I agree. Those that want to shut down communications and internet access at the slightest sign of trouble or unrest should be censured. Shame on these rogue states such as, er, the UK. Oh.
Too many states are crushing net rights, says Foreign Sec
Too many countries are interfering in their citizens’ right to internet freedom, the Foreign Secretary told the London Conference on Cyberspace (LCC). “[These states] are seeking to go beyond legitimate interference or disagree with us about what constitutes ‘legitimate’ behaviour,” William Hague said. “Some governments block …
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Tuesday 1st November 2011 12:12 GMT ph0b0s
Hypocrite
“Some governments block online services and content, imposing restrictive regulation, or incorporate surveillance tools into their internet infrastructure so that they can identify activists and critics. Such actions either directly restrict freedom of expression or aim to deter political debate.”
This would cut more ice if the UK were not saying this while taking notes about how to set these kind of things up themselves. Also the UK is no 'poster-boy' for net freedom.
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Tuesday 1st November 2011 12:13 GMT Anonymous Coward
There is only one acceptable behaviour...
... and that is non-interference with your citizens' communications. All the rest is censorship, often enough with the effect of swiping crimes under the carpet. Would the good sir care to condone government coverup then? Get your own house in order first, guv.
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Tuesday 1st November 2011 12:25 GMT Anonymous Coward
“Some governments block online services and content, imposing restrictive regulation, or incorporate surveillance tools into their internet infrastructure so that they can identify activists and critics. Such actions either directly restrict freedom of expression or aim to deter political debate.”
errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr don't we do all of those things or look to do all of them? What with the old intercept modernisation, ripa, banning content folks don't agree with, etc? Shipping folks off to dark holes like pre revolution libya, egypt and, pakistan for friendly questions by the local investigators? UK Has no moral high ground, neither does anyone else I expect.
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Tuesday 1st November 2011 12:25 GMT Drew V.
Last time I checked (the study "European Privacy and Human Rights" of 2010 by Privacy international), Britain still ranked as lowest in all of Europe, not including Turkey whose European status is debatable.
Allow me to repeat that: in all of Europe.
Hague hasn't lost his touch when it comes to setting new standards of hypocrisy.
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Tuesday 1st November 2011 12:50 GMT a cynic writes...
Your starter for ten...
Which balding Yorkshire-born Government minister talked Cameron out of shutting down blackberry this summer, according to a BBC blog post about this very conference?
No? Well the full quote is:
"A discussion on Internet Freedom featured a Yemeni online activist, Google's head of Freedom of Expression, and John Kampfner from Index on Censorship.
Mr Kampfner got straight into the dilemma facing policy makers, describing how David Cameron had been keen to shut down Blackberry during the summer riots until William Hague had pointed out just how that would play after Britain's support for the Arab Spring activist."
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Tuesday 1st November 2011 16:05 GMT Frank Bitterlich
So, the real problem is that they "disagree with us", right?
"[These states] are seeking to go beyond legitimate interference or disagree with us about what constitutes ‘legitimate’ behaviour,"
Well, surprise. _Most_ people (in the UK and elsewhere) disagree with your view on which (and how much) interference is legitimate. Just not in the way you might think.
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Wednesday 2nd November 2011 08:53 GMT JaitcH
I totally agree with Hague and ...
he can make a start by freeing up the InterNet in the UK.
Adults should be made accountable for their actions as in real life.
If someone take a garden shovel and beats the brains out of his neighbour, he gets charged. The government doesn't ban shovels.
Likewise the InterNet should be wide open and should someone choose to access a kiddy porn site they do so at their own risk. If these damn do-gooders are leery of their little Johnies and Janes seeing things they can apply blocking software rather than making all of us be restricted. Damn Nanny state.
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