404, 403, ... cleanfeed and censorship
David Biggins
ukcrypto at chiark.greenend.org.uk
Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:42:29 -0000
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Long post - sorry.
The question has been raised several times of 404 (or perhaps 403) being
used when blocking indecent content.
Now I realise that those responsible for such blocking may be unwilling
to explicitly confirm their censorship for a number of reasons. Two in
particular spring to mind:
One is that for our Hypothetical Pervert Porn Hunter (hereafter the
HPPH), they would confirm that the image is indeed alleged to be
indecent, and some would claim that this is encouragement to seek the
image in other forms.
The second is that if the image is not in fact indecent, an explicit
censorship and warning could in fact constitute libel against the image
provider. This, I cannot deal with; it is one for the IWF and lawyers
to comment on, and I am not certain that the 404/403 solutions actually
provided are any better, since both make false claims about the state of
the provider's system.
On the first though...
I might in fact argue that in explicitly highlighting that the image is
alleged to be indecent, they would be putting out a warning to the HPPH
that their activities have indeed been noticed; whether or not this
might have a deterrent effect deserves some discussion - as does, I
suppose, the question of whether it risks compromising any police
investigation into the HPPH that might be ongoing - though personally
I'm not at all convinced that this would be any less indicative than if
the HPPH's favourite source of porn suddenly starts delivering 404s and
403s.
And for the innocent encountering the block in good faith, it could
serve as a warning that it is perhaps something that they might wish to
avoid making repeated attempts to access. 404s are after all pretty
damn common - enough so that the instinctive reaction on getting one is
to try again a few times until it (quite usually) goes away.
I also have a research tool which includes some (quite limited)
spidering facility. It is inclined on future queries to repeat a
request that previously failed on a 404 - for the same reason. I would
be rather happier to know that it was NOT going to repeatedly create
logs of requests for pages that were blocked for content; a more
specific error would allow such pages to be blacklisted at least for the
duration of the current research session.
I am not entirely happy either about using 403 - which is specifically
that the server is refusing to respond to the request. If IWF or others
post either a 404 or a 403, they are in principle making a statement
about the status of the server which is untrue.
Microsoft has designated 450 as "blocked", used to block sites with
Windows Parental Controls. I would suggest that either 450 be used, or
that a code in the range near to 450 be allocated to indicate blocked by
IWF or similar cleanfeed system.
On the detail of the censorship, I really would like to know why the IWF
appear in this case to have blocked the page rather than the image. I
can understand that on a flat-out porn site, such an approach may be
actually necessary, but if the IWF is going to start blocking public
sites such as Wikipedia, I would argue that it is going to have to do so
on a rather more selective basis. Indeed, had it on this occasion
blocked only the image, and not the page, it is arguable that it would
have escaped much of the subsequent criticism.
Like John Stuart Mill, I accept that " the only purpose for which power
can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community,
against his will, is to prevent harm to others." And some of the
material under discussion does indeed appear legitimately to constitute
a serious risk of harm to others, and that therefore certain action by
society against the HPPH is justified in preventing it. =20
However, I'm no prude; if consenting adults wish to have sex for others
to see, and others wish to watch... well C4 proved relatively
conclusively that this was within the norms of acceptable behaviour long
ago. And again like Mill, I do not accept that those who are merely
personally outraged due to their own inhibitions count as actual harm.=20
Like it or not, some form of net censorship is now in place and will
remain pretty well inevitable - either through organisations such as the
IWF, or worse by direct intervention from Governments that seem
increasingly willing to regard civil liberties as an unfortunate
inconvenience, and the internet as merely yet another mass surveillance
system that they haven't (yet) quite knocked into shape.
And so ANY internet censorship MUST be targeted at limiting the
predations of the HPPH, and protecting the unwary from unwitting
exposure to material that is illegal. And there must be protection
against mission creep to prevent this from straying into the censorship
that is based upon guardians deciding what it is or is not "moral" to
put on the internet. John Stuart Mill and the "harm principle" are key
here; and despite the fact that Mill's writing has been abused (largely
by selective quoting) by those seeking to use the "harm principle" to
justify censorship, in reality it does nothing of the kind, in the
general cases.
None of the following are intended as specific criticism of the IWF -
merely as a basis that I feel must be met.
If we are going to have censorship, I for one would rather have it from
a body like the IWF - hopefully offering some separation of such
censorship from political motivations - than from the government. And
in either event, the issue of transparency becomes increasingly
critical. =20
One transparency I've touched on - nobody should be censored from
content without it being explicit that this has happened. It is
unacceptable to use a commonplace response that often indicates a minor
glitch on the net or the server, OR a response that is meant to indicate
a rejection of the request by the site owner, as a form of censorship. =20
Another transparency must be the basis for the decisions. The bodies
that perform the censorship must be working to clear and unambiguous
guidelines (preferably in strict correlation to an unambiguous law,
though I realise that even my optimism must have some limits) that are
public, and indeed linked to from any censorship notification. This is
admittedly not going to be easy; I rest quite clear that context must
play a part in this process. "The nude child in the bath" image may
indeed NOT be indecent when it is in the context of the family
photograph album; many however would argue that WAS indecent if it
formed part of a collection of similar images from multiple sources, on
an internet site that contained, or linked to, or linked from, other
collections of more serious images. Dividing lines in such cases may be
difficult to draw.
