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Tasmanian Cops Decline To "Censor Internet"

Posted by samzenpus on from the don't-feed-the-trolls dept.

aesoteric writes "Tasmania's police force has taken the unusual step of asking the public to stop alerting it to every 'abusive or harassing' comment posted to Facebook or other social media sites. The force said it was 'increasingly receiving complaints' about material posted to the sites, but sought to clarify that 'the use of technology to undertake some conduct does not in itself create an offense.'"

3 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. Dodgy headline on TFS by AliasMarlowe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Saying that "Tasmanian police decline" to do something implies that they are actually empowered to do so as a matter of course. I suspect the Tasmanian police cannot censor the internet, and even if they were given a court order only limited censorship could be attempted (likely with even more limited success).

    --
    Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
  2. I'm Telling Dad! by Aereus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Does this smack anyone else as really immature? It reminds me of siblings threatening to tell your parents about something. Or telling the teacher if someone is picking on you in school. Do they honestly think this is a worthy use of their police resources by having a thin skin and crying to the police about every random person that says something about them on the internet?

    1. Re:I'm Telling Dad! by Craefter · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It IS immature. I believe that the general public (especially Facebook users) does not develop mentally past the 14 year old stage. Sure, people get "older" (if you cut them in half and count the rings) but that doesn't mean they automatically get "wiser". I think the biggest downside here is that those people like to use their birthdate for a measure of respect they should be receiving.

      Now get off my lawn!