[ NNSquad ] Re: Brits' Failed Heavy Metal Censorship Attempt Disrupts Wikipedia Edits

["David P. Reed" <dpreed@reed.com>]

The techniques used to mess up the communications with wikipedia involve 
*massive* tinkering with communications - redirecting packets based on 
protocol and content.

The so-called ISPs are hardly providing "Internet Access" in the usual 
sense of the term.  Instead, they must read all communications, identify 
the target site (Wikipedia), identify the target protocol (http) and 
tinker with the content of selective communications.

Perhaps the same techniques might be used to identify people who want 
to, for example, send email to people who are in a different social 
caste, check for "words of endearment" and if found, send the Sharia law 
people out to stone both parties to the email to death.

Of course, the British tradition of spying on each other is well 
accepted... so those of us who live in America might find it frighening, 
but the folks who love their surveillance cameras would not bat an 
eyelash to hear that their every move is watched and monitored.

  [ And as we've previously noted, down in Australia, the government
    is pushing an extremely pervasive Internet censorship plan -- in
    the finest traditions of futility, of course.  But let's also not
    forget that here in the U.S. as well, a sure way to win political
    points is to call for controlling Internet content -- as various
    ongoing legislative actions here demonstrate.  If the goal is to
    create an above ground vs. underground information culture (e.g.
    Eloi vs. Morlocks) they may gain some limited traction if they're
    willing to be sufficiently draconian.  But actually and
    effectively cutting materials off of the Internet -- for reasons
    deemed fine or foul -- will mercifully continue to be as the
    ration of Tantalus.

      -- Lauren Weinstein
         NNSquad Moderator ]