Friday, August 12, 2011

CAMERON GRABS FOR THE BIG OFF SWITCH









For a long time I have believed that if any politician could seize the power to control, censor, or even shut down the internet, we had probably lost the ballgame. Despite the content warnings, corporate bullshit, and all the other irritants, the social networks are the people’s media. They are the only free mass communication in a world of electronic manipulation. But now Cameron has seen his chance. I’d like to say that dog won’t hunt but I just fear it just might. The UK media are whipping a lynch mob frenzy modeled on US TV in the wake of 9/11, except the enemy is the children of the underclass, not terrorists on the jihad. The War On Youth? It is all so bloody absurd I shudder and look away. Dangerous Minds tells the story…

“In response to the English Riots, British Prime Minister, David Cameron announced a series initiatives to “do whatever it takes to restore law and order and to rebuild our communities. Amongst the suggested plans (including removal of face masks) was the rather disturbing news that Cameron plans to block access to social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Blackberrys. In a speech to Parliament, Cameron said: “Mr Speaker, everyone watching these horrific actions will be stuck by how they were organised via social media. Free flow of information can be used for good. But it can also be used for ill. And when people are using social media for violence we need to stop them. So we are working with the Police, the intelligence services and industry to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services when we know they are plotting violence, disorder…” Click here for more

If we lose the internet we won't be able to click here for this guy.

Or Click here for The Clash

The secret word is Dicey

3 comments:

M. Bouffant said...

It's just happened here.

BART officials acknowledged this afternoon that they shut down cell phone and wireless data service in its downtown San Francisco stations to disrupt a planned protest. Their announcement sparked denunciations from civil libertarians and the apparent threat of a cyber-attack on the BART website.

Mike said...

Save the economy from wanton vandalism.
Shut down all Blackberry use in the City of London.
Alex tells all.

Aleleeinn said...

I lost my original post, but here is a short version. We just seen a prime example of the law of supply and demand in a free market capitalist society. ALL SARCASM INTENDED. But the element of truth remains.
Not Mick that we are losing the fight for network neutrality. So at another level what we see on the internet will be controlled or a worst prioritized.
Cameron is covering his dirty ass. He is far from doing a good job and hist little scandal with Rupert is fresh in his mind. And the press are doing their best to prove that they are not a bunch of phone hacking opportunists who will do and say anything for a story. Wait, they're doing exactly that.
Love the video.
And lastly, Cameron wants to ban do here what we decried so loudly in China and the middle east. Freedom is only worth protecting when it's someone else's ass in the shit.