Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by The Shiznit on July 8, 2012 at 8:17pm

Is Internet access and online freedom of expression a basic human right?  On Thursday, The United Nations’ Human Rights Council said, Yes!  

http://mashable.com/2012/07/06/internet-human-right/

Permalink Reply by Dries Spans on July 8, 2012 at 9:43pm

I can only cheer at the internet being a basic human right (although unclear in which form). But to be honest I'm a bit sceptical if the UN were to take a leading role in internet regulation. Sure it can be used for good, but right now the risk is decentralized by the many different regulations in different countries. If the the UN were to adopt something like a SOPA, PIPA or ACTA it would affect way more countries.

Permalink Reply by Dries Spans on July 8, 2012 at 10:14pm

In addition to the recently posted video about The Pirate Bay but not wholly on topic of Net Neutrality. Here is a translation of a letter by Peter Sunde (@brokep). It's more or less a summary of his trail in Sweden. He explains how he thinks he is being unlawfully convicted and made an example of. It also shows how the entertainment industry is trying to affect his trail in several ways.

Permalink Reply by Dries Spans on July 9, 2012 at 6:17pm

Good round-up about efforts being made to guarantee net neutrality and the attempts to crack down on it.

Efforts to preserve online freedom reveal threats

After ACTA was killed in European Parliament, they are planning to revive it again with CETA? Seems like you never have enough 4 letter abbreviation.

ACTA Lives: How the EU & Canada Are Using CETA as Backdoor Mech...

Permalink Reply by The Shiznit on July 9, 2012 at 10:55pm

Free Speech Group Angered After Facebook Deletes Post on Syria

Facebook issued an apology after "mistakenly" deleting a post from free speech group Article 19 about human rights abuses in Syria.

Permalink Reply by Dries Spans on July 11, 2012 at 3:53pm

Russia's lower house of parliament passes bill that enables censorship, despite criticism from the country's most popular websites. Amongst the reasons to censor website are: advocating suicide, substance abuse, excessively risky behavior and child pornography.

Russian Duma adopts 'web blacklist' bill despite SOPA-style censors...

Verizon uses the First Amendment stating that by limiting Verizon’s ability to choose which content to block or promote, the FCC is infringing on Verizon’s right to free speech.

Verizon Playing Dangerous Game in Net Neutrality Battle

Permalink Reply by Dries Spans on July 12, 2012 at 7:08pm

Australian government composes a new proposal for intelligence agencies:

- Phone and internet data will be retained for up to two years

- Increased access to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter

- Forced to hand over computer passwords

Every click you make, they'll be watching & Govt defends need to keep internet data

Mexico pushes to adopt ACTA by signing it in Japan.

Mexico signs ACTA

Permalink Reply by The Shiznit on November 14, 2012 at 7:15am

MediaCom is NOT on your side! 

Forget 6-strikes... with MediaCom it's 3-strikes and you're out! 

"The Internet provider rigorously terminates the Internet access of subscribers who receive two DMCA notifications, and after a third notice customers are permanently disconnected and banned for life."

http://torrentfreak.com/us-internet-provider-disconnects-alleged-pi...

"Six Strikes" arrives Nov. 28, 2012