Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

US Declines in Internet Freedom Rankings (techcrunch.com)

Posted by msmash on from the where-we-stand dept.

If you need a safe haven on the internet, where the pipes are open and the freedoms are plentiful -- you might want to move to Estonia or Iceland. From a report: The latest "internet freedoms" rankings are out, courtesy of Freedom House's annual report into the state of internet freedoms and personal liberties, based on rankings of 65 countries that represent the vast majority of the world's internet users. Although the U.S. remains firmly in the top 10, it dropped a point on the year earlier after a recent rash of changes to internet regulation and a lack of in the realm of surveillance. Last year, the U.S. was 21 in the global internet freedom ranking -- the lower number, the better a country ranks. That was behind Estonia, Iceland, Canada, Germany and Australia. This year the U.S. is at 22 -- thanks to the repeal of net neutrality and the renewal of U.S. spy powers. The report also cited "disinformation and hyperpartisan content" -- or fake news -- as a "pressing concern."

8 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Freedom means content you don't like by grasshoppa · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Their concerns over "fake news" seems contrary to the notion of "freedom". Freedom means the ability for anyone, anywhere, to do what they will regardless of your opinions.

    Their concerns undermine their credibility, although I do agree that the lack of net neutrality and continued surveillance are concerning.

    --
    Mod me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
    1. Re:Freedom means content you don't like by ChromeAeonuim · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And since Germany outranks the US here, I wonder how they handled the European 'right' to censorship. Say what you will about Ajit Pai and his corporate cronies, I certainty do, at least here in the US I won't face legal trouble for 'insulting someone's dignity' or 'insulting someone's religious sensibilities' (yeah, blasphemy, of all things) or violating someone's 'right to be forgotten' by continuing to host a factual news article.

    2. Re:Freedom means content you don't like by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 5, Insightful

      > You shouldn't have the right to offend others.

      Bullshit.

      That's how you end with idiotic Political Correctness (aka Censorship) which to quote George Carlin "is Fascidm pretending to be manners."

      Only cowards censor.

    3. Re:Freedom means content you don't like by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Freedom means the ability for anyone, anywhere, to do what they will regardless of your opinions.

      That's not what it means. That's never been what it means.

      The philosopher Rudolph Steiner had the most comprehensive discourse on freedom in his book from the late 1800s, The Philosophy of Freedom. He wrote that any definition of human freedom required an "ethical individualism", that required a level of consciousness of self and one's motivations. In other words, taking a shit on the living room floor just because you need to take a shit and happen to be standing in the living room at the time, is not freedom. Your "freedom" in absence of an ethical framework is basically just trolling.

      And if you need to ask, "Well derp, who gets to make up what is ethical?" then you're in luck, because this was also pretty well established by about 300 B.C., and the answer is, "We all do, based upon reason and moral behavior".

      Now, if you need to ask, "Why should we be moral at all?", then you need more help than I can provide in one Slashdot comment.

      This has been another edition of, "Why you should have taken a few Humanities classes when you were working on your Associates degree in Computer Science."

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    4. Re: Freedom means content you don't like by forkfail · · Score: 4, Insightful

      ...freedom in the rest of the world includes freedom from disinformation and freedom from propaganda.

      Perhaps if the disinformation and propaganda comes from your own government.

      But defining freedom as only hearing things from other people that you believe to be true?

      That is the exact opposite of freedom.

      --
      Check your premises.
    5. Re: Freedom means content you don't like by mrclevesque · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Freedom “to” vs. Freedom “from” -

      https://www.open.edu/openlearn...

  2. I'd say more but... by 3seas · · Score: 5, Interesting

    With shadow banning, FB jail, twitter censorship, deleted accounts due any number of excuses. And lets not forget the spy vs spy MAD Mag comic of the deep state. Julian Assange last interview he talked about those being born today will be the last generation to be free... I'm trying to get a head start of my unfreedom. May I be marked a troll for this.

    1. Re:I'd say more but... by forkfail · · Score: 4, Insightful

      We've handed the Town Square to a few powerful individuals and corporations.

      And the denizens that are allowed to live in said Town Square loves their unilaterally declared regulation and iron fisted control.

      What that those inside the town square should be wondering about is what is going to happen when there are more that have been pushed out of the town square than are allowed into the echo chamber it is becoming.

      --
      Check your premises.