Slashdot Mirror
Pakistani Court Rules On Internet Censorship: Unconstitutional
Fluffeh writes "It looks like some Pakistanis are taking on 'the man.' With plans laid by the Pakistani Government that could sink up to fifty million websites that it isn't a fan of, Pakistanis took the matter to court — which ruled that such action by the government was unconstitutional. Reporters without Borders was however a little more skeptical 'The high court's ruling, if respected, would make it impossible for the government to introduce any nationwide website filtering system. While welcoming the ruling, which penalizes the lack of transparency in the PTA's past website blocking, Reporters Without Borders calls for vigilance because the PTA could try to circumvent it by devising a constitutional procedure based on the anti-blasphemy law and national security provisions. '"
So the camel jockeys of Pakistan care more about freedom of speech/expression than the 'home of the free'? LOL. I'm guessing they also don't submit people to grope sessions just to fly planes either.
Our guys have been asleep at the wheel for the last 10 years. I'm pretty sure at this point that most of the U.S. Justices don't even know there *is* a 4th Amendment, much less what it says.
What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
From the summary:
"because the PTA could try to circumvent it by devising a constitutional procedure based on the anti-blasphemy law and national security provisions."
Pakistan must have a very powerful Parent-Teacher Association. Or, whoever wrote the summary might have defined "PTA".
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
Pakistan? :\
"If anyone needs me, I'm in the angry dome."
Don't worry, citizen. Everything the government does is to keep you safe. Lying, molesting people at airports, warrantless wiretapping... it's all for you! You should feel honored that we're keeping you safe!
And don't forget about being the one's who come up with the terrorist plots in order to foil them.
Great news, I was worried no one would be able to visit https://dronefinder.pk.
The difference between banana-republic-style, "third world" oppression and superpower, "first world" oppression is merely the shiny package it comes in.
In Islamic Pakistan, the High Court protects you!
I can't speak for the justices, but I can speak for my elected representatives!
My congressman and both senators don't know what the 4th Amendment is: http://slashdot.org/my/journal
The government can't be seen offending their own people. They're more progressive than they let on. Because of the threat of violence from the religious fundies, the progressives often disguise their actions or appear to be "arguing for" something they are actually against.
All of the institutions in Pakistan have to walk lines between the progress the lawyers and intellectuals and professors want to see happen and what the religious fundies will tolerate. It's not that different in the US. as the etch-a-sketch positioning in the Republican primaries reveal. You can't alienate that much of your (stupid) electorate and expect to get or stay in power.
The government and most of the military in Pakistan hates the Taliban as much as anyone and was as glad as we were when we did bin Laden Of course they had to act outraged.
Pakistan is chock -o-block full with highly intelligent forward looking progressives who aren't drinking the Kool-aid. That's why the drone program is a great thing. The religious head cases in Waziristan are hated by many Pakis as much as they're hated by us, and both the Pakistan government and its military smile every time a fundie gets dished out to him what he earnestly sought to dish out to civil society.
Just like with any other country, you can't understand the international headlines unless you have at least a basic grasp of the domestic politics.
I'm sure everyone here loves spending every waking hour fighting CISPA/PIPA/SOPA/ACTA or every other incarnation that will be silently pushed into law. We must demand a Constitutional amendment that clearly defines personal privacy and Internet usage as an inalienable right. The days of hoping your representative Democracy will work for you are sadly over.
Your Journal: http://slashdot.org/~Scarred+Intellect/journal/
Not My Journal: http://slashdot.org/my/journal
Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
People are trained from kindergarden onwards to think that if someone tries to do something privately or in secret, they must be doing something that breaks the rules. We are also trained from kindergarden onwards to think that the rules are sacred and must not be broken, so people wind up thinking that anyone who wants privacy must be doing some immoral.
What, you want to have privacy? What are you trying to hide?
Palm trees and 8
Was thinking the same thing myself.
Sad when a backwater like Pakistan gets that blocking the web is wrong (amazing that their constitution prohibits it IMO), but 'the home of the free' can't seem to figure it out.
I'm pretty sure at this point that most of the U.S. Justices don't even know there *is* a 4th Amendment, much less what it says.
Uh, wouldn't this be a first amendment issue in the US?
Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
Oh, wait, I think these jokes are done now
Our guys have been asleep at the wheel for the last 10 years. I'm pretty sure at this point that most of the U.S. Justices don't even know there *is* a 4th Amendment, much less what it says.
I'm pretty sure there is another possibility - that they in fact do understand it, as applied, and you don't. One of the big stumbling blocks is people keep refusing to acknowledge the difference between procedure under ordinary criminal law, and the law of war, or national security law more generally. Most people here have a better understanding of cheese, which still baffles them, than they do of how the Constitution applies to armed conflict.
much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
Don't forget the prison-industrial complex buying and pushing 'law and order' politicians that then privatize incarceration (because government employees are to be eliminated) and increase their profits.
Yes, Pakistani judges frequently rule for the rule of law... and just as frequently get ignored (or far, far worse) by both the military junta of the day and the murderously pious.
I'm sorry, I missed the part of the Constitution that said "All provisions and amendments of this document are to be suspended during any period when the President says the country is at war."
What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
...all of the members of Pakistan's high court were replaced today, as the previous members all died of, according to the official government report, accidental bullet wounds to the chest and head.
blindly antisocialist = antisocial
Good to know. Thanks. I don't always think everything through all the way. Hence scarred intellect.
Our guys have been asleep at the wheel for the last 10 years. I'm pretty sure at this point that most of the U.S. Justices don't even know there *is* a 4th Amendment, much less what it says.
Actually, to the surprise of quite a few observers (myself included), the Supreme Court just unanimously ruled that law enforcement agencies can't simply slap a GPS tracker on your car without a warrant. The majority's ruling was actually relatively limited, but was based on 4th Amendment grounds. Alito and several of the liberals actually pushed for an even broader decision. God knows the SC tends to favor the government in too many cases, but this was about as clear a victory for protection against unreasonable search and seizure as we've seen in a long time.
I missed the part of the Constitution that said "All provisions and amendments of this document are to be suspended during any period when the President says the country is at war."
Especially, when it seems your nation is always at war with someone or something.
"Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit