The French state and Internet service providers have struck a deal to block sites carrying child pornography or content linked to terrorism or racial hatred, Interior Minister Michel Alliot-Marie announced Tuesday.
The plan, part of a larger effort to fight cybercriminality, is to go into effect in September when a "black list" will be built up based on input from Internet users who signal sites dealing with the offensive material, the minister said.
The announcement comes on the heels of a similar deal in the United States, also announced Tuesday. There, three service providers — Verizon, Sprint and TimeWarner Cable_ have agreed with New York state officials to block child pornography sites nationwide.
Alliot-Marie said all service providers in France have agreed to block offending sites but did not name them.
"We can no longer tolerate the sexual exploitation of children in the form of cyber-pedopornography," Alliot-Marie said. "We have come to an agreement: the access to child pornography sites will be blocked in France. Other democracies have done it. France could wait no longer."
Among other countries that have already implemented similar measures include Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Canada and New Zealand.
Under the French plan, Internet users, via a platform, will be able to signal inappropriate sites and the state, receiving the complaints in real time, will then decide whether the sites are to go on a so-called black list to be passed on to Internet service providers to enforce site blocks.
Sites containing what appear to be blatant crimes will be referred to judicial authorities, the minister said.
As for offending sites hosted in other countries, France will pass on the information via Interpol or Europol, the two police agencies, or seize judicial authorities there, Alliot-Marie said. She insisted that the plan would not "create a Big Brother of the Internet" and pledged her support for the "fundamental liberty that is Internet access."
France's upcoming presidency of the European Union will be a chance to coordinate efforts between countries, she said, adding that efforts are often needlessly duplicated and sites shut down in one country often pop up in another.
Associated Press
"Among other countries that have already implemented similar measures include Britain..."
ReplyDeleteThough this country seems curiously reluctant to block access to sites such as Redwatch, Stormfront, the Green Arsehole and the BNP, all of which incite racial hatred,
"Though this country seems curiously reluctant to block access to sites such as Redwatch, Stormfront, the Green Arsehole and the BNP, all of which incite racial hatred."
ReplyDeleteA spontaneous series of complaints from numerous offended internet users is what is needed to get the likes of the Green Arrow shut down. These sites often carry what amounts to child pornography in their vile, slanderous and lurid portrayals of the relationship of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) with his niece Aisha(ra).
Paedophilia & Child Abuse, being exploited to block FREE SPEECH
ReplyDeleteAs a victim of paedophiles myself, and all done in an era when the Internet hadn’t even been thought of, it becomes glaringly obvious as to why the French are doing this, and that is to block anyone communicating dissent on the dire state of world affairs.
If LU thinks it can escape being blocked itself, it should think again.
You may intensely dislike, and even hate members of nationalist organisations, but as minority groups the law also affords them a certain amount of protection, and any hatred you may direct over the Internet toward them could see you removed from the Internet too.
These actions are not to be applauded, and I would sincerely hope that there are people here who understand enough about child abuse to know that the majority of it does not occur in the global arena of the Internet, but what the Internet does do, is reveal those sick enough to partake in the cruelty and mass publication of such base and filthy behaviour.
Blocking them sends them underground where they may never be caught. You can’t prevent sexual preference, but you can stop it being acted upon if you can catch the culprits.
Regards
SE
It's true. Britain has done fuck all to ban racist content from the next.
ReplyDeleteNobody has blocked access to Stormponce, VNN, Ku Klux Klan sites, and Redwatch.
The worst offender is "YOUTUBE COMMENTS".
Check the white supremacy, pro-hitler comments which feature after each BNP video on YouTube, and you will see the depravity of the hardcore racist Nick Griffin supporters!
This from Darby's blog:
ReplyDeleteFreedom of Information
Derbyshire Constabulary
Butterley Hall
Ripley
Derbyshire DE5 3RS
Dear Sirs...
You will be aware of course that threats of violence made in such a manner undoubtedly constitute a criminal conspiracy and may even, under the new terrorism legislation, form an even more serious breach of the law.
Further to this, I attach a recent post published by a Labour supporting website, entitled “Lancaster Unity”. I trust I do not have to spell out the implications of publishing and facilitating this blatant and clear incitement to violence against children....
In the light of the intelligence concerning serious criminal activity ... can you under the FOI Act 2000 provide me with the following:...
2. Documentation in relation to the decision as to whether or not to initiate a criminal investigation relating to the above and any relevant correspondence with the Criminal Prosecution Service...
Yes, we remember the infamous comment by "ends justify the means".
We also very quickly worked out which of our BNP friends made it, he being happily on hand to take a screen shot during that comment's extremely brief existence, and to have it up on Stormfront in the same short interval.
I can assure Mr Darby that we will enthusiastically co-operate with the police (Brighton police, as it will be) to unmask the culprit.
To put this into context the French are simply doing what a large number of ISPs in the rest of the world (apart from the US) have been doing for sometime.
ReplyDeleteThe dross which still comes through (e.g. Redwatch - my picture is on it, but I couldn't give a shit!) is nothing like that which is constrained by the arrangement.
Freedom of speech is a very delicate line - read at face value much of what is said by these people (who still get through) seems plausable, possibly even sensible - it's only if you understand the contexts of their observations and look below the surface you understand the poison in it. It is our job to explain that to the rest of the world.
Also we find what they say so offensive BECAUSE we understand what is underneath it.
Sorry if I'm a little adrift and rambling - a bottle of red seems to make me go on a bit!
Good on you Denise, i did wonder if you had picked up on that, and i do hope Brighton police use the info you will give them.
ReplyDeleteIandale....in response to this posting, its amazing just who Redwatch do feature on their site, to be honest i dont check it out that often but some few months ago was doing a trawl as you do and was amazed to see a picture of my youngest daughter who along with some uni friends had taken part in one of the big demos in London against the war in Iraq......she was quite offended when i told her, but of course there is i believe nothing that she can do about it.
I do wonder though just how much this leaves young people certainly young girls open to stalking and other pressures.
tulip