6 ms·

Well UK is the country that has just passed a porn ban, and wants to pass a new law to monitor all Internet communications in the country. That puts things into

Well UK is the country that has just passed a porn ban, and wants to pass a new law to monitor all Internet communications in the country. That puts things into perspective for what we used to think about this "modern western country". US is actually not that far behind from doing this and more - Constitution or not. They'll just pass the laws and deal with it 10-20 years later. After all US still has the Patriot Act, and that never seemed too constitutional to me. What's funny is that the Eastern Europe countries are probably the least likely to go this path anytime soon, and that's because it wasn't that long ago when they had revolutions over this kind of thing. But UK and US hasn't really done that in a long time, so neither the Governments nor the people there really get what it means to have mass-surveillance and have the Government know everything you did or want to do, and how bad of a thing that truly is.

ScottMFisher 14y ago
>Well UK is the country that has just passed a porn ban Excuse me?
- ktizo 14y ago
  I tried searching for a reference on google, but given the keywords got sidetracked by, well, you know...
- corin_ 14y ago
  He's thinking of http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120507/02272218799/uk-govt-considering-requiring-porn-license-if-you-want-to-look-porn-online.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120507/02272218799/uk-gov... But yeah... we're not banning porn. We're not even actually going to start using an opt-in / opt-out system, either.
  - ljf 14y ago
    As of yesterday TalkTalk (ISP) are now setting all new accounts to 'blocked' by default, users will have to opt in. It's not /law/ yet, but once all the ISPs fall in line, it won't need to be law. http://www.techdigest.tv/2012/05/talktalk_turn_o.html http://www.techdigest.tv/2012/05/talktalk_turn_o.html
    - mike-cardwell 14y ago
      Numerous mobile phone networks also already do this in the UK.
- mibbitier 14y ago
  He regurgitating the liberal agenda driven drivel from Reddit. Shame they don't fact check anything. The UK didn't pass a porn ban. Some ISPs now offer an "opt-out" option for people who want the ISP to block things for them.
  - mike-cardwell 14y ago
    Whilst we're "fact checking", which UK ISPs are offering "opt-out"? Talk Talk is "opt-in" for new accounts. O2 is "opt-in" for their mobile network too. I believe several other mobile networks are "opt-in" too... [edit] Just to clarify, by "opt-in", I'm referring to opting in to receive everything. Perhaps "opt-out" in reference to opting out of the block, is clearer.
    - mibbitier 14y ago
      For talktalk, you have to opt-in to enable their filtering. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/talktalk-to-offer-parents-a-blanket-opt-831842 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/talktalk-to-offer-paren... Mobile networks have always done silly blocking, and it takes a phone call to them to ask them to remove it. I assume it's more about them not wanting you to use more data than anything else.
      - mike-cardwell 14y ago
        Hmm. According to http://www.techdigest.tv/2012/05/talktalk_turn_o.html http://www.techdigest.tv/2012/05/talktalk_turn_o.html all new customers get the block unless they specifically ask for it to be removed.
        mibbitier 14y ago
        Who knows... It's a bit ridiculous (from the article) "meaning that any new TalkTalk users who require access to such content will first have to "opt-in" through a highly embarrassing call to customer services." It's hardly "highly embarrassing" to ask them to remove a filter. If they do go that route though, and as the article claims, ask you to opt-out once a year, then they'll simply lose customers to ISPs that don't hassle their customers.
danssig 14y ago
Don't forget; the UK also put someone in jail for tweeting.
- adamt 14y ago
  For tweeting no. For making vile racist comments over the medium of twitter yes. There is a difference.
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  - ljf 14y ago
    Might have been referring to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-11736785 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-1173678... For some balance, the USA didn't let someone into the country because of their tweets: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093796/Emily-Bunting-Leigh-Van-Bryan-UK-tourists-arrested-destroy-America-Twitter-jokes.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093796/Emily-Buntin...
  - danssig 14y ago
    Well, that's the thing: even in the US, as bad as it has become, saying vile racist comments on the internet wouldn't get you put in jail. Is the guy a scumbag? Obviously. Should people go to jail for speaking their mind? That's probably where we diverge and think each other are crazy, but the key is: if you can be put in jail for, say, racism then a corrupt government need only make disagreement be framed as racist, for example. It's safer to just allow anyone to say what they want (with obvious exceptions like yelling "FIRE!") and point out why their argument is stupid.
- melling 14y ago
  Do you realize that this comment is misleading? People make this sort of argument all the time, and I think it's one of the reasons that we waste so much time on irrelevant points. It's basically a game that people play. Has anyone given it a name? It would be nice to call people out on this.

