21059686
submission
airfoobar writes:
A four-year extension to the highly controversial Patriot Act is set to be rushed through in the coming week. Both parties are in agreement that this is the best way forward.
20142412
submission
airfoobar writes:
Bad news from Denmark. According to an official press release, the Danish government has changed its position and now endorses the European Commission’s proposal to extend the term of protection for sound recordings. Since Denmark was part of a fragile blocking minority in the European Council, there is a danger now that the EU Presidency (Hungary) will try to push through the proposal within a matter of weeks.
19809394
submission
airfoobar writes:
This seems like a good week for libre culture. The first part of an surprisingly well-made cyberpunk thriller called Zenith has just been released as a torrent download through Vodo, and the third episode of Pioneer One is being released on the 28th.
18145988
submission
airfoobar writes:
Yet another country wants to "protect the children" by blocking all internet porn — not just child porn, all porn. The British gov will talk with ISPs next month to ask them to make porn blocking mandatory (and they appear more than happy to comply). As an effect, adults who want to access pornography through their internet connections will have to "opt in". Their rationale is that if ISPs have managed to block all child porn, they'll also be able to block all other porn as well.
When parental controls exist for users to do this on their own, why does the gov want to get involved? Why not let users choose if they want such a service or not? This is how you bring internet censorship in: by gradually blacklisting sites that most people won't pipe up to defend. Welcome to the age of Her Majesty's Great Firewall.
17815022
submission
airfoobar writes:
From TFA "A group of former members of WikiLeaks is planning to launch its own whistleblowing platform in mid-December, according to a German newspaper. The activists criticize WikiLeaks for concentrating too much on the US and want to take a broader approach."
In a capitalist world, competition makes perfect.
