The UK porn filter is censoring more than just porn

[TopWargamer]

http://torrentfreak.com/uk-porn-filter-will-censor-other-content-too-isps-reveal-130726/'>Source (Torrent Freak)

 

 

 

This week prime minister David Cameron announced further details of his crusade to have adult material censored in the UK. It’s a controversial topic for a number of reasons, with even those unconcerned about losing access to porn wondering what will be censored next. Apparently the government have already thought that through. According to ISPs speaking with the Open Rights Group, the filter will target a range of other content too.

 

 

 

On Monday David Cameron told his citizens that by the end of the year broadband subscribers will be required to go through a compulsory system which will decide what they can and cannot see on the Internet. Starting from a position of ‘porn banned’, subscribers will have to systematically unblock things they require access to. This, Cameron says, will help prevent the nation’s children from gaining access to “corroding influences” online.

 

 

As previously noted, leave the third box ticked and not only will all file-sharing sites be wiped out, but TorrentFreak with them too. Leave the rest of them ticked (note: the government is promising “default on” for all filters) and it’s anyone’s guess what else will disappear. Just like when many novice (or even experienced users) install software, the chances of people simply clicking through, next after next, is extremely high.

 

Do I have a problem with the UK censoring porn? No, not at all. It really isn't a bad thing to do, but the thing is, more and more stuff (not just porn) will keep getting censored unless something happens, fast. 

 

What are your thoughts on this?

[T0M3Z]

He needs to focus on more important things. This is an almost pointless exercise and it just costs us tax payers money!

 

People should be responsible for what they want others to see online (e.g their kids). Not the Government! 

[Volbet]

This is just as I predicted. A government with this sort of power will misuse that power. The next thing might be a block of "radical" websites, like websites for exstremist islam, anachism ect. This will allow the government to control the information in the era of the internet.

 

As the OP has said, I can also live with not having access to pornography, but some people might want watch porn and who are the government to stop them.  

[brat137]

At the moment we can turn all or any filters that we want off. As long as it stays like that I don't care. I would prefer filters to be off by default but it doesn't bother me too much.

[Skyfire]

Wow, the UK government don't even care about horny 14 year old boys.

[SuperOwnJK]

Its ridiculous. What will be classed as porn for a start, and who decides? Would clothes websites be blocked as they show too much skin and could be classed as porn? Its insane. I'd honestly just move out the UK if they end up censoring the internet this much. 

[mvitkun]

In my experience reality has no censor button.

 

If your going to see it later in life you may as well prepare yourself for it now,parents sheltering their children to make them think the world is perfect won't help anything.

 

If they want to find (guns,violence,drugs,gambling,etc) they'll find it,and hiding said content will only make them more inclined to go after previously mentioned content.

 

The parent's responsibility isn't to keep their children from finding out what the above is,their responsibility is to teach their children to morals so that they don't do drugs,so that they use weapons only for recreational uses if at all, so that they don't try to commit (mass)murder,and so that they don't throw away all their money at a lottery.

 

As to the Porn,File Sharing,and Social Networking;Porn isn't evil,in fact due to the many types of porn out there woman should praise porn for not giving people false perceptions about how woman should look as with most other media.The other two options are a joke; to censor File Sharing,which in the future may be required for education,and in some cases already is,and censor Social Networking which is only a danger if you do not teach your children that the world isn't "all sunshine and rainbows" that there are people who "will beat you to the ground,"and to tell them your exact location at every which time of the day as well as how long you'll be gone could be the largest mistake you make.

[Orphus]

 

Do I have a problem with the UK censoring porn? No, not at all. It really isn't a bad thing to do, but the thing is, more and more stuff (not just porn) will keep getting censored unless something happens, fast. 

I agree where will they draw the line? This is very similar to what is happening right now in the US. Our rights are being limited more and more. Our privacy rights are being ignored and are going to be completely non-existent in a few years if the Government keep it up. The truth gets out, the people complain and the Government ignores them and says its for our own good to stop terrorists and crime. They are basically saying we do not know what we want or need but they do so they are imposing their will and forcing policies on the people they are suppose to be serving not ruling.

[Frix]

This is why I don't agree with this cencorshit, it wont just be porn, it's the start of a move by the government which will result in them censoring all of the internet.

[Nexus]

That happened quicker than i expected. Its a slippery slope and we should act now before it gets out of control. Censorship in any form is a bad thing that leads to misinformation and misdirection. I understand that they want to protect children from "harmful" content on the internet but I believe it would be more beneficial to educate their parents on how to monitor their children and set up parental controls rather than force everyone to comply with the filter by default.

 

I would be interested to hear Linus and Slicks opinions on this topic in the live stream.

 

Its also ironic that our governments in the western world are opposed to the idea of censorship in China or Iran etc yet they have no problems with doing the same here.

 

Petition to be signed if you want.

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/51746

[Jumper118]

lol games are blocked as well. i would only leave 2 of those boxes ticked.

[kuddlesworth9419]

I think our government is right to be against pornography however I don't think they should be given the power or the right to tell me what I can and cannot see. I live in the UK and I am starting to get really worried of what is going to happen after this round of censorships goes on.

