The death of the internet?

[Mikeus Caesar]

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060213/chester

Is it the death of the internet, the last true bastion of free speech in the world? If so, we have to fight the corporations from taking control of it, and 'screening out undesirable information'. They (the corporations) have already taken over everything else in this world, and they shouldn't be allowed to do things like this.

'First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.'

Pastor Martin Niemöller

Long live the intarwebs!

[discovery1]

I saw this. Not sure if it's real though. Any one know?

[Mikeus Caesar]

I saw this. Not sure if it's real though. Any one know?

On the site i got this link from, some people said you can google it and get info on it from other sites.

Here, i googled it.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=29398

http://www.freepress.net/netfreedom/

I'm sure if bothered trying, i could get more.

And if the nefarious schemes of the US corporate giants go ahead, who knows, maybe 'undesirable' stuff such as the Backroom and the babe thread would get screened out?

[lars573]

All these plans to turn the internet into a mirror of the major TV networks all seem to end at the US border. All the companies invovled are making these plans for the US market. So in the short term US web-serfers get shafted and the rest of us have to wait and see.

[Monarch]

All these plans to turn the internet into a mirror of the major TV networks all seem to end at the US border. All the companies invovled are making these plans for the US market. So in the short term US web-serfers get shafted and the rest of us have to wait and see.

Took the words out of my mouth. Until the likes of NTL, AOL and BT start suggesting stuff like this I'll sit back and enjoy net freedom

[Viking]

And if the nefarious schemes of the US corporate giants go ahead, who knows, maybe 'undesirable' stuff such as the Backroom and the babe thread would get screened out?

Do not underestimate the power of the porn industry.

[Upxl]

Do not underestimate the power of the porn industry.

Wise words mate

[Mikeus Caesar]

Took the words out of my mouth. Until the likes of NTL, AOL and BT start suggesting stuff like this I'll sit back and enjoy net freedom

That's what i'm worried about though. Because if no one bothers stopping these nefarious plans go ahead and British companies watch and see how much money the US Corps rake in, maybe they'll start thinking it's a good idea.

And i am not paying extortionate prices for a 'Platinum' account just so i can recieve 5+ more emails than a 'Gold' account. I'm quite happy with my free email and paying £15 a month for internet access to anything i want, thank you very much!

[Sasaki Kojiro]

It's a free market economy. If they tried to pull something like this everyone would flock to some alternative company.

[lars573]

They are gambling that average Joe's will be sheep and go with there regulated family friendly spoon-fed disnetized internet. It's worked for AOL for years. You know sacrifice freedom for security.

[doc_bean]

It's a free market economy. If they tried to pull something like this everyone would flock to some alternative company.

Yep, the internet still belongs to the geeks

[Mikeus Caesar]

It's a free market economy. If they tried to pull something like this everyone would flock to some alternative company.

I definately would. So what if the alternative company was a slightly slower connection? As long as i can do whatever i want, recieve as many mails as i want, i'm happy.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

It won't happen in Britain. The corperations don't have enough power here to pull it off.

[Mikeus Caesar]

It won't happen in Britain. The corperations don't have enough power here to pull it off.

Nah, there is still a small chance of it happening here. For the US it's not a question of 'if' but 'when'.

[Zalmoxis]

I guess it's time to revolt. Come, we've got innocent corporation workers to sacrifice.

Seriously though, I hate corporations, I hate being forced to be dependent on anything.

[hellenes]

As long as the Russian Federation exists im not worried a bit.

Hellenes

[GoreBag]

It rather brings old-school hacking back to mind. We'll simply need to find alternatives to your typical ISP.

[Xiahou]

They are gambling that average Joe's will be sheep and go with there regulated family friendly spoon-fed disnetized internet. It's worked for AOL for years. You know sacrifice freedom for security.

Actually, AOL has been doing pretty horribly for quote awhile hasnt it? ISPs often try to bundle software/services with their access and from what I've seen, no one is interested in it or uses it. My ISP came with browser addons and some MSN subscription garbage, ect. I never even looked at it. I dont even use my ISP provided email. People wont pay for services they dont want.

I've been on the Internet for about 15yrs now and you constantly hear about how something new and insiduous is going to destroy it- Im not particularly worried.

[lars573]

My household uses a bundle. But our ISP is the local cable company (which may or may not be the local branch of a national telecom giant). It's the watch/surf/talk bundle. We get phone cable and internet service for $100 a month. 10 gig pipeline, with indiviuals getting 10 mbps.