Activists Claim Online Porn Censorship Impedes Free Speech

gonzo · 10-24-2008

These days, everyone from government officials to religious activists, from law enforcement to ISPs, are using child protection as a means to wage a larger war against online porn.

Free-speech activists feel Internet censorship is just getting started under the guise of child safety, Canadian online gay and lesbian site Xtra.ca reported.

"Once the infrastructure for filtering is in place - for any reason, though porn is usually the first excuse - there is an incentive to increase its use," said Nart Villeneuve, a research fellow at the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab, in an e-mail. "I see 'mission creep' all the time, where once in place, filtering is extended to cover content areas that were not in the original mandate."

American Civil Liberties Union staff lawyer Chris Hansen agrees we are indeed on the precipice of a sensitive subject.

"I don't think the people who are trying to get rid of child porn are going after other types of speech," he said. "But I do think they are willing to take steps in the name of suppressing child porn that has the effect of suppressing other types of speech. There are those who believe the safest approach is to eliminate everything."

One example of the all-or-nothing approach was New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's misguided attempt to crack down on child pornography by having ISPs sign off on his anti-child-porn campaign. The outcome of that, and other similar measures, is that ISPs - including AOL, AT&T, Verizon and Comcast - now seem to be removing as much legitimate content as they are child pornography.

http://www.avn.com/internet/articles/33018.html

Paul Markham · 10-27-2008

The problem is all the "Freedom" on the Internet has reduced it to a place where very often the most traffic is to sites stealing something. People stealing games, music, films, programs, porn and everything else.

Will they ever ban porn on the Internet? No way. They don't have a hope in hell of doing it. So what if they ban all extreme porn, the use of the word teens, and anything else. They will never ban jerking off to an image or video of some girl in a bikini and that will ensure us all an income.

We need controls on the Internet if it is ever to become the tool for business it could be.

Advisor · 10-31-2008

Free Speech... how about Free Expression... a bit broader definition.

Australia is becoming the next China this way...

10-24-2008	#1
gonzo Fat Fucking Nobody Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Atlanta,Ga. Posts: 17,795 Blog Entries: 11	Activists Claim Online Porn Censorship Impedes Free Speech These days, everyone from government officials to religious activists, from law enforcement to ISPs, are using child protection as a means to wage a larger war against online porn. Free-speech activists feel Internet censorship is just getting started under the guise of child safety, Canadian online gay and lesbian site Xtra.ca reported. "Once the infrastructure for filtering is in place - for any reason, though porn is usually the first excuse - there is an incentive to increase its use," said Nart Villeneuve, a research fellow at the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab, in an e-mail. "I see 'mission creep' all the time, where once in place, filtering is extended to cover content areas that were not in the original mandate." American Civil Liberties Union staff lawyer Chris Hansen agrees we are indeed on the precipice of a sensitive subject. "I don't think the people who are trying to get rid of child porn are going after other types of speech," he said. "But I do think they are willing to take steps in the name of suppressing child porn that has the effect of suppressing other types of speech. There are those who believe the safest approach is to eliminate everything." One example of the all-or-nothing approach was New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's misguided attempt to crack down on child pornography by having ISPs sign off on his anti-child-porn campaign. The outcome of that, and other similar measures, is that ISPs - including AOL, AT&T, Verizon and Comcast - now seem to be removing as much legitimate content as they are child pornography. http://www.avn.com/internet/articles/33018.html __________________ We are putting the bastards of this world on notice; greed and corruption will always be met with "a voice made of ink and rage." "Never try and be like anyone else" - Hunter S. Thompson "The truth is the truth no matter how you try and package a lie" - Shellee Hale

10-27-2008	#2
Paul Markham Members Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 309	Re: Activists Claim Online Porn Censorship Impedes Free Speech The problem is all the "Freedom" on the Internet has reduced it to a place where very often the most traffic is to sites stealing something. People stealing games, music, films, programs, porn and everything else. Will they ever ban porn on the Internet? No way. They don't have a hope in hell of doing it. So what if they ban all extreme porn, the use of the word teens, and anything else. They will never ban jerking off to an image or video of some girl in a bikini and that will ensure us all an income. We need controls on the Internet if it is ever to become the tool for business it could be. __________________ A mix of Amateur, Retro, Teens, UK Porn Stars, UK Page 3 girls and Hairy Pussy. All shot by me in the 80s and 90s. ICQ 213327873, Skype paulmarkham1

10-31-2008	#3
Advisor BeerMaster - PAR-TAY YALL!!! Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 16	Re: Activists Claim Online Porn Censorship Impedes Free Speech Free Speech... how about Free Expression... a bit broader definition. Australia is becoming the next China this way... __________________ GREAT CONVERSION SE 1:60 - TGP 1:320