Internet Blackout - New Zealand
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Many New Zealand’s who regularly use the internet would now know of this issue. Our government is now trying to pass law that ISP's can "cut off" internet users permanently if they are SUSPECTED of downloading illegal content.
This "cut off" will cripple internet users and companies with no reasoning from ISP's and no investigation. Users would still be charged and would have to pay to terminate any contracts to re-gain internet access. Anyone accused and cut off will then be classed as a criminal; there will then be a very steep fine and no way of fairly arguing you case.
This system will target most P2P and file sharing website and program users. File names, locations and who download them will all be monitored by computer software. Many of these users do not illegally download files and depend on internet access for business. Any internet cafe's, libraries will be expected to thoroughly monitor all internet access, users names and addresses. All "hot spots" will be forced to reduce access. These businesses can be instantly cut off if a user accesses "alleged illegal material".
If you wish to support a petition to not pass this law go to: http://creativefreedom.org.nz/ and sign their petition.
All support would be appreciated from anyone.
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What a flawed system.
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This is ridiculous. You can even incidentally (and innocently) get to a site where there is illegal content. This whole issue is very important but impotent politicians can screw everything.
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This is scary, very scary. How does this differ from banning certain books from the library or banning certain speech? I will sign the petition.
EDIT: So this deals with suspected copyright infringment, as I understand. -
I'm not sure what this 'law' accomplishes. When you sign up with an ISP you sign a disclaimer agreement stating that you will not download illegally and P2P sites like Limewire also have similar disclaimers.
Many countries such as China and the (gulp) USA vigilantly monitor the Internet and other communication devices such as Cell phones. What benefit would an ISP provider derive from spending gazillions of dollars monitoring subscribers and then having to fend off the lawsuits. Cafes and libraries? I cannot see how this law can possibly be enforced.
Does anyone know where it originated? I'm guessing the Music and Movie biz.
DE -
It probably just shows the politicians ignorance of the subject they are legislating about.
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@petercharles said:
It probably just shows the politicians ignorance of the subject they are legislating about.
And this is probably the most scary thing of all.
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hmmm... not good.
My wife made a point that makes sense, if they want to meddle and create banlists why not start with porn sites and spam sites (not that we agree with any censorship, but if they want to be the social conscience that would be a place to start)
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What's wrong with porn sites?
(oh sorry; that was your wife, I see...)Well, spammers can go - agreed.
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I still don't get it...
What good is legislation that just gives ISP's the authority to do something they already have the authority to do?
They should call this 'The department of redundancy department' legislation.
DE -
Thanks for all your comments.
Just to clarify for some people:
In New Zealand it is illegal to download copyright infringing material such as music and movies.
If you do you can be fined.
ISP's are currently allowed to disconnect you if they please but they have to respect your right to privacy and your freedom to use the internet as you personally please.Now this new law, which may come to pass, wants to force the ISP's to monitor their customers internet usage.
If an internet user is SUSPECTED of downloading content that may be illegal they will instantly be cut off, no arguments, and will be fined.
-You will not be able to argue against the claim or the fine
The system is also flawed;
-If you access such sites as Rapidshare, Deposit files, etc you can be cut off without any questions.
-If you use any peer to peer programs or site you can be cut off without questions
-If you visit a site, forum, etc that has been flagged as having illegal content you can be cut off without question
This means all customers internet usage will have to be monitored by a computer which will mean inaccurate accusations and possible internet slowdown due to traffic logging.
If businesses, such as libraries, that allow users to anonymously browse the web for research purposes have a user that is suspected of accessing illegal content then the libraries internet access will be terminated and they will be fined. This means that libraries will have to closely monitor all users and gather such information as their names, address and so on. And if a user does access illegal content they will also be prosecuted.
If a school also allows internet access to their pupils and one is accused of accessing illegal content than the schools internet access will be cut off also.
If you are a business that relies on internet access this can cripple you.This is not only censorship, it is a stupid idea and will cause more problems than it can possible fixes. It will also mean ISP’s will be forced to install a monitoring system and possibly charge their customers more for a slower and unreliable connection.
Isn’t there something better governments could be doing in such a time with their money and time
Once again, thanks for any support
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I don't undertand that law at all. Rapidshare and Depositfiles can be used perfectly legally to send large attachments that can't otherwise be sent by email. That, allegedly, is their whole reason for being.
If the government simply wants to prevent the use of such sites, surely it's simpler and a lot more economic to just block the site itself, rather than monitor everyone that uses it and then go after them...guilty or not. -
@alan fraser said:
I don't undertand that law at all. Rapidshare and Depositfiles can be used perfectly legally to send large attachments that can't otherwise be sent by email
Thats the reason why most New Zealand internet users don't wish for such a law to be enforced, that and the fact they system will be flawed.
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@unknownuser said:
Isn’t there something better governments could be doing in such a time with their money and time
Note that it's not their money but yours...
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