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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Web Censorship Beginning? |
Current rating: 0 |
by Mike Lehman, U-C IMC
(No verified email address) |
15 Sep 2001
Modified: 01:47:29 PM |
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It looks as if the first signs of "soft" censorship are beginning to appear, as the rush toward war that many elements of our society encourage takes place. |
It looks as if the first signs of "soft" censorship are beginning to appear, as the rush toward war that many elements of our society encourage takes place.
Several e-mail lists I regularly follow have had various discussions of the "loose lips sink ships" variety. While there is some basis in this day of modern technology for concerns about the communication of sensitive information, there has been an ever greater growth in the spread of "net nannies" who seem to want to totally shut down American freedoms in the name of defending said freedoms.
What is unclear is the actual extent of official sponsorship that is behind this situation. I came across this on the Trainorders email list, which has also unfortunately contained various examples of stereotypical "kill ‘em all, let god sort ‘em out" messages. The text seems to indicate that there seems to be an off-the-record push already going on to impose "soft" or self-censorship to various forums of communication. Imagine how much stronger the pressures might be on the mass media itself.
Below is from Trainorders.com, where it was posted after it was originally posted on a Yahoo e-mail list. It is a little unclear if it was originally posted at Trainorders or not.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Message: 6
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 17:55:17 -0400
From: "Keith Ranker" <kranker (at) ec.rr.com
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT! Fw: [serails] Watch What You Post
Based on my experiences, please take heed!
Have a great day!
Keith
Try http://www.DecisionNow.org, Billy Graham's website
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2001 3:56 PM
Subject: [serails] Watch What You Post
I copied this from the Eastern Railroad News Page today and am posting it as a reminder that we have to watch what we post as well. SUBSCRIBER NOTICE: For reasons that should be obvious to everyone, Eastern Railroad News has been asked by national level persons, to no longer report on special train movements, special passenger (office) car train movements, military train movements or anything that could possibly jeopardize American security. We've been told that any of these moves could contain key people and or equipment and would be a dead giveaway about activity that could be leading to a military operation. Office car trains may be carrying key personnel from any branch of the military and or government and may be accompanied by armed personnel. While not receiving anything directly from individual railroads, the notification came from high enough in the U.S. government that we will indeed cease broadcasting any such move. It should be likewise noted that other high traffic areas on the web or e-mail groups, should also refrain from publicizing such activity.
Thanks, Kevin B.
Visit the Serails web site at: http://www.railspot.com/serails/
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ |
See also:
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?f=2&i=42155&t=42155
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Internet Surveillance Going Into Place |
by Mike Lehman
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
15 Sep 2001
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This article at the link below gives background on what has already occurred regarding free speech on the Internet just yesterday in Congress. I don't believe there is a particular reason for citizens to be concerned about jack-booted thugs breaking down their doors with this initiative itself just yet.
The question is its slippery slope nature under a government already dominated by anti-civil liberties politicians, the practically unlimited duration of any "war to end terrorism" (remember that the endless "War on Drugs" has had a more corrosive effect on the Bill of Rights than any war we've yet been in), and the overall chilling effect of public discourse itself, which is itself an attack on the basis of what is supposed to make us a better nation than those so many seek to make war on.
We have already seen the beginnings of bullying directed against those who speak out in favor of reflection and peace. Let us hope we aren't seeing the beginnings of a campaign of terror against those perceived as somehow "unpatriotic" when they exercise their rights. Let the media work as hard at this goal as they work at stirring up passions in favor of war, when reason would lead us to consider what the effect of our own policies has had on the situation that we are in now. |
See also:
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,46852,00.html
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