6 ms·

> Child porn is the usual excuse, and then, after a while, you can't see sites that mention Tienanmen Square or Ukraine any more. Has this ever happened?

CWuestefeld 5y ago
At the application level, it's happening right now all over social media sites. The risk is too great that our delicate minds, unable to separate fact from fiction, will ingest something deviating from the approved narrative.
adalu 5y ago
Yes and it's happening right now with the US and Canadian "no encryption" campaign
- zagrebian 5y ago
  > US and Canadian "no encryption" campaign What is that?
  - alexambarch 5y ago
    I believe they are talking about the EARN IT act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3538/text https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/353...
Jwarder 5y ago
Didn't the UK run into a problem a decade-ish ago where the group compiling the list of porn sites to block by default included the websites for their rival political parties? I just tried searching for references, but I can't find anything with details. I can't speak with certainty and it sounds like it was just a grunt being a jerk, but still a risk with these types of restrictions.
- vageli 5y ago
  I'm not sure about weilding it for political power, but I did find this https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/o2-changes-porn-filter-after-charity-sites-blocked-9023209.html https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/o2-changes-porn-filter-af...
pweissbrod 5y ago
I think this is what Snowden referred to as the concept of "TurnKey tyranny".
dangerface 5y ago
In the UK snoopers charter was supposed to specifically target child porn, the actual wording of the law made it legal for your bin man to see your internet history for any reason. Do they actually use their massive unchecked power to target child porn? We don't know because it's unchecked the government doesn't report on how the law is used it just uses it. If the government actually used it to lock up a thousand pedos that would be pretty great it would get me voting for that government so why haven't they reported how success-full this law has been in the 4 years its been in affect? we haven't heard a peep, probably because there hasn't been any success for them to boast about.
kayxspre 5y ago
Around 2 years ago my country blocked access to change.org as it contains "prohibited content" (it is widely believed to be an appeal for Germany not to permit Thai king to take up long-term residence there; people believe that the ruler should behave properly and stand with the people in its country) The appeal itself appears to be reasonable, but Thailand is notorious about the enforcement of lèse-majesté law [1], and anything that could be interpreted, even slightly, to fall under this law often saw a summary judgment, less burden of proof, and harsh punishment. This is the reason the authority cited as a basis to block it. AFAIK, the website fought back; the block lasts only 6 months. [1] See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lèse-majesté_in_Thailand https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lèse-majesté_in_Thailand for more information.

CWuestefeld 5y ago

At the application level, it's happening right now all over social media sites. The risk is too great that our delicate minds, unable to separate fact from fiction, will ingest something deviating from the approved narrative.

adalu 5y ago

Yes and it's happening right now with the US and Canadian "no encryption" campaign

zagrebian 5y ago
> US and Canadian "no encryption" campaign What is that?
- alexambarch 5y ago
  I believe they are talking about the EARN IT act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3538/text https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/353...

Jwarder 5y ago

Didn't the UK run into a problem a decade-ish ago where the group compiling the list of porn sites to block by default included the websites for their rival political parties? I just tried searching for references, but I can't find anything with details. I can't speak with certainty and it sounds like it was just a grunt being a jerk, but still a risk with these types of restrictions.

vageli 5y ago
I'm not sure about weilding it for political power, but I did find this https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/o2-changes-porn-filter-after-charity-sites-blocked-9023209.html https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/o2-changes-porn-filter-af...

pweissbrod 5y ago

I think this is what Snowden referred to as the concept of "TurnKey tyranny".

dangerface 5y ago

In the UK snoopers charter was supposed to specifically target child porn, the actual wording of the law made it legal for your bin man to see your internet history for any reason. Do they actually use their massive unchecked power to target child porn? We don't know because it's unchecked the government doesn't report on how the law is used it just uses it. If the government actually used it to lock up a thousand pedos that would be pretty great it would get me voting for that government so why haven't they reported how success-full this law has been in the 4 years its been in affect? we haven't heard a peep, probably because there hasn't been any success for them to boast about.

kayxspre 5y ago

Around 2 years ago my country blocked access to change.org as it contains "prohibited content" (it is widely believed to be an appeal for Germany not to permit Thai king to take up long-term residence there; people believe that the ruler should behave properly and stand with the people in its country) The appeal itself appears to be reasonable, but Thailand is notorious about the enforcement of lèse-majesté law [1], and anything that could be interpreted, even slightly, to fall under this law often saw a summary judgment, less burden of proof, and harsh punishment. This is the reason the authority cited as a basis to block it. AFAIK, the website fought back; the block lasts only 6 months. [1] See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lèse-majesté_in_Thailand https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lèse-majesté_in_Thailand for more information.