shutting down the internet

B

brianluce

Carbonite Member
Is it possible for a country to block internet access or impose harsh filters? I heard China has filters yet I can go on Skype and easily talk to Chinese people. How hard is it to control the net?
 
yes its possible, and yes China does it. It wont effect things like Skype or IM, but certain websites aren't accessible, and web searches wont work with certain words or phrases.
 
Cheesesailor77 said:
yes its possible, and yes China does it. It wont effect things like Skype or IM, but certain websites aren't accessible, and web searches wont work with certain words or phrases.
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So could you say it's like Napster? In that you can shut it down but 10 minutes later some other website pops up that provides the same service? Is it like plugging holes in a dike?
 
Fortunately, since November the ban has been lifted and everyone in Thailand has been able to be Rick Roll'd just like the rest of the world.

:) :)
 
You could always bypass the whole Local ISP framework and just dial direct via Satelite Phone, just like how the news reporters do in warzones, they may control the local PTSN/Fibre optics but they don't control the external geostationary sats..
 
Anhar, you've done it again...

I heard Australia blocks pornographic sites unless you call your ISP and ask for them to be unblocked. How embarassing would that be? :grin:
 
You could always bypass the whole Local ISP framework and just dial direct via Satelite Phone, just like how the news reporters do in warzones, they may control the local PTSN/Fibre optics but they don't control the external geostationary sats..
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Wow...does any one else get dizzy when you read some of Anhar's posts
 
Anhar Miah said:
You could always bypass the whole Local ISP framework and just dial direct via Satelite Phone, just like how the news reporters do in warzones, they may control the local PTSN/Fibre optics but they don't control the external geostationary sats..
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But that'd take thousands of dollars right? To tap in to satellites?
 
this is really the kind of thing where i'd need at least 3 pages to fully explain my thoughts, but it's my belief that it's terribly important that the internet be available to everyone in a completely uncensored form.

If, for example, parents wish to censor certain sites on their home machine, then fine, but as soon as government or corporate owners decide whats ok to see, we will have officially destroyed what is potentially the greatest humanitarian asset the we've ever seen.

Boo China, and i didn't know about the Aussie Porn thing, not sure how I feel about that...
 
Cheesesailor77 said:
this is really the kind of thing where i'd need at least 3 pages to fully explain my thoughts, but it's my belief that it's terribly important that the internet be available to everyone in a completely uncensored form.

If, for example, parents wish to censor certain sites on their home machine, then fine, but as soon as government or corporate owners decide whats ok to see, we will have officially destroyed what is potentially the greatest humanitarian asset the we've ever seen.

Boo China, and i didn't know about the Aussie Porn thing, not sure how I feel about that...
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Double-edged sword. The internet is the greatest thing to ever happen to the human race and at the same time the worst thing.

On one edge you have YouTube which has sliced mankind's collective attention span in half. The other edge is a community or user group like DVXuser which has educated a lot of us and given us opportunities we may have never had at all considering how tough it is to move anywhere in this business.
 
jason.adams said:
Wow...does any one else get dizzy when you read some of Anhar's posts
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Haha, yes! In fact sometimes (because I skim posts so fast) his posts translate to assorted gibberish with occasional mentions of "fibre optics" and "satellite" Just kidding, Anhar! Not trying to make fun, I actually love the way you explain things, it just sometimes makes me feel like an atomic bomb was dropped into my head.

Cheesesailor77 said:
this is really the kind of thing where i'd need at least 3 pages to fully explain my thoughts, but it's my belief that it's terribly important that the internet be available to everyone in a completely uncensored form.

If, for example, parents wish to censor certain sites on their home machine, then fine, but as soon as government or corporate owners decide whats ok to see, we will have officially destroyed what is potentially the greatest humanitarian asset the we've ever seen.

Boo China, and i didn't know about the Aussie Porn thing, not sure how I feel about that...
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I couldn't agree more. It is an individuals job to decide what they should or shouldn't see on the web, not the Governments. That being said, I can only see one circumstance where this would be different: when it is a matter of national security, whatever that could be.

Now remember, I am not sure if the Australia thing is true, just something I heard. Anyone from down under want to weigh in?

EDIT: Found it, I guess it is true, although I am not sure if it is anymore:

Australia is on the verge of passing a law that would restrict porn and other "offensive" content on the Internet and levy fines on ISPs that fail to respond to takedown orders. While free-speech activists rally against the Online Services Bill, and ISPs bemoan what they say is unenforceable, the bill's supporters say it's about time someone made an effort to limit access to Net porn.
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Here's the full article: http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/1999/06/20013
 
The Internet represents incredible power. Like any power, it's completely amoral -- it's neither good nor bad, but can be used either way.

There are many ways the Internet can be used for bad purposes and hurt many, many people. The idea that it should be completely unchecked isn't any different from the idea that any other form of incredible power should be completely unchecked.
 
David Jimerson said:
The idea that it should be completely unchecked isn't any different from the idea that any other form of incredible power should be completely unchecked.
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unless im misinterpreting what your saying, I'd have to disagree. The internet doesn't have any inherent power itself, except to empower other people. And even then it empowers everyone to an equal degree.

The Aussie thing i can only (marginally) get behind assuming that the customer can call and have everything unblocked. If the state is deciding that 1) I can't see porn on the internet and 2) what even constitutes porn, then I'm out.

And as far as National Security, there are again 2 parts.

1) I'm not saying everything should be posted on the net. In the same way that I wouldn't suggest everyone needs to post a journal of their masturbatory habits, I wouldn't suggest that the government needs to make available every little sensitive thing they're working on. However, if you do decide to post your masturbatory habits, it should then not be censored for anyone who's interested to know about it.

2) This also gets into common ethical arguments of journalism that i won't go into detail here. But say a journalist knows about US troop movements in Iraq, or say someone has evidence of an impending terrorist attack. Books could and HAVE been written on this subject, but i feel it's really a different discussion than the one we're having now.
 
The power is in allowing someone to influence an entire world instantly, and practically for free. You don't think that can be used for both good and ill? You don't think it can be as damaging as it can be beneficial, even unintentionally?

It's not even a new concept. The same issues were wrangled over concerning the printing press, radio, television, cable, satellite communication, telephones, telegraphs -- everything. Not one of them is completely unchecked and no one seriously argues that they should be.
 
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