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Blackout Europe -- Internet Censorship and the what not.

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Ash

Ash

Ash

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Blackout Europe | Home - If you like the internet being open and free, heck, if you like visiting the Hive, then do something.

From their site:

Everyone who owns a website has an interest in defending the free use of Internet... so has everyone who uses Google or Skype... everyone who expresses their opinions freely, does research of any kind, whether for personal health problems or academic study ... everyone who shops online...who dates online...socialises online... listens to music...watches video...

Millions of Europeans now depend on the Internet, directly or indirectly, for their livelihood. Taking it away, chopping it up, ‘restricting it', ‘limiting it' and placing conditions on our use of it, will have a direct impact on people's earnings. And in the current financial climate, that can't be good.

The internet as we know it is at risk because of proposed new EU rules going through end of April. Under the proposed new rules, broadband providers will be legally able to limit the number of websites you can look
at, and to tell you whether or not you are allowed to use particular services. It will be dressed up as ‘new consumer options' which people can choose from. People will be offered TV-like packages - with a limited
number of options for you to access.

It means that the Internet will be packaged up and your ability to access and to put up content could be severely restricted. It will create boxes of Internet accessibility, which don't fit with the way we use it today. This is because internet is now permitting exchanges between persons which cannot be controlled or "facilitated" by any middlemen (the state or a corporation) and this possibility improves the citizen's life but force the industry to lose power and control. that's why they are pushing governments to act those changes.

The excuse is to control the flow of music, films and entertainment content against the alleged piracy by downloading for free, using P2P file-sharing. However, the real victims of this plan will be all Internet users and the democratic and independent access to information, culture goods.

Think about how you use the Internet! What would it mean to you if free access to the Internet was taken away?
These days, the Internet is about life and freedom. It's about shopping, booking theatre tickets ... holidays, learning, job-seeking, banking, and trade. It's also about the fun things - dating, chatting, invitations, music, entertainment, joking and even a Second Life. It is a tool to express ourselves, to collaborate, innovate, share, stimulate new business ideas, reach new markets - thrive without middlemen..

Just think - what's your web address? Unless people have that address in their "package" of regular websites - they won't be able to find you. That means they can't buy, or book, or register, or even view you online. Your business won't be able to find niche suppliers of goods - and compare prices. If you get any money at all from advertising on your site, it will diminish. Yes, Amazon and a select few will be OK, they will be the included in the package. But your advertising on Google or any other website, will be increasingly worthless. Skype could be blocked. (As it is in Germany in the use from iPhone, already). Small businesses could literally disappear, especially specialist, niche or artisan businesses.

If we don't do something now - we could lose free and open use of the internet. Our freedom (of choice in information, market, culture, pleasure) will be curtailed. The EU proposals hold an enormous risk for our future. They are about to become Law - and will be virtually impossible to reverse. People (even the members of the European Parliament who are voting on it) don't really seem to understand the full implications and the legal changes are wrapped up in something called "Telecoms Package" which lulls people into thinking it is just about industry.

However, in reality, hiding from public view, the amendments are about the way the Internet will operate in future! Text that expresses your rights to access and distribute content, services and applications, is being crossed out. And the text that is being brought in, says that broadband providers must inform you of any limitations, or restrictions to your broadband service. Alternative versions use the word ‘conditions' - and it is seriously being proposed that you will be told the conditions of use of Internet services. This is made to sound good - it is dressed up as ‘transparency' - except that of course it means that the broadband providerwill have the legal right restrict your access or impose conditions,otherwise why would they need tell you? If the Telecoms Package amendmentsare voted in, the changes will not be reversible.

We all have a stake in the Internet! You need to act now to save it!
What can you do about it?
Tell the European Parliament to vote against conditional access to the Internet! Remind them that they need your vote in June and that internet still give us the tools to be watching and judging what they are doing! (link a la quadrature du net) You must know you are not alone: hundreds of organizations are working on that and thousands of people have already contact their parliamentarians about this issue.

So, act now:
1 - Email, write to or phone your MEP - follow this link to get theirdetails - a suggested template letter is attached. You can also use the following software that send the letter directly to all the parliamentarians. Believe, they will really receive it and they will really feel the pressure. You are welcome to personalize the letter and include information that will make MEPs wake up, take note and take appropriate action.

2 - Forward this email to everyone you know so that they can take action.

3 - Syndicate this page so that you keep been informed: disinformation is what they count on, we must be aware. Text for people to cut and paste to MEP: The coalition version needs to have instructions for people from each country. coalition members need to get a translated version online in their own languages and link to the LQ site for their own MEPs.
Click to expand...
 

The_wand_mirror

The_wand_mirror

The_wand_mirror

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Dunno about you but i live in a democracy, so i can sit back and let some social skilled agressive horde of angry people deal with that.

As for me, no i would propably do nothing and it will be solved as usual or nothing will happen.

Come on man, this is too big =/
 

Ash

Ash

Ash

Level 22
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Aug 27, 2005
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Good god, I can't go away for a couple of hours, can I? :p

Steel_Stallion said:
its so obviously bullshit. you guys for real? This is obviously a joke, cause something as big as this would have been scooped up by some big media, not a small unknown website with omg exclamation marks!!! and a blank backround.
Click to expand...

This is real. Rapid - Press Releases - EUROPA AND you're linked to it by the front page of The Pirate Bay.

