Netopia wants government to censor the Internet
Posted Thursday, November 3rd, 2005 12:36 am by J. Angelo Racoma
Viewed 4733 times | Related entries: Tech News, The Internet
Internet café chain owner Netopia is urging the government to create a censorship body to monitor data flowing through the local Internet infrastructure.
The proposed censorship body will operate similarly to the Movies Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and provide guidelines for the compliance of Internet service providers.
Will we be the next China?
If you get Government to approve such legislation, then what’s stopping them from using this very same censorship system to block out traffic containing potentially anti-government content. You’ll never get to read Inside PCIJ and other politically-oriented blogs again!
While the intent is to curb the proliferation of indecent materials, I think it’s a waste of time to get into such pursuits, when there are more pressing tech-related matters Government should be focusing its time on, such as intellectual property, and job creation. The Internet is in its golden ages, and the basic point of the infrastructure calls for the free and open exchange of information. If we want to prevent our kids from surfing for p0rn and cracking and phreaking stuff, then what we need are changes of mindset from within–on a social and individual level–and not something imposed by Big Brother from outside.
Perhaps what we need are stronger laws banning cybercrimes such as child pornography and identity theft. It’s not a crime to look at p0rnographic images, but it is when you’re the one capturing, posting online, and selling the images yourself.
Besides, with the gazillions of sites possibly offering what these guys want to block, it would be yet another logistical nightmare coming up with a system to effectively and efficiently implement the censorship.
What will we think of next?
Update: See Max Limpag’s take on the issue.
Pornography is a problem, especially for people like me who have kids. But censorship is not the answer. Educate people on how to surf safely, how to install filters and how to prevent spyware infection.
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11 Responses to “Netopia wants government to censor the Internet”
Netopia wants Government to censor the Internet
My post for today at Pinoy.tech.blog:
Netopia, one of the larger chains of Internet shops recommends that the Senate pass laws that will filter Internet traffic for p0rn.
Will we be the next China?
What…
Wait till PORN floods into GAMES as it is already doing in hacked versions of Grand Theft Auto. Netopia’ll be singing a different tune?
duh.. censorship online? t
porn is everywhere
porn is equals big bucks
who knows, they might think of putting up their very own porn site
Well written, Angelo! The government always has something better to do than trying to slay the porn dragon. A more caring parent is a hundredfold better than any software or law on censorship.
What next? Well, just to add a little more info to the discussion:
In China, they’ve deployed online “police” and “advocates” who blend in in forums and promote the interests of the Chinese government. The main fight in China, though, is not against porn but against … uhm … political uprising.
[...] Got this from Pinoy Tech Blog – Netopia is lobbying for Internet Censorship in RP. I’m wondering what Netopia doing fiddling around with legislative lobbying. What’s their angle on this? [...]
[...] I read this first from The J Spot. Netopia is lobbying for internet censorship. Granted, it’s “only for porn”, but I share Jangelo’s fears that the same arrangement can be used to stifle online speech. It’s a valid concern, shared by the good people who opposed the Communications Decency Act back in the day (web old timers may remember the blue ribbon campaign). [...]
why dont they start with local media first
Here ye andre! here ye!
in fairness, i think netopia revolutionized the internet industry in the philippines with their per-minute charging and usually faster connection…pretty soon other ISPs would follow suit, and that will make internet cheaper and more accessible to more people (imagine paying for at least 30 minutes just to check your email).
i read from BBC.com (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2540309.stm)that officials from china seemingly blocking high trafficked websites, but not really porn..
coming from someone who doesnt do much, i think netopia just want publicity by issuing such statements.. i mean come on, free advertising for and from a pioneering business with competitions growing more and more each day.. and yeah right they are concern, pfft, all we know they just cant afford to keep reformating their computers every week due to spywares, adwares, trojan and viruses, resulting to slower PC performance irritating their customers, thus losing profits..
Hey, if you haven’t heard of the “12dailypro vs Stormpay” fiasco yet, check out my post, “Kick My Ball Stormpay, Please?” on my blog. You’ll get a “kick out of it. lol
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