ScottMFisher 14y ago

>Well UK is the country that has just passed a porn ban Excuse me?

ktizo 14y ago
I tried searching for a reference on google, but given the keywords got sidetracked by, well, you know...
corin_ 14y ago
He's thinking of http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120507/02272218799/uk-govt-considering-requiring-porn-license-if-you-want-to-look-porn-online.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120507/02272218799/uk-gov... But yeah... we're not banning porn. We're not even actually going to start using an opt-in / opt-out system, either.
- ljf 14y ago
  As of yesterday TalkTalk (ISP) are now setting all new accounts to 'blocked' by default, users will have to opt in. It's not /law/ yet, but once all the ISPs fall in line, it won't need to be law. http://www.techdigest.tv/2012/05/talktalk_turn_o.html http://www.techdigest.tv/2012/05/talktalk_turn_o.html
  - mike-cardwell 14y ago
    Numerous mobile phone networks also already do this in the UK.
mibbitier 14y ago
He regurgitating the liberal agenda driven drivel from Reddit. Shame they don't fact check anything. The UK didn't pass a porn ban. Some ISPs now offer an "opt-out" option for people who want the ISP to block things for them.
- mike-cardwell 14y ago
  Whilst we're "fact checking", which UK ISPs are offering "opt-out"? Talk Talk is "opt-in" for new accounts. O2 is "opt-in" for their mobile network too. I believe several other mobile networks are "opt-in" too... [edit] Just to clarify, by "opt-in", I'm referring to opting in to receive everything. Perhaps "opt-out" in reference to opting out of the block, is clearer.
  - mibbitier 14y ago
    For talktalk, you have to opt-in to enable their filtering. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/talktalk-to-offer-parents-a-blanket-opt-831842 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/talktalk-to-offer-paren... Mobile networks have always done silly blocking, and it takes a phone call to them to ask them to remove it. I assume it's more about them not wanting you to use more data than anything else.
    - mike-cardwell 14y ago
      Hmm. According to http://www.techdigest.tv/2012/05/talktalk_turn_o.html http://www.techdigest.tv/2012/05/talktalk_turn_o.html all new customers get the block unless they specifically ask for it to be removed.
      - mibbitier 14y ago
        Who knows... It's a bit ridiculous (from the article) "meaning that any new TalkTalk users who require access to such content will first have to "opt-in" through a highly embarrassing call to customer services." It's hardly "highly embarrassing" to ask them to remove a filter. If they do go that route though, and as the article claims, ask you to opt-out once a year, then they'll simply lose customers to ISPs that don't hassle their customers.

danssig 14y ago

Don't forget; the UK also put someone in jail for tweeting.

adamt 14y ago
For tweeting no. For making vile racist comments over the medium of twitter yes. There is a difference.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- ljf 14y ago
  Might have been referring to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-11736785 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-1173678... For some balance, the USA didn't let someone into the country because of their tweets: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093796/Emily-Bunting-Leigh-Van-Bryan-UK-tourists-arrested-destroy-America-Twitter-jokes.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093796/Emily-Buntin...
- danssig 14y ago
  Well, that's the thing: even in the US, as bad as it has become, saying vile racist comments on the internet wouldn't get you put in jail. Is the guy a scumbag? Obviously. Should people go to jail for speaking their mind? That's probably where we diverge and think each other are crazy, but the key is: if you can be put in jail for, say, racism then a corrupt government need only make disagreement be framed as racist, for example. It's safer to just allow anyone to say what they want (with obvious exceptions like yelling "FIRE!") and point out why their argument is stupid.
melling 14y ago
Do you realize that this comment is misleading? People make this sort of argument all the time, and I think it's one of the reasons that we waste so much time on irrelevant points. It's basically a game that people play. Has anyone given it a name? It would be nice to call people out on this.