HFR said:
At least I'm glad that I don't live in Europe...
Click to expand...

Trust me, you won't be far behind.

The_wand_mirror said:
Dunno about you but i live in a democracy, so i can sit back and let some social skilled agressive horde of angry people deal with that.

As for me, no i would propably do nothing and it will be solved as usual or nothing will happen.

Come on man, this is too big =/
Click to expand...

Yes. Leave it to everyone else, I agree. In fact, I think we should all take your stance on things, Nietzsche.

HFR said:
Yeah, the people have to vote for it. A guy just can't come and "internet is bad", and do this...
Click to expand...

Correct. However, we elected the people who have to 'vote for it'. They're known as Members of European Parliament, or MEP's, if you will.
 

The_wand_mirror

The_wand_mirror

The_wand_mirror

Level 27
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Ash said:
Yes. Leave it to everyone else, I agree. In fact, I think we should all take your stance on things, Nietzsche.
Click to expand...

See, people like you would never do that.

I rely on you :D

Dude.. im to fucking lazy and to fucking busy to also let myself get involved with these kind of things.

(Btw if everyone would think like me there even wont be a government lol)
 

Hakeem

Hakeem

Hakeem

Level 27
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zombie2279 said:
Fucking capitalism. I wonder how many corporations will benefit from taking away the purpose of the internet.
Click to expand...
None. If I am to understand how this works, ISP's will be given the anarchic rights of freedom they damn well deserve. Of course, if your ISP wont let you go to a site, or otherwise restrict your activity, then you switch to an ISP that will. It's bad for business to not provide the full service that people want.

The problem with that, is that the number of people that actually want and use a truly free internet may be relatively small. This subset of people can be easily identified under the new regulations. Let's call this subset, "Informed citizens." If you are in any position of power, you know how dangerous it is to let people have information. They might start acting on it. *shudders*
Steel_Stallion said:
something as big as this would have been scooped up by some big media
Click to expand...
Why is that? The number of people who will actually be affected by massive ISP restrictions might be relatively small. They can make more money on different stories.
zombie2279 said:
The high-ups have the power to shut down the whole internet if they want to do so.
Click to expand...
Why the hell do you let them have that power?
 

Zombie

Zombie

Zombie

Level 35
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Hakeem said:
None. If I am to understand how this works, ISP's will be given the anarchic rights of freedom they damn well deserve. Of course, if your ISP wont let you go to a site, or otherwise restrict your activity, then you switch to an ISP that will. It's bad for business to not provide the full service that people want.
Click to expand...

I still think this system can be abused very easily. From what I've read (on other sites aswell), the ISPs will be able to issue packs with access to different parts of the internet. For example: You have a basic internet package, that can access, let's say site "A". You want to access site "B", but it's off-limits for people with your pack. You don't switch your ISP, you simply buy a new pack/upgrade your current one and your current ISP will profit from you upgrading it. Definately increases the profit rate of providers. Seems logical, I might be wrong though.

Hakeem said:
Why the hell do you let them have that power?
Click to expand...

That sounded like anybody has a chance of stopping them with their living room revolutions.
 

Ash

Ash

Ash

Level 22
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Messages
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To be fair, companies want to make money. If they have the chance to offer you 'packs' that restrict what sites you can/can't access, then they will. Unless anyone fancies providing funding for the AshNet Datacentre, you're a bit stumped for options.

Not only that, you've still got the problem of 'where does it end', if they start issuing packs, then who's to say they won't make a blacklisted list of sites that you're not allowed to visit at all, regardless of the 'zomgultramega-visit-all-sites-for-£59.99' pack that you fork out a lot of cash for.
 

Barney

Barney

Barney

Level 2
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
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If this goes anywhere farther than Europe, I'll blow the shit out of government buildings, burn all internet cables, kill all ISP employees and... umm... blow more shitz!

The point is... this a bad idea my friend.
 

Steel_Stallion

Steel_Stallion

Steel_Stallion

Level 17
Joined
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Hakeem said:
Why is that? The number of people who will actually be affected by massive ISP restrictions might be relatively small. They can make more money on different stories.
Click to expand...

Then why give a shit if it's a small number of people being affected? Chances are you won't. And by the time this (if it ever does) escalates, it'll be spread to the masses, and everyone will reject it. This just seems like another "omfg hadron collider gonna end the world' on a much smaller scale to me.

worth a meh and a few days attention. Nothings gonna happen.
 

Hakeem

Hakeem

Hakeem

Level 27
Joined
May 30, 2007
Messages
2,872
zombie2279 said:
You don't switch your ISP, you simply buy a new pack/upgrade your current one and your current ISP will profit from you upgrading it.
Click to expand...
Either upgrade, or switch to the ISP that provides the service you want at the lowest price.
zombie2279 said:
Definately increases the profit rate of providers.
Click to expand...
Unless someone comes along and undercuts them.
zombie2279 said:
That sounded like anybody has a chance of stopping them with their living room revolutions.
Click to expand...
Why don't they?
Ash said:
who's to say they won't make a blacklisted list of sites that you're not allowed to visit at all, regardless of the 'zomgultramega-visit-all-sites-for-£59.99' pack that you fork out a lot of cash for.
Click to expand...
Someone will provide a full access pack for the cheapest amount, because they'll undercut the competition and make tons of money. If people are getting ripped off, you've got an opening to make money by undercutting the competition.
 
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