On December 8, 2018 at 14:05 merculi...@gmail.com (Matt Erculiani) wrote: > As everyone has stated, blocking/filtering is a rabbit hole that we dare not > go > down or we set ourselves on the same path as oppressive regimes. > > For a similar situation that's far less depressing, see the numbers of thread
Being ordered to block & filter criminals has been a norm for many years at least in the US. What needs to be responded to are the conditions of such orders. What's not acceptable are vague demands to block all child porn or "terrorist" content etc. That's just transferring the entire investigatory and enforcement problem to the folks who happen run the pipes. What we are seeing with facebook, twitter, etc is no less than the privatization of censorship and law enforcement by government fiat. And governments, even well-intentioned governments, are going to find that very attractive and addictive. Why not? Just write down some high-minded objectives like no more criminals allowed, all in favor say aye?, order passed! No budget, no plan, just threaten the people who run the infrastructure with serious penalties if they don't comply. This is potentially billions of dollars in law enforcement being transferred to infrastructure operators with no remuneration. It could easily run all but the absolute largest operators out of business. -- -Barry Shein Software Tool & Die | b...@theworld.com | http://www.TheWorld.com Purveyors to the Trade | Voice: +1 617-STD-WRLD | 800-THE-WRLD The World: Since 1989 | A Public Information Utility | *oo*