The Slow Creep into Tyranny
Recently a few of us were on Skype discussing the difference in an individuals freedom of speech depending on the country you reside in. When I questioned how a country like England got its speech regulated to limit hate speech, it was not shocking to learn it passed without any real debate. In my opinion political correctness is used to stifle, limit, or completely avoid debate and communication on very important issues that face us almost everyday.
Net Neutrality gone sour
There are Rumblings that the big players of the Internets ‘level playing field’ are about to tip it to their favour…
Recently I reported on MSC of numerous blogs being forcibly shut down. Now Piration has reported mainstream media slanting the view of bloggers in general, whilst he also gave a passionate review of the situation. So it seems fitting to report on the recent developments of Net Neutrality.
The internet is new, wonderful and shiny. Or at least it was. For many it has now become a staple need and there is even talk of ‘a human right to have access’ to it… but access to what exactly?
For those who read theses posts the internet has probably become a metaphor for information. In truth it is not more than a bunch of wires with abstract bits and bytes – it is the terminal where that information is assembled that allows us our internet experience.
Net neutrality stood for the ideal that wherever you were you could have equal access to this data and its combined experience… Unfortunately this has always been a form of doublespeak. It’s very difficult to experience a HD movie if your ‘terminal’ is an old PC with poor connection, regardless of ones patience – let alone for those in the world still without electric. Yet like the American constitution it has set a benchmark of standards which can be aspired to.
In April this year The New York Times reported that:-
A federal appeals court ruled that regulators had limited power over Web traffic under current law.
This simple statement confirmed the frailty of Net Neutrality – essentially saying that it is nothing more than an idea and not enforcable in Law. Meaning there are no legal restrictions on companies restricting the flow of data over the internet. This leaves only ‘simple’ moral hurdles for the corporations to overcome. [making Piration's post even more relevant].
So what of the latest news? According to The New York Times [NYT again? - coincidence..?]
Google and Verizon have been in talks to introduce a tiered system into the web. Google of course denied this quickly (as they have long pledged support of Net Neutrality) but interestingly the story has turned into a table tennis match of words with The New York Times latest statement reading:- “We stand by our reporting which is based on information from sources in a position to know about the conversations.”
So we will have to see where this leads – From reports of bloggers mentioned in the same sentence as terrorists and conspiracy theorists… The war for our minds goes on [why does it always have to be a war – or should that phrase now be classed as an Americanism...?]. However I feel the internets downfall (from its potential glory of free information planet wide) is more likely to come about by those who find its ‘shininess’ the most attractive. Those drifting from TV to ‘internet TV’ with large HD screens and sound systems that deafen the sound of the ringing tills it took to buy them with.
These people are the mass consumers, not of information but of product. In their desire (addiction?) for an ever more glitter they will ask for their own internet to be limited (censored) in return for faster downloads. They will even pay for the ‘privilege’…
A fast food generation asking for ‘quick fix’ entertainment.
Internet Censorship tightens Global Free Speech
In my last two posts I mentioned free-speech in the USA and UK… Now it’s the turn of global free speech – ie the internet.
It never ceases to amaze me how people can take for granted what they have. The internet is unlike anything before it – in the way is has allowed people from all over the world to share their experiences with one another. Over a very short period of time it has evolved to sites such as MindSetCentral or my own, including images, audio and video, including text… but that does not mean it will be there tomorrow.
There is a freedom with the internet that has caught the powers that be unprepared. Music is shared instantly across the planet and the impact upon this is widely reported. To control this people have been called pirates… language is a funny thing.
With music and videos the internet has also been used to share ideas, thoughts and concepts… A magical thing.
Internet 2.0 has been in the works for around a decade now – it is not new. And a new cyber war is slowly underway. This transformation will take many guises. From protecting the music industry to our children YOU will be told that the change is in YOUR favour… But do not be fooled.
With each closure of a portal, ideas too will be shut out. As mainstream companies monitor your mails ‘ideas’ will be termed dangerous… above all do not think your children will have the same freedom of communication that we have been fortunate to have. History repeats but things DO change.
Here are two reported examples of recent ‘net censorship’:-
(even if these reports are false – I assure you that the desire for control over internet information grows stronger every day)
Facebook closes AlexJones Page due to Gatsen flag image Here
US Authorities shut down Word Press Host with 73,000 Blogs Here
Free Speech – UK ahead of the curve…
My last post talked about Free Speech in America and how people under the Obama Administration could lose their jobs by speaking ‘out of place’. Of course we shouldn’t forget the UK’s pioneering use of censorship within its democracy…
Although I am no fan of radio presenter John Gaunt it shakes me to hear of his situation this week. This report relates to an interview in 2008 where he called a councilor a ‘Health Nazi’ along with other terms…
But before you read on, I would like to remind you of an event in 2005 – where Ken Livingstone (Previously the Mayor of London) called a Jewish reporter a Nazi too… Livingstone later went on to win an appeal. Something that seems to have been forgotten.
One key aspect of the law SHOULD be to relate it to the intent behind an individual case.
Gaunt’s outcome has been a little different. He was sacked from his work based upon his actions being able to offend both the councilor AND the audience. That leaves a bitter taste in my mouth as it is – the day we are not ‘allowed’ to speak our minds because others may feel offended is the day we close our mouths and hang our heads in shame.
Yet there is something even more insidious about this case…
Mr Gaunt was refused permission to appeal…
Full Story Here
Free Speech – (shhh someone will hear you)
There are many countries on this planet of ours yet America proclaims to lead the world in freedom and democracy and whilst it may have strong ideals it would seem they are being tested more every day. A great free nation can become a prison if its population chooses to be slaves.
It begins with the people accepting authority without question. Accepting the rules and conditions they are placed under in the belief they are ‘for the common good’. After all with so many distractions to draw our attention it is not surprising that people do not find the time to oversee the overseers…
First we are told how to behave, then how to speak and finally the largest crime of all – we are conditioned how to think. But what level of control do we accept as a society? At what point do Free-Speech zones become a good idea? When will politicians be prevented from voicing their opinions..? Or is this already the case?
Of course this has been happening for centuries – it is not new. But perhaps the majority has forgotten that and cannot see its progression? With America being in focus – Do you think that politicians are any different to the protestors under Obamas administration?
Journalists are being fired for saying what they think while politicians on the Left and Right are being allowed to get away without being questioned
Given the American right of free speech and the country’s tradition of colourful, open debate in which pretty much anything goes, this is a depressing picture.
Full Story Here
