Slashdot Mirror


Starbucks and McDonald's Announce Porn Blocks On Their Wi-Fi Networks (cnn.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from CNN Money: Anti-pornography groups have succeeded in their efforts to get Starbucks and McDonald's to block porn on the chains' Wi-Fi networks..."We had not heard from our customers that this was an issue, but we saw an opportunity that is consistent with our goal of providing an enjoyable experience for families," McDonald's said in a statement... Starbucks said Friday it's will do so the same thing at its company-owned stores around the globe as well. "Once we determine that our customers can access our free Wi-Fi in a way that also doesn't involuntarily block unintended content, we will implement this in our stores," said a Starbucks spokesperson. "In the meantime, we reserve the right to stop any behavior that interferes with our customer experience, including what is accessed on our free Wi-Fi..."
Meanwhile, this week, the Republican Party officially added the "public health crisis" of porn to its platform.

15 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. next any union sites / labor law sites by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 2, Insightful

    next any union sites / labor law sites

  2. Surprising... by Etcetera · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... only that they didn't already have a content block like this up already. (I'm sure it was already against the click-through ToS, but that's basically meaningless anyway.) There's nothing unreasonable about this. It's a public place, it's a private service, etc. I seem to recall a case a while back about public libraries being OK with blocking this on community-standards grounds in some jurisdictions.

    And seriously, if you need to go to McDonalds and configure a VPN to watch porn you should probably try to put that effort into improving your career prospects so you can afford an internet connection at home.

  3. And all of the municipal Internet will too by mi · · Score: 2, Insightful

    All of the celebrated "municipal WiFi" and "community Internet" will do the same before you can say: "Statism".

    You have been warned.

    VPN? Is that something you'd use to get around our laws, citizen? Well, let's make that illegal too...

    Oh, and hate speech should not be allowed to travel over taxpayer-funded networks either, should it be? We like it wholesome in this town.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  4. Re:VPN by thegarbz · · Score: 1, Insightful

    nothing else to add

    I have something to add. If you need that desperately to watch porn that you do it in a family restaurant then rather than seeing up your VPN maybe you should rethink your entire life.

  5. More distractions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Meanwhile, this week, the Republican Party officially added the "public health crisis" of porn to its official platform.

    Ah, the American people easily distracted by horseshit issues.

    1. Re:More distractions by mikeiver1 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      So true, the middle class is shrinking and the more people are slipping into the poor class, the rich are an order of magnitude richer since the crash and corporations are far better off. BUT, some dude jerking off in the privacy of his own home is a public health crisis that needs to be dealt with. Fucking assholes. Yet another reason that Starbucks and McD suck and I don't go there.

  6. Re:I hate it when companies decide what's good for by Desler · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But someone watching a violent movie, which won't be blocked, is okay for the kid to see, though, right?

  7. Time and place by sjbe · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is a free country, if I want to watch porn at McDonalds then so be it!!!!

    You seem to forget that it's a free country for McDonald's too. They are under no obligation to cooperate with your pathetic need to watch porn on their property.

    And seriously, if you really are so desperate that you need to watch porn at McDonald's then you need to go play in traffic or get serious psychiatric help. Time and place people. Time and place.

    1. Re:Time and place by Cyberpunk+Reality · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And what exactly is "porn" again?

      The Venus de Milo? Greta Garbo in a swimsuit? Protest coverage? Dancing?

      Apparently not Game of Thrones though.

      --
      Rule 35 of the internet: "If it can be hacked, it will be". - Charles Stross
    2. Re:Time and place by vux984 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I just want McD people to mind their own business and to not stick their noses into mine. Is it too much to ask for?

      And you want this consideration while you are literally sitting in the middle of their business?

      The way I see it, they'll keep their nose out your business; as long as you keep your ass out of theirs.

  8. Heading off problems before they happen by sjbe · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The other half of the quote you provided is that they are spending money to "fix" a problem that may not have existed.

    They are doing it to head off any lawsuits that might potentially arise. You can be sure the first time some mom observes someone watching porn in front of her kids using McDonald's wifi that a lawsuit and tons of bad PR would follow. Taking reasonable measures to block this problem before it happens is a very sensible thing to do. If you don't like it, don't shop there. But frankly if you actually have a problem with this you probably need psychiatric help.

  9. Re:I hate it when companies decide what's good for by King_TJ · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Except this really doesn't constitute McDonalds or Starbucks "deciding what's good for you" at all. They're simply exercising some control over what they let you do with THEIR Internet connection. Taken to the extreme, you could cry foul that your local Mexican restaurant keeps deciding what kind of music you want to hear by piping in only Hispanic music, when you actually prefer punk rock. But no ... it's their place and their right to craft the type of dining experience they want it to have.

    To my knowledge, none of these chain restaurants have ever put out pamphlets, posters or other advertising advising you to stop watching porn. They just don't want you to do it on their connection while eating there. That's perfectly reasonable.

  10. Just look what good has come from banning porn by ffkom · · Score: 2, Insightful

    There are some large countries in the world that have very strict bans on pornography. Specifically ones where Islam is the religion mandated by the government. Now look how well-behaved the youngsters who grew up there act towards women. How they don't need draconic measures to be kept from living out their sexual fantasies violently. Oh, you find that's not quite the case? Well, then maybe banning pornography is just outright stupid and harmful.

  11. Republicans: Enemies Of Freedom? by macs4all · · Score: 1, Insightful

    "Meanwhile, this week, the Republican Party officially added the "public health crisis" of porn to its official platform."

    What's next? Burkas for Women? Public Stonings of Gays? Full-blown Sharia Law adopted into the Federal Code?

    I swear: Next to ISIS, The Republican Party is the most Anti-American organization on the planet!

    And I mean that with all sincerity. I despise Hillary; but SOMETHING has got to be done to stop the Republicans and their relentless drive to make America the next Theocracy.

    ...and if something would happen to Trump, and we wound up with President Pence...?

  12. Re:Utah by geggam · · Score: 5, Insightful

    , but what about my First Amendment right to not view it?

    Interesting... Can we do this to churches and their habit of putting torture devices ( cross ) on their front lawns ?