3 ms·

That's a nice slogan, but it doesn't match the UK law. Linking can be a crime.

fredley 14y ago
Either it is or it isn't. If it is, a lot of search engines are in big trouble. Google links to almost every piece of illegal content on the web. You also have to think carefully about what a link is. Is a magnet link - essentially a hash of the content itself - a link? If so is posting the checksum of a piece of software copyright violation?
- weavejester 14y ago
  Unfortunately the law isn't so black and white, and depends a lot upon intent. Thinking about the technicalities isn't so important; what matters to the court is whether the individuals involved intended to commit a crime.
  - jiggy2011 14y ago
    Yes, I think the fact the google links to basically everything would work in their defense. It would be like prosecuting the people who print the telephone directory for advertising drug dealers because some of their numbers are listed.
  - DanBC 14y ago
    Upthread people are mentioning images of child sexual abuse. It's important to mention that in the UK this is an absolute offence. If the image is in your possession then it doesn't matter how or why it's there - intent is irrelevant. This is important for people responsible for various servers, for example.
    - weavejester 14y ago
      Intent still matters. For instance, say someone emails you a image and then contacts the authorities. If merely having such an image in your possesion was an automatic "go to jail, do not pass go", you can be certain there would be a lot of politicians and other unpopular individuals being led away in cuffs.
      - DanBC 14y ago
        You either possess the image or you do not. It is a strict liability offence. There are narrow exemptions - "I did not view the images and I did not know they existed" is one; "The images were unsolicited and I did not keep them" is another. (See page 4) (http://www.nominet.org.uk/digitalAssets/3249_Child_pornography_response_May_05.pdf http://www.nominet.org.uk/digitalAssets/3249_Child_pornograp...)

Either it is or it isn't. If it is, a lot of search engines are in big trouble. Google links to almost every piece of illegal content on the web. You also have to think carefully about what a link is. Is a magnet link - essentially a hash of the content itself - a link? If so is posting the checksum of a piece of software copyright violation?

weavejester 14y ago
Unfortunately the law isn't so black and white, and depends a lot upon intent. Thinking about the technicalities isn't so important; what matters to the court is whether the individuals involved intended to commit a crime.
- jiggy2011 14y ago
  Yes, I think the fact the google links to basically everything would work in their defense. It would be like prosecuting the people who print the telephone directory for advertising drug dealers because some of their numbers are listed.
- DanBC 14y ago
  Upthread people are mentioning images of child sexual abuse. It's important to mention that in the UK this is an absolute offence. If the image is in your possession then it doesn't matter how or why it's there - intent is irrelevant. This is important for people responsible for various servers, for example.
  - weavejester 14y ago
    Intent still matters. For instance, say someone emails you a image and then contacts the authorities. If merely having such an image in your possesion was an automatic "go to jail, do not pass go", you can be certain there would be a lot of politicians and other unpopular individuals being led away in cuffs.
    - DanBC 14y ago
      You either possess the image or you do not. It is a strict liability offence. There are narrow exemptions - "I did not view the images and I did not know they existed" is one; "The images were unsolicited and I did not keep them" is another. (See page 4) (http://www.nominet.org.uk/digitalAssets/3249_Child_pornography_response_May_05.pdf http://www.nominet.org.uk/digitalAssets/3249_Child_pornograp...)