MP Confirms Website Blocking Discussions

[Cal.]

http://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/2011/minister-confirms-voluntary-site-blocking-discussions

[Open Rights Group] have received a reply from Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, about new website blocking discussions.

He has confirmed that discussion are ongoing between rights-holders and Internet Service Providers about 'self-regulatory' site-blocking measures.

We believe website blocking is a bad idea, especially on a self-regulatory basis where vital judicial oversight is bypassed.

The good news is that he has promised to invite civil society groups to participate in future discussions on the matter. In our reply we suggested, alongside Open Rights Group, that he consider Global Partners, Liberty, Article 19, and Consumer Focus.

The letter;

24 March 2011
Dear Jim

Thank you for your letter of 28 February about our recent meeting with stakeholders to discuss alternative plans for site-blocking measures in the Digital Economy Act (DEA).

Jeremy and I met with key players from the digital economy on 23 February to discuss developing new ways for people to access content online. Coming out of this meeting was a proposal for a Working Group to be formed to look at industry self-regulatory measures to tackle online copyright infringement through site-blocking.

I recognise that it is very important that consumer interests are considered very carefully, and we will be inviting consumer representative groups to participate in future discussions on the issue.

ED VAIZEY MP Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries

You can help by writing to your MP explaining why website blocking is a bad idea and why it's important civil society groups are represented. (There's a pre-prepared email if you don't want to word it yourself).

One step closer to having legitimate content, such as say wikileaks, blocked in a Great Firewall of China-esque style.

 

[ajt09]

I would support something like it, but I truly hate wikileaks. Mainly because they're releasing stuff they shouldn't, and putting peoples safety at risk. Sooner they get taken down the better

 

[Joel`]

Woo censorship.

 

[Lee]

Ridiculous.

 

[I Hate Fish]

Yay. The West is modelling their system on China. What next? YouTube blocked for anti-Zionist videos? XD

 

[ajt09]

I would support something like it, but I truly hate wikileaks. Mainly because they're releasing stuff they shouldn't, and putting peoples safety at risk. Sooner they get taken down the better

Have to stress that sometimes censorship does go to ridiculous extremes, I'm not not denying that. It's just Wikileaks I highlighted as they are the worst forms of freedom of speech/information or whatever. They post stuff, and just don't give a toss about the consequences. But censorship does go a bit stupid at times.

Just thought I'd clear that up.

 

[Joel`]

Have to stress that sometimes censorship does go to ridiculous extremes, I'm not not denying that. It's just Wikileaks I highlighted as they are the worst forms of freedom of speech/information or whatever. They post stuff, and just don't give a toss about the consequences. But censorship does go a bit stupid at times.

Just thought I'd clear that up.

Wikileaks are dicks, but if we want them censored then it just starts a spiral where more and more stuff will be censored.

 

[superfrank]

what are they going to be blocking?

 

[Lee]

what are they going to be blocking?

Chances are it will be places where you have access to copyright material. So torrent sites, newsgroups, etc.