Internet Censorship

[Hub'ite]

Firing one of the first shots in the net neutrality war, AT&T has blocked 4chan’s /b/ image board. AT&T subscribers are unable to connect to /b/ and /r9k/ (both of which are hosted on img.4chan.org). However, subscribers can get on any of the so-called «worksafe» boards that 4chan.org offers.

The problem seems to be present only for wired connections only (AT&T Mobility customers are not affected). The problem is not caused by an DNS-error, as traceroutes indicates that AT&T is dropping img.4chan.org requests in the AT&T network.

Slashdot, Digg & Reddit are now running stories that are rapidly being upvoted about the topic.
http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/c...o_img4chanorg/

As citizens of a free internet, what do we think about this kind of censorship?http://stormen.wordpress.com/2009/07...-blocks-4chan/

Discuss.

[danzig]

Reports from blogs claiming it is intentional all within a few hours of it happening....jumping to conclusions perhaps? More information needed before crying censorship. With so many OTHER things out there on the net makes no logical sense AT&T would decide to censor and start with 4chan.

[Kamos]

I'm sure AT&T will give a statement on the matter if it garners enough attention, I'll wait until then.

[Burnum]

If you don't like it, move too a different provider.

[CtrlAltDe1337]

If you don't like it, move too a different provider.

Yep. But personally I can't see whats wrong with banning anything related to 4chan. The only good thing that came out of there was lolcats.

[Copperknickers II]

Yep. But personally I can't see whats wrong with banning anything related to 4chan. The only good thing that came out of there was lolcats.

Seconded:

[Richard]

If you don't like it, move too a different provider.

It sets a precedent though. What if they all start doing that? Fine if it's some niche ISP or something but not a big one.

[Henry X]

And a lot of memes, but hey, what do I care.

[Caduet]

First they came for the pedophiles, and I did not speak out, because I was not a pedophile.

Then, they came for the pirates, and I did not speak out because I was not a pirate.

Then they came for anonymous, and I did not speak out because I was not anonymous.

Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me

[LittleGrizzly]

First they came for the pedophiles, and I did not speak out, because I was not a pedophile.

Then, they came for the pirates, and I did not speak out because I was not a pirate.

Then they came for anonymous, and I did not speak out because I was not anonymous.

Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me

Exactly +rep. Whether or not 4chan is the hieght of civilised society or a collection of immature teenagers does not matter. Aslong as they are not running some paedophile ring (or something equally shocking) then the site shouldn't be barred!

[Stavroforos]

Death to 4chan.

[lordoftheT]

Meh if all they banned was /b/ and /r9k/ I cant say I care that much.

[Manco]

4chan may be bad taste, but that's no grounds to ban /b/ or any other board.

Besides, is it even legal to ban a site with no notice if said site is perfectly legal?

[Erik]

4chan may be bad taste, but that's no grounds to ban /b/ or any other board.

Besides, is it even legal to ban a site with no notice if said site is perfectly legal?

Is 4chan perfectly legal?

-It's often (ab)used to distribute child porn, despite all the moderating efforts.
-It's used to organize DoS attacks on websites, which is illegal.

[Admiral Piett]

Is 4chan perfectly legal?

-It's often (ab)used to distribute child porn, despite all the moderating efforts.
-It's used to organize DoS attacks on websites, which is illegal.

The same can be said for quite a bit of the Internet, Erik.

[eddy_purpus]

Is 4chan perfectly legal?

-It's often (ab)used to distribute child porn, despite all the moderating efforts.
-It's used to organize DoS attacks on websites, which is illegal.

The internet is a big piece of sea , where pirates roam it free XD
Sooo..
Jack Sparrow is gonna pwn your online ass anytime you ban a website!




Directed to AT and T

[MaximiIian]

Is 4chan perfectly legal?

Yes.

It's often (ab)used to distribute child porn, despite all the moderating efforts.

Not much anymore, though. Precisely because of all the moderating efforts. In any case, the website itself is scarcely responsible for its members doing things that are explicitly against the site rules.
Around three years ago, the moderating staff at 4chan started a campaign to end the illegal activities on /b/. Much of /b/'s old guard (i.e., the ones who did post child pornography and other illegal material) went and founded other sites, notably 7chan and 12chan.

It's used to organize DoS attacks on websites, which is illegal.

Again, actions of the members that are against site rules. The site itself is not liable, especially since moderators ban anyone who proposes or attempts to rally DDoS attacks on other boards or websites. Again, this happened years ago; you should know this already.

[Erik]

Not much anymore, though. Precisely because of all the moderating efforts. In any case, the website itself is scarcely responsible for its members doing things that are explicitly against the site rules.

They aren't punishing or trying to prosecute 4chan's owner (moot?)

Just consequently blocking all sites that contain child porn.

[Heinz Guderian]

Discuss.

Do you for/approve or against/disapprove? I will then state my stance.

[Martin N]

Internet censorship is already here anyway, in many countries like denmark and australia, and it will come under the guise of fighting child pornography - already in the australian and denmark bill political and 3rd party news websites have been seen to be censored in a child pornography censorhip mould - this was obvious anyway as such a big system is open to corruption and ulterior motives, just like terrorism was used to remove civil liberties - child pornography was used to remove internet freedom.

And the reason is there is no way to debate it, if you say no to internet censorship "Do you support child pornography ?" just as if you did not support bills like the patriot and protect america acts - "Do you support terrorism ?"