Venezuelan Politicians Seem To Think The Web Is Like TV: Adult Content Only Allowed At Night

from the that's-not-how-it-works dept

With all the jokes we've had about how badly it seems the US government doesn't understand the internet, and often seems to want to censor the internet, it appears that politicians in Venezuela want to go even further. A lawmaker from the ruling party has put forth a bill that would regulate the internet -- in part by saying that adult content can only be available after midnight.

Yes, you read that right. Supporters point out that this is the same requirement for TV and radio, so why shouldn't it work that way for the internet? Detractors point out that... um... that's not how the internet works. Of course, the bill also lets the government directly censor websites that say things the ruling party doesn't like, which does seem like standard practice for media entities in Venezuela these days.
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Filed Under: internet, regulations, venezuela


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  • icon
    Hephaestus (profile), 10 Dec 2010 @ 10:43am

    As the saying goes "its 5 pm somewhere" ...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Dec 2010 @ 10:45am

    actually this could work. Just set up dns servers in the country that only make the dns names available from midnight to 6am local time. Won't stop every one, but would make it a deterrent.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      :Lobo Santo (profile), 10 Dec 2010 @ 10:49am

      Re: It Works ...?

      Yes, it worked so very well in every other country that tried.
      :eye-roll:
      /sarc

      Also, there's a completely distributed uncensorable DNS system coming. Heard of Dot-p2p yet?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      crade (profile), 10 Dec 2010 @ 11:00am

      Re:

      Wouldn't that just mean the whole internet would only be available at night?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 10 Dec 2010 @ 11:55am

        Re: Re:

        "adult content can only be available after midnight."

        "Wouldn't that just mean the whole internet would only be available at night?"

        There's a joke here somewhere...

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Hugues Laman (profile), 10 Dec 2010 @ 11:55am

      dns servers

      Well people will begin to understand internet a bit more the fact that you can cache the name of a server in your personnal computer. Yes it will work for a while, put it will be quick and there will be software that help you bypass this.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      TheStupidOne, 10 Dec 2010 @ 1:28pm

      Re:

      It will work right up until the people of the country decided to use opendns, or google's dns, or any other dns that resides outside of their country

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    DS, 10 Dec 2010 @ 11:01am

    Is the follow up news that men everywhere (in Venezuela) are going to work half asleep?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Dec 2010 @ 11:07am

    isn't the ARD in germany doing the same thing with their catch up service? they block it before the watershed, making the service less than useful.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Dec 2010 @ 11:07am

    "Of course, the bill also lets the government directly censor websites that say things the ruling parties don't like, which does seem like standard practice for media entities in America these days."

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Ethan, 10 Dec 2010 @ 11:23am

    Love the title !

    lolzz....

    I really loved the title !! I cracked up on that !

    Thanks for making my day :)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Yeebok (profile), 10 Dec 2010 @ 8:30pm

    Did anyone else read the first word in the title as vuvuzela ?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    techflaws.org (profile), 11 Dec 2010 @ 1:49am

    Even worse in Germany

    The JMStV is a law just passed to "protect the children" by forcing anyone to implement a rating system on their page which would automatically be blocked by parents adjusting their kid's browsers filter. If anyone does not want to rate it and they are offering content for adults (not necessarily pron) they have to make sure their content is only available after 10 p.m.

    That's what you get with a bunch of clueless jerks who just don't get the internet (actually most ppl thing, they do, they only want to control it).

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    David, 11 Dec 2010 @ 1:16pm

    Great minds

    Haven't got a clue, have they?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Rockma, 14 Dec 2010 @ 3:21pm

    Contradictions as always

    Well, I am Venezuelan. What can I say? The governor is a man who criticizes US and capitalism, but he uses Twiter.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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