Andrew Cuomo's Blueprint For How Gov't Can Get ISPs To Censor Content
from the how-gov't-censorship-will-work dept
It looks like NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has put forth a nice blueprint for how politicians can "censor" online content without technically breaking a law themselves: just threaten to publicly humiliate ISPs who won't censor for you. The process was quite straightforward actually. Cuomo basically threatened that he would sue these ISPs for not agreeing to his own vendetta against "objectionable content" where a third party -- with no oversight -- gets to determine what's objectionable. Even though there is no legal reason why these ISPs need to block such content, Cuomo made it clear that the publicity around such a lawsuit, implying that the ISPs weren't against such objectionable content, would be a public relations nightmare.So, one by one ISPs have been caving. Broadband Reports notes that at least two more ISPs have agreed to sign Cuomo's "rules" even if they're not even sure how they'll follow through on them. Of course, as we've pointed out, this is all about politics anyway, as following the "rules" will do absolutely nothing to stop the production or consumption of objectionable content.
Either way, now other politicians have the blueprint for censorship: simply threaten the ISPs that you'll sue them and publicly claim that they're unwilling to be "family friendly" or "protect the children" or any other buzzword.
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Filed Under: andrew cuomo, censorship, isp blocking, objectionable content
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Censorship
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Re: Censorship
Personally, I think you'll be waiting a long time before the majority is up in arms over someone's attempt to get rid of child porn. However misguided and, imo, stupid his attempt, that's his supposed goal. Tough to detract from his attempt without looking like you're on the wrong side of that argument. But as someone mentioned, that's politics I suppose.
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A political slow death for the stupid . . .
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What does a citizen do?
Where's the EFF or the ACLU?
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Here's how you fight back:
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Hypocrite Test
I mean, how is it that he even knows about these objectionable sites?
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oh noes!
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Re: oh noes!
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Should be a familiar tactic
No surprise that they figured out this will work on private companies as well.
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I'd go out of my way
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Re: I'd go out of my way
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i believe that children are our future...
you are the wind beneath my wings.
baby's got back.
huh, don't know how those first three got in there...
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Slander
The law dose provide a provision for false & damaging accusations.
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What is Objectionable????
Allah be praised. Maybe they will finally clamp down on those persecuting free rights and religion.
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Re: What is Objectionable????
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Cablevision To Block NetNews
Newsday reports in a story by Danny Teigman, “Cablevision joins ISPs blocking child porn sites”, that Cablevision will block NetNews:
This is confirmed by a press release by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo
This is sure to knock another big dent into that depraved child pornography 'froup: alt.sewing.
Go Cuomo! Go! Stomp out alt.sewing! Sewing is teh evil!
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Not binding.
If they do act on this, then their customers should move away. ISP's don't have monopolys yet, so we can still hurt their bottom line.
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Re: Not binding.
Where I am at it is dial-up or Comcast. That is about it.
It is the same for many many places around the US.
And by same I mean dial-up or one broadband provider.
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Wake up sheeple er, people.
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Re:
This guy is a Democrat?
Shouldn't the republicans be thanking him then? I mean with that whole Mark Foley thing and all.
Dude, which side this guy hails from doesn't mean crap. For every truly evil democrat, there is an evil republican, and vice versa. Unless one side obviously has more people in office at one point in time, then the sides may be a little uneven.
And judging the anger in your post, you may want to seek counseling. That kind of anger will take years off your life if left unresolved.
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Extortion
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Cuomo is an attention whore
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Yeah, yeah , yeah
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Blueprint for...
Start with a few darling buzzwords / phrases like childporn, terrorism, lack of family values and bad bad internet.
Use that as your platform for passing a bill that will change the role of your local isp from service provider to content management (CMISP?). ISPs then create a walled garden (anyone ever use AOL?).
This new role will allow them to target their customers with more than the pipe and / or services such as email and web space. Channel partnerships content driven service.
Ask yourself if you are willing to give up the way you surf and play online for the channel approach similar to your tv channels. They supply you with what they want you to see based on their marketing strategies and channel alliances / advertising.
Not only are they going to silence you with content management (how easy will it be to speak your mind in a blog then?) but they will supply you with the garbage they
want you to see / interact with.
I wonder where Cuomo is investing his money these days?
He's hardly an idiot and to assume that would be very wrong.
The real reason he is playing this game will become ever clearer as we watch our ISPs evolve.
Ginetta
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Re: Blueprint for...
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Re: Re: Blueprint for...
It appears to me that Cuomo is just simply testing the waters. He wants to see how effective his bullying technique works. If he accomplishes his goal by bullying ISP's he considers it a victory.
If the ISP's fight him on this he will attack with PR damage and legal bills. But the main focus of the attack will be to win the support of the public. If he gets the majority of the public (60% or higher public support). He should then have the democratic armor to make serious changes. His buddy Elliot Spitzer used to thrive at this kind of thing.
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Re: Blueprint for...
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Re: Re: Blueprint for...
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Re: Re: Re: Blueprint for...
Cuomo shows his lack of understanding of the intertweb. I buy newsgroups separately now. I suspect that the comcast decision by the FCC would actually prevent any provider from blocking third party usenet.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Blueprint for...
Are you buying newsgroup access in dollars or euros?
Dude, these people are “starting a technological arms race”. Your newsgroup access is acceptable collateral damage to NY AG Andrew Cuomo and his ilk. When legal arguments won't stop him, then what's the FCC going to do?
AGs and prosecutors are authoritarians. They simply cannot tolerate an unregulated venue for speech. Someone has to be in control. And that's why they believe usenet is dangerous. Intolerably dangerous.
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Re: Re: Re: Blueprint for...
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But...
Who is going to check up on them? Probably not Cuomo, or any of his staff. Are they going to pay a 3rd party to check up on the ISPs with tax payer money? Hopefully not!
What are they going to to do if they don't filter anything after all. Tell them again that they to filter this "objectionable content"?
I don't really see how this is DOING much of anything. He must be part of a branded community.
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What I wanna know
They should be killing this guy in the press and in the courts for pulling this shit. It's a blatant abuse of his powers, especially if he's spending tax payer money to sue/threaten to sue the ISP's.
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Responsibility
In New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's first press release regarding his initiative, on June 10, 2008, Attorney General Cuomo's office quoted Time Warner Cable Senior Vice President and Chief Ethics Officer Jeff Zimmerman. In that press release Time Warner clearly announced its move to kill NetNews:
In that very same press release, Attorney General Cuomo provided his own quotes for the press. He applauded Time Warner's move to kill its NetNews service:
In addition, in that same press release, Attorney General Cuomo said, “I commend the companies that have stepped up today to embrace a new standard of responsibility, which should serve as a model for the entire industry.”
More recently, a July 31, 2008 story, “Internet providers purge porn sites”, by Delen Goldberg, quoted Attorney General Cuomo attempting to evade responsibility for the acts of his office:
Attorney General Cuomo knew that Time Warner was killing its NetNews service. He knew. Attorney General Cuomo “applauded” and “commended” Time Warner for killing NetNews. He approved. And he is conscious of his own guilt.
Attorney General Cuomo must be held responsible for the actual, known and forseen consequences of his official actions.
This isn't some “new standard of responsibility”. Attorney General Cuomo has actively applied pressure to ISPs to get them to kill NetNews. And despite seeing the consequences, he continues to actively apply pressure. He intended —and still intends— the results of his voluntary acts.
Attorney General Cuomo intends to kill NetNews.
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Re: Responsibility
I get it!
NetNews made fun of his mom didn't they? And now he is trying to back any way he can. Thats why.
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You're incorrect.
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CENSORSHIP
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