 

I think that Cameron and his band of morons is only doing this to distract our attention away from more important topics which the NHS, the economy and the stupid war in Iraq. I also wouldn't mind if VAT was cut back to something a bit more fair as I can't buy some stuff when I want to as the VAT brings it out of my reach which really p*sses me off.

[kuddlesworth9419]

I just though of something. Does any of this remnd anyone else of that film called "V for Vendetta".

[Volbet]

I just though of something. Does any of this remnd anyone else of that film called "V for Vendetta".

V for Vandetta, Animal Farm, Nineteen Eighty-Four and The God of the Machine. Totalitarianism is not a new thing, and some of the resent things that have happend in Europe is horrifyingly similar to thinghs that happend in the 1920's and 1930's in Europe

[Overl0rd]

...I really do think they have more important things to worry about...

 

Besides, teenagers and children will alway find there way to something they desire. Furthermore I really think it's the responsability of the parents, just like with violent games. 

[Nexus]

I think our government is right to be against pornography however I don't think they should be given the power or the right to tell me what I can and cannot see. I live in the UK and I am starting to get really worried of what is going to happen after this round of censorships goes on.

 

I think that Cameron and his band of morons is only doing this to distract our attention away from more important topics which the NHS, the economy and the stupid war in Iraq. I also wouldn't mind if VAT was cut back to something a bit more fair as I can't buy some stuff when I want to as the VAT brings it out of my reach which really p*sses me off.

Its also to boost popularity when the next elections come up. Most people have spoken to on this matter think it is beneficial and helps protect children and they do not realise the broader implications.

 

 

V for Vandetta, Animal Farm, Nineteen Eighty-Four and The God of the Machine. Totalitarianism is not a new thing, and some of the resent things that have happend in Europe is horrifyingly similar to thinghs that happend in the 1920's and 1930's in Europe

Im glad other people are seeing the strong similarities. Hopefully it fully enters public consciousness and we can prevent a full scale repeat of the past.

[Volbet]

Im glad other people are seeing the strong similarities. Hopefully it fully enters public consciousness and we can prevent a full scale repeat of the past.

The public are usually willfully ignorant about these sort of things. Maybe Christopher Hitchens was right when he said "Every man, woman and child should be forced to read George Orwell. Just so they know what their government will do to them, if it have the chance"

[efstajas]

Can't read through the whole thread, but in case people didn't notice it, this is opt-in. Every UK internet customer will get contacted by their ISP and asked if they want the filter enabled.

 

Which makes me wonder why the hell they even bother with this crap.

[SuperOwnJK]

Can't read through the whole thread, but in case people didn't notice it, this is opt-in. Every UK internet customer will get contacted by their ISP and asked if they want the filter enabled.

 

Which makes me wonder why the hell they even bother with this crap.

You certain of this? Last thing I read about that was that these settings will be default and its up to customers to contact their ISPs to remove the filters 

[MrAlexOneill]

Well, Im proud to be an american where at least I know im free

[Langdon]

"Games"

"Social networking"

"Suicide and self harm"????????

What are you doing, UK?

[neon]

It was never only just going to block pornography all the news sites and everyone else only ran those headlines because that is what will draw the most readers, "UK government wants to ban self harm sites" doesn't exactly have the same draw does it?

 

It's only bringing it in-line with mobile network data, adult sites (including all you see in the pic) are automatically blocked, to turn it off you just have to prove you're over 18, I ask is that such a bad thing really? I know people like to way overreact to stuff but when it comes in you log into your account and turn it off if you want, not exactly difficult, the single only people who can complain are the under 18s who this will actually affect and they can't complain because they're children.

 

However saying that I do not agree with the blocking because I feel it will do absolutely nothing to block anything, with mobile data it works because everyone has their own personal 'connection' via their SIM, therefore the SIM given to the child it's all blocked, but if the adults want it unblocked then it only unblocks their personal SIM cards, aOK.

Home broadband does not work like that, you get one connection to the whole house which you share out (most commonly with WiFi), therefore you have 2 options, block it for everyone or no-one, the parents/adults of the house want to access adult content (and let's be honest the vast majority of adults access legitimate adult sites all the time, ever watched daytime TV all they advertise is online gambling and bingo), therefore they will remove the filter and hey presto they end up at exactly the same point we are at now pre filter, no blocks for any of the children, the parents have to manually block the content for their children.

 

I am certain the government knows this, anyone with half a brain knows this, they are being forced to introduce these filters by none existent 'national outcry' published from self righteous newspapers and (from The Simpsons) Helen Lovejoys of the country, there is a saying about keeping people in fear to stay in power, no-one knows that better than the newspapers who write that 'fear'.

[Esivo]

Well, Im proud to be an american where at least I know im free

Hahahahha, you must be joking.

[efstajas]

You certain of this? Last thing I read about that was that these settings will be default and its up to customers to contact their ISPs to remove the filters 

 

Some sources:

 

• http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2422063,00.asp
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23403068
• http://aa.net.uk/kb-broadband-realinternet.html

The whole thing is per ISP, and apparently the ISP can even choose how to enforce the whole thing. They can choose the software, and, if I got it right, if they want to default it to on or off. Either way, you can always contact the ISP and tell them that you don't want any filter.

 

I think the whole thing is getting a bit overdramatized.

 

It's still a ridiculous idea. 

[Theo]

UK trying to be like USA, in the end,  they ll both end up like EA

GG WP