INTERNET CENSORSHIP

INTERNET CENSORSHIP

The Australian government is set to impose Chinese-style internet censorship by enforcing a universal national filter that will block websites deemed “ controversial” as part of a wider agenda to regulate the internet.

A provision whereby Internet users could opt out of the filter y contacting their ISP has been stripped from the legislation, meaning the filter will be universally mandatory. The System Administrators Guild of Australia and the Electronic Frontiers Australia have attacked the proposal, saying it will restrict web access, raise prices and slow Internet traffic speeds. The plan was originally created as a way to combat child pornography and adult content, but could be extended to include almost any “controversial” websites.


In a display of bipartisanship by US Democrats and Republicans alike are calling for all-out mandatory ISP snooping on all US citizens.
In December 2006.Republican Senator John McCain tabled a proposal to introduce legislation that would fine blogs up to $300,000 for offensive statements, photos, and videos posted by visitors on comment boards.
The White House own declassified strategy for “winning the war on terror” targets Internet conspiracy theory sites as a recruiting ground for terrorists and threatens to “diminish” their influence.
The US government wants to force bloggers and online grassroots activists to register and regularly report their activities to Congress. Criminal charges including a possible ail term of up to one year could be the punishment for non-compliance. There goes the first amendment and free thought.
A landmark November 2006 legal case on behalf of the recording Industry Association of America and other global trade organizations sought to criminalize all Internet file sharing of any kind a copyright infringement, effectively shutting down the World Wide Web; its argument was supported by the US government.
A landmark legal ruling in Sydney goes further than ever before in setting the trapdoor for the destruction of the internet as we know it and the end of alternative news websites and blogs by creating the precedent that simply linking to other web sites is breach of copyright and piracy.
The European Union has also vowed to shut down “terrorists” who use the Internet to spread propaganda. The EU Data Retention bill, passed after much controversy and implemented in 2007, obligated telephone operators and Internet service providers to store information on who called whom and who e-mailed whom for at leas six months. Under this law investigators in any EU country, and most bizarrely even in the USA, can access EU citizens’ data on phone calls, SMSs. Emails and instant messaging services. The EU also proposed legislation that would prevent users from uploading any form of video without a license.


There goes the end of free thought. My blogs and web sites will definitely be on the “blocked” list. I am already banned from all Google groups.

Internet censorship is perhaps the most pertinent issue that freedom advocates should rally to combat over the next few years, lest we allow a cyber-gag to be placed over our mouths and say goodbye to our last medium of free and open communication. –Source: Prison Planet, 29 October 2008, www.infowars.com:80/?p=5619
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