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Google-Funded Free Wi-Fi Kiosks Are Scrapping Web Browsing Because Too Many People Were Using it For Porn (businessinsider.com)

This is why New Yorkers can't have nice things. LinkNYC, the initiative to install super-fast wifi hubs in New York City, is suspending web browsing on all its tablets after 8 months due to "inappropriate behavior," the company says, according to a report on BusinessInsider. From the article:Google parent company Alphabet funds LinkNYC through its spinoff Sidewalk Labs. "... Some users have been monopolizing the Link tablets and using them inappropriately, preventing others from being able to use them while frustrating the residents and businesses around them," the company writes in a statement. DNAInfo previously reported that people were using the hubs to watch porn.

8 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. addressing the wrong problem. again. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Porn or cat videos. Or playing Candy Crush for hours. Once again, addressing the wrong problem. Why should it matter what I watch on them. The real problem is here is monopolisation of the devices. I can monopolise one of those devices just as easily watching cat videos.

    For once. Just once, will somebody look at a problem and address it properly rather than taking a side-swipe at some unrelated hot-button topic?

  2. Who would have guessed? Tragedy of the commons by tacokill · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Who would have guessed that a free service would be abused? It's almost like there should be a word or saying for that. Oh yea, there is: Tragedy of the Commons
    This issue seems to come up a lot, doesn't it?

  3. Re:Porn is bad by mark-t · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You are quite wrong on point 4, however. While it may be a matter of personal preference for some christians, there is nothing in the Bible that can even remotely be interpreted as condemning other copulatory positions than 'missionary'. This might be a a particular church denomonation's view (similar to the Catholic church's prohibition on artificial birth control), but is not reflective of most even extremely strict Christian views.

  4. Re:addressing the wrong problem. again. by Rob+Y. · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I live on the stretch of Third Avenue that first got these kiosks. I don't care what people watch on them, but it's a pretty regular thing to see somebody camping out next to one of them. Often they've overturned a trash can or newspaper vending box to use as a seat - though I've seen some wheelchairs being used for more comfortable seating. In any case, they're there for hours at a time, and the overall effect isn't much more appealing than a homeless guy sleeping in a cardboard box...

    That said, the whole kiosk thing is a backdoor insertion of extremely bright LED screen ads that draw your eyes to them as they rotate their images multiple times per block as you try to walk up the avenue. And for what? Free wi-fi that requires you to sign in, tracks you, and provides nothing that your phone isn't already providing over the cellular network. I suppose the charging ports are nice - if you're willing to stand there long enough to get a decent charge.

    --
    Posted from my Android phone. Oh, I can change this? There, that's better...
  5. Re:addressing the wrong problem. again. by Oligonicella · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They're preventing people from viewing material they consider objectionable.

    Their hubs, their rules. This is a classic example of the tragedy of the commons. There's always some douche who wants to abuse it. I'm curious as to why your ire isn't directed at the abusers.

  6. Re:Lol by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Trivial in execution, good for a laugh

    Yeah, amateur shock is "funny" in the same way that my brother in law dropping trou at Thanksgiving was funny. He isn't allowed in my house until he apologizes, and at 55 years old, still hasn't figured out what he did wrong.

    At some point, the shock value isn't funny anymore (if it was ever that way) People usually grow out of that once they get out of puberty, some people never do.

    --
    Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
  7. Re:Lol by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 1, Insightful

    It is only shocking how little people respect others. IT is pure lack of respect to be disrespectful for "shock" value. If you don't value respect, then don't be "shocked" when I don't respect you. Except, you'll have earned my disrespect.

    --
    Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
  8. Well.. by OpenSourced · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If you offer free potatoes, you must take into account that somebody will come with a truck.

    --
    Rome taught me patience and assiduous application to detail. Virtues which temper the boldness of great, general views.