UK mobile providers launch censorship plan
p2pnet news view Freedom | Mobiles:- Starting today, certain UK mobile broadband providers, including BT Mobile Broadband, will start censoring their services, including blocking access to The Pirate Bay.
It’s part of a new voluntary code of practice, says TorrentFreak.
But it’s nothing to do with the corporate entertainment industry attack on the Swedish search site, it says.
Coming from anything to do with BT, that’s rich. Which? magazine, published by Britain’s Consumers Association, “carried out a survey of their readership over British ISP proposals to have Phorm Inc. intercept their customers Internet communications, and inject advertisements based on behavioral profiles,” said p2pnet recently, quoting Wikileaks.
“The product Phorm are promoting is called Webwise, and Phorm have entered into initial agreements with three large ISPs, BT, Virgin Media and TalkTalk who between them cover about 70% of the UK broadband market,” says the story.
A year ago BT and two other ISPs signed exclusive agreements with private data pirate Phorm, purveyor of DPI (Deep Privacy Invasion) technology. BT secretly ‘trialled’ the technology and without bothering to tell its users about it, or to ask their permission.
Now, as a result, the UK is in deep trouble with the EC.
The mobile censor code is, “specifically aimed at mobile providers” because of the, “increase in mobile devices youngsters have access to without oversight,” says TorrentFreak.
“All sites that have an ‘over 18′ status are included and all access to these sites is simply blocked. Customers who want to lift the block to one of the sites may do so by contacting customer service.”
TorrentFreak – Mobile Broadband Providers Block The Pirate Bay, April 21, 2009
Swedish search site – The Pirate Bay vs Them – rematch, April 20, 2009
p2pnet – Phorm pharce: UK media ’suppressed’ survey, March 7, 2009
Wikileaks – UK media suppressed Phorm survey and article, 2009, March 5, 2009
deep trouble – Privacy International joins Phorm Phight, April 20, 2009
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April 21st, 2009 at 2:08 pm
BT = Bell Canada of Not So Great Britain
April 21st, 2009 at 3:14 pm
good censor it , lose the free adverting for a ton of stuff, have kids realize its all a scam to get you into a contract for a phone then drop them on mass for early termination fees so bell can try the next scam on people.
YES great idea, fro BT to do , please bell canada ruin this service too.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:46 pm
In a democractic free country, no one should have to ‘opt out’ of media censorship, or Phorm’s evil surveillance.
If you want to protect children from ‘undesireable’ content, opt in to censorship, or accept your parental responsibilty to supervise them (as you would with any other communication network).
It is telling that this new found concern for children doesn’t extend to premium rate telephone calls or SMS services.
This corrupt rotten country gets more like a fascist police state with every passing day.
April 21st, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Disgraceful. It’s censorship plain and simple. Once again this is claimed to protect children, but in actual fact they are picking and choosing what you can see and access. This country is a cesspit and the sooner it’s bankrupted by the bank bailouts (which is soon by the looks of things) the better.
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:58 am
Ah, stealthy censorship.
Make certain sites viewable by paying a premium. This entails all sorts of social stigma and divorces. Then on the strength of that argument, have access to them removed completely. Once people have become used to the idea of sites being outlawed, you can go right ahead and block any site you wish.