our paramilitary police enter homes in the early hours of the morning and shoot people:

http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/drug-war-victim/

Here is the point where you say, "But that is still different, because those people died due to government mistakes!" At the end of the day, however, people were killed by militarized government agents.

--
Palm trees and 8
Re:I bought an iPad! by pankkake · 2012-03-13 08:25 · Score: 1

Product numbers are so 2011.
I have the new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new new iPad.
> Your comment violated the "postercomment" compression filter. Try less whitespace and/or less repetition.

--
Kill all hipsters.
Every government by Hentes · 2012-03-13 08:25 · Score: 3, Interesting

Governments of Earth tend to view the Internet as a threat to their power.
Re:Hm by MysteriousPreacher · 2012-03-13 08:25 · Score: 1

President Obama, don't you think that slogan of yours is a wee bit negative. Even if you end up going toe to toe with Santorum, you'll still need something that speaks more to your strengths.

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-- Using the preview button since 2005
Re:Hm by forkfail · 2012-03-13 08:28 · Score: 1

doublethink r plusplusgood

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Check your premises.
Re:I bought an iPad! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-13 08:42 · Score: 1

Enjoy the Koolaid... You may be happy to spend your money on over-priced toys, for no reason other than your loyalty to the HOLY APPLE (a company INTERESTED IN MAKING PROFITS!)
While you're wasting money on Apple junk, I'm saving a fortune by sitting sobbing in a darkened room, my solitary sorrow punctuated only by brief posts on Slashdot, the hourly self-conscious wank, and checking outside my door to see if mother has left me some sandwiches.
Enjoy your walled garden!
Re:Hm by tqk · 2012-03-13 09:16 · Score: 1

Ah I think I understand now, if cash can be speech then why not bullets and tanks? They convey much more of a message IMO.
I think it depends on who you're trying to get the message to, and current conditions. A whisper to your wife in bed usually works, but King George, Muammar Ghadaffi, and Hosni Mubarak took a bit stronger amplitude.
The *AAs may be completely deaf from all indications so far.

--
"Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
Where's the US? by g0bshiTe · 2012-03-13 09:24 · Score: 3, Insightful

I'd say that the US is the biggest enemy overall to the internet. I mean those others are just censoring for their people. The US has decided to censor it for the world. And if they can't do that, they'll just seize the domain.

--
I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
1. Re:Where's the US? by unixisc · 2012-03-13 22:21 · Score: 1
  
  The US (I'm talking the public at large, not the government) is an enemy to the internet for dragging its feet in converting to IPv6.
Re:Hypocrisy now by Qzukk · 2012-03-13 11:11 · Score: 1

I was censored here too.
No, you were modded down. Anyone who wants to read at 0 or -1 can see it.
You'd need proof to convince me that your post was deleted. I've even bookmarked links that I've used the new flag feature to flag as spam, and checked on them (yep, still there).

--
If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
Re:"enemies of the West" by interkin3tic · 2012-03-13 13:13 · Score: 1

Yes, wikileaks. The government doesn't like it. I can, however, type in www.wikileaks.org and go to wikileaks, and not run into anything like the Great Firewall. They are not preventing me from accessing those websites for political speech. They are taking some shady approaches to wikileaks and Assange, but blocking due to political reasons, they're not to that yet.

Does the US order soldiers to open fire on protesters? No, of course not, we prefer to have our paramilitary police enter homes in the early hours of the morning and shoot people.
But not for the purposes of suppressing political speech. Perhaps only because law enforcement has learned not to make martyrs of people they disagree with, but we do not arrest or kill JUST for political speech.

Here is the point where you say, "But that is still different, because those people died due to government mistakes!" At the end of the day, however, people were killed by militarized government agents.
Name for me, if you will, a country on earth today whose law enforcement has not killed innocent people by mistake. This is not to say it's okay because everyone does it, my point is that if you make a list of countries where law enforcement is not perfect, you may as well just hold up a globe. The point of THIS list was to highlight the worst censors of the internet. And, just to be clear, the point of my post was not to defend the US as a saint, my point was merely that we're not the worst of the worst.
Another network by DanielRavenNest · 2012-03-13 13:57 · Score: 1

Homeless people with pirate boxes?
http://mxp.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/13/robin-meades-tuesday-morning-express-preview-controversial-scheme-pays-homeless-to-be-wifi-hotspots-at-sxsw/
+
http://torrentfreak.com/piratebox-takes-file-sharing-off-the-radar-and-offline-for-next-to-nothing-120311/
Re:"enemies of the West" by jaymemaurice · 2012-03-13 18:27 · Score: 1

Are you in Syria? Is it genocide or the a few bad eggs?? I don't know for sure because I am not there and different media is painting different pictures.

Do I think all is peachy in Syria, hell no... but the one thing I do know is that the media represents the interest.

If there wasn't US interest, there wouldn't be US news covering the story like many other parts of the world where such genocide was occuring and not reported because nobody gave a shit.

--
120 characters ought to be enough for anyone
Sounds familiar by shiftless · 2012-03-13 21:08 · Score: 1

You sound like a Hitler apologist, in 1932.
1. Re:Sounds familiar by interkin3tic · 2012-03-14 04:09 · Score: 1
  
  Explain, please.
2. Re:Sounds familiar by shiftless · 2012-03-14 21:19 · Score: 1
  
  What I meant was, it's easy to get too busy analyzing what HAS happened, and how its impact hasn't been "that bad", and in the process ignore the direction things are going, and thus seeing even the present, seemingly innocent/explainable actions should be considered evil in light of the whole, bigger picture.
  Also, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. If the actual outcome of a course of action is death and destruction, it doesn't matter one bit what the initial intentions were.
In Soviet Russia by Roachie · 2012-03-14 16:34 · Score: 1

Enemies of border listed on internet!

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This sig is not paradoxical or ironic.