Comments on: All we need to do is filter the Internet http://techliberty.org.nz/all-we-need-to-do-is-filter-the-internet/ Defending civil liberties in the digital age Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:06:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Thomas Beagle http://techliberty.org.nz/all-we-need-to-do-is-filter-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Thomas Beagle Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:23:58 +0000 http://techliberty.org.nz/?p=273#comment-16 I guess that one important issue is whether the New Zealand people are prepared to have the NZ government block major sites like Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Wikipedia, and every other site with user content. I don't think they will. The difference between NZ and China/Iran is that we still have a democracy in New Zealand. I guess that one important issue is whether the New Zealand people are prepared to have the NZ government block major sites like Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Wikipedia, and every other site with user content. I don’t think they will.

The difference between NZ and China/Iran is that we still have a democracy in New Zealand.

]]> By: Greg http://techliberty.org.nz/all-we-need-to-do-is-filter-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Greg Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:35:26 +0000 http://techliberty.org.nz/?p=273#comment-15 Even if you're correct (and I'm not qualified to judge), this is but a technical perspective. In absolute terms you might be right, but it takes effort to use Haystack in Iran or punch a VPN hole in the Great Wall of China. Less than 100% of people will do it, therefore you have some degree of 'success' in your filtering. You then use non-technical means to achieve your goals, social engineering, political will, lobbyists... you get the idea. I think us techos underestimate the power of politicians even in the technical world - they will force-implement whatever they (think the electorate) want, sometimes no matter what is said and for deeply buried reasons. I don't know what is the best response. Educational blog posts like this one are probably helpful, especially since you aren't being overly antagonistic about it. Even if you’re correct (and I’m not qualified to judge), this is but a technical perspective. In absolute terms you might be right, but it takes effort to use Haystack in Iran or punch a VPN hole in the Great Wall of China. Less than 100% of people will do it, therefore you have some degree of ‘success’ in your filtering. You then use non-technical means to achieve your goals, social engineering, political will, lobbyists… you get the idea. I think us techos underestimate the power of politicians even in the technical world – they will force-implement whatever they (think the electorate) want, sometimes no matter what is said and for deeply buried reasons.

I don’t know what is the best response. Educational blog posts like this one are probably helpful, especially since you aren’t being overly antagonistic about it.

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