Yet another internet censorship bill (And a petition against it)
 

This is about the 5th or 6th time I've seen something like this. According to this article, there's a bill being passed through US congress over the next few days to give the US government the power to block or restrict any internet traffic that they choose in an "emergency" - Something similar to the digital economy bill that was passed through UK parliament last year. The government will be able to define what counts as an "emergency" on their own terms, so people are up in arms over the potential threat to free speech and sites like YouTube and Wiki-leaks being shut down.

Personally I think that if governments wanted to shut down the internet for whatever reason and start spying on what people are doing, that they'd have done it already - I mean they're probably doing that now anyway. Restricting the internet too much would be incredibly stupid, since it's such a large part of modern western culture and is an important part of generating revenue for the economy. However, with articles like this flying around and considering what restrictions China has over its internet, it's no wonder people are nervous.

None the less, there's a petition you can sign against the bill here.

A bill is not a law.

A law is only as powerful as its potential enforcement.

I'm not worried.

I'm not worried any way, these keep coming up, we keep losing more of our 'free speech' supposedly. Shit won't change.

People are so fucking stupid. Do they not realise how important the internet is in modern day society? Yeah, there used to be a time when the internet didn't exist, but it has proven to benefit almost everyone who uses it and give them an easier life. I thought things were supposed to move forward, not backward. If anything like this ever happened (and it won't) there would be more trouble than it's worth.

It's our government, they'll do what they see fit, it's not up to us at the end of the day.

I never said it was our decision, I was expressing the absolute stupidity of some people in charge.

I reblogged this.
It is important, regardless of how much blind faith you put in congress to make the right decision. Cover your bases.

I understand that, but stupidity or not, whatever will be will be.

Do you live in the US, STM?

No sir.

Go lie in a ditch. If people come over to you, put food in your mouth, cover you with warm blankets and ride your cock then props to you.

If they don't? Whatever will be will be.

I don't get it. I mean, seriously...I don't get it.

These Internet censorship bills never pass so I'm not worried.

My point is that fatalism is, well, fatal. You need to stand up for what you think is right.

But what's right? I'll stand up for what matters but this seems minor to me, even if it does pass I doubt they're going to block the sites that people use, if people are worried about their favourite porn site being blocked they don't need to worry. Is what I mean really.

Then you should have said so. 'It doesn't matter to me' is a completely different thing from 'Nothing I do will change anything.'

Jesus.

Well, by myself, I can't do anything. BUT IF WE ALL STAND TOGETHER A BROTHERS...

I signed the petition. Sometimes when opportunities like that appear, I do think maybe my vote could be the thing that tips it over to the side I'm voting for. I'd rather be happy with the fact that I've made a contribution than regret it if it goes tits up and I didn't bother.

Honestly I don't think a single vote will do anything.

I do think that being vocal about casting your vote will persuade other people to cast it though. That's simple group psychology.

yeah. pretty much.

SOYUZ NERUSHIMY RESPUBLIK SVOBODH etc

Therein lies your apathy. "Its not my country, idgaf"
Also, as WoF pointed out, one vote won't make much difference, but that's kind of the point of posting it here... to ensure that multiple people are on board.

Every little bit helps, and this kind of is a big deal.

It's not that I don't care about you lot, we're all of one world even if we're separated by the ocean, but my point stands that if the government really wants something like this, eventually it will happen. It may be an unfortunate reality but it is the truth.

I contest this point because of its inherent nonsensicalness.

Yeah if everyone was as submissive as you it would.

Also, not worrying about this law because you think it can't/won't be enforced is retarded. Music labels get to have a direct say in what sites should be blocked. There's major profit involved here. They'll enforce this law faster than you can say OMGWTFBBQ WTF H4PP3ND T0 MY 1N73RW38S!!!

Hell it's not like it won't affect me, youtube will probably ban my account if the law goes ahead, but it's just not something that I give a flying fuck about. The new version which is a lot more harsh, maybe more so however, but because of how it looks like it could crush current organisations as well as those ones trying to start up. Not because it might affect me.

Let's ban his account. Since he doesn't give a fuck.

STM you're actually the last person I would expect who would be against having a say against it. A lot of the time you are very opinionated and I thought something like this would oppose your views. I still fail to fully understand your personality.

Hell I don't understand my personality, I'm in a very apathetic mood right now for some reason, and I'm a little bit down, maybe that explains it.

And hey don't ban my account =( I'd miss you all.

Aha! So you DO care.