back to article 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 …

COMMENTS

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  1. Z-Eden
    Unhappy

    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.

  2. ChrisInAStrangeLand
    FAIL

    Clinton's mother came down with a bad case of e-parasites.

    1. Eddy Ito

      Update

      Actually, Clinton's mother died.

      http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/01/us/obit-clinton-mother/index.html

  3. 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.

  4. Mark Wilson
    Thumb Down

    So why are we allowing the movie industry to censor our access in the UK? Sounds like hypocirisy to me.

  5. Tom 38
    Big Brother

    """

    Some governments block online services and content, imposing restrictive regulation, or incorporate surveillance tools into their internet infrastructure

    """

    He's got first hand evidence of at least one...

  6. Anonymous Coward
    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.

  7. Dazed and Confused

    Pot please meet Kettle

    That's bloody fine coming from the UK gubberment. These are the people who want to be able to track every network packet from every system.

  8. Anonymous Coward
    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.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Moral high ground

      Remind me. Doesn't Norway have some moral high ground for declining to lock up DVD Jon?

  9. Drew V.
    Devil

    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.

  10. a cynic writes...
    Coat

    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."

  11. Code Monkey

    Nice try Hague

    "Look at the other countries, the foreigners. Aren't they bad, censoring the net?"

    We're not fooled you bald shite.

  12. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

    Internet is just like real life

    Allow everyone access to the internet and then launch a super-injuntion stopping them saying anything and then take the to court for a couple of million quid if they break it.

    So much more profitable than the government controlling it

  13. Daniel B.

    Clinton abscence

    How... convenient. Now that COICA/PROTECT IP has resurfaced yet again as E-PARASITE/PIPA/SOPA.

  14. Dr. Mouse

    Censorship is Doubleplusungood.

    Let us censor.

    (doublethink at it's best, here)

  15. DaeDaLuS_015
    Go

    Censor the internet?

    If people want to access things, they are going to access things. Simple as that really.

    "You can't stop the signal Mal."

  16. Frank Bitterlich
    Holmes

    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.

  17. JaitcH
    WTF?

    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.

  18. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    This is how I feel about Internet censorship:

    [this comment was removed by a moderator]

  19. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Opinions

    Government opinions do not trump the opinions of the individual. They just think it does.

    Governements apply punishments and awards to corporations that comply with government wishes.

    Unless we the people find a way to effectivly counter that, all is lost.

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