Transparency in those formulating the censorship policy is absolutely
vital, and must be seen to include adequate representation both from
those who rightly seek to protect children from abuse, and those who
equally rightly regard censorship as a dangerous incursion into freedom.
These views sometimes cannot be reconciled; there are those whose
determination that adults should have a completely and utterly free
choice on what they do and do not watch can ignore the risks to others
of such a policy, and those who suffer (to quote Alan Coren) "the
determination to find, at all costs, a cure for sex". Few of course are
quite on these extremes, though to anyone with a strong leaning to one,
it can look as if the extremists of the other heavily predominate. =20
One further transparency is essential - the transparency of appeals.
The IWF should carry on their site (OK, Post facto if necessary) details
of all appeals that have been received, the grounds in which the content
was blocked, the reason for the appeal, and the result of the appeal.
Without this information, it remains impossible for the public to have
confidence in the appeals process or the operation of the system as a
whole.
Dave.=20
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<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">Long =
post</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">–</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> sorry.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">The question =
has been raised several</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> times of 404</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">(or perhaps 403)</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">being used when blocking =
indecent</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">content</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">Now I realise =
that those responsible for such blocking</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">may be unwilling =
to</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">explicitly</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">confirm their censorship for a number of =
reasons.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">Two in particular spring to mind:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">One is =
that</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">for =
our</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">H</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">ypothetical</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">P</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">ervert</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">P</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">orn</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> H</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">unter</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> (hereafter the HPPH)</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">, they would confirm that the =
image is indeed</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">alleged to be indecent, and some would claim that this =
is encouragement to seek the image in other forms.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">The</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">second</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> is that if the image is not in</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> fact indecent, an explicit =
censorship and warning could in fact constitute libel against the image =
provider.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> This, I cannot deal with; it is one for the IWF =
and lawyers to comment on</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">, and I am not certain that the</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">404/403 solutions actually =
provided are any better, since both make false claims about the state of =
the provider</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">s system.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">On the =
first</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> =
though...</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">I might in fact =
argue that in explicitly highlighting that the image is alleged to be =
indecent, they</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">would be</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">putting out a warning to the</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">HPPH</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> that their activities have indeed =
been noticed; whether or not this might have a deterrent effect =
deserves some discussion</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">–</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> as does, I suppose, the question of whether it risks =
compromising any police investigation into the HPPH that might be =
ongoing</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">–</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> though personally I</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">m not at all convinced that this =
would be any</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">less indicative</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">than</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">if</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">the HPPH</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">s favourite source of porn suddenly starts delivering =
404s and 403s.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">And for the =
innocent encountering the</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> block in good faith</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">it could serve as a warning =
that</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">it =
is</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">perhaps =
something that they might wish to avoid making repeated attempts to =
access.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> =
404s are after all pretty damn common</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">–</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> enough so that the instinctive reaction on getting one =
is to try</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> =
again a few times until it (quite usually) goes away.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">I also have a =
research tool which includes some</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">(quite limited) spidering =
facility. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">I</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">t is inclined on future queries to =
repeat</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">a</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">request that previously failed</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">on a 404</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">–</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> for the</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">same reason</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">. I would be rather happier =
to know that it was NOT going to repeate</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">dly</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">create logs of</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">request</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">s for</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">pages that were blocked for =
content; a</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">more specific</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">error would allow such pages to be =
blacklisted</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">at =
least for the duration of the current research =
session.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">I am not =
entirely happy either</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">about using 403</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">–</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> which is specifically that the server is refusing to =
respond to the request. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">If IWF or others post either a 404 or a 403, they are =
in principle making a statement about the status of the server which is =
untrue.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">Microsoft has =
designated 450 as</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">“</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">blocked</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">”</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">, used to block sites with Windows Parental =
Controls. I would suggest that either 450 be used, or that a code =
in the range near to 450 be allocated to indicate blocked by IWF or =
similar cleanfeed system.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">On the detail =
of the censorship, I really would like to know why the IWF appear in =
this case to have blocked the page rather than the image. I can =
understand that on a flat-out porn site</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">such an approach may be actually =
necessary, but if the IWF</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">is going to start blocking public sites such as =
Wikipedia,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">I =
would argue that it is going to have to do so on a rather more selective =
basis. Indeed, had it on this occasion blocked only the image, and =
not the page, it is arguable that it would have escaped much of the =
subsequent criticism</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">Like John =
Stuart Mill,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">I =
accept that</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">" the only purpose for which power can be =
rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against =
his will, is to prevent harm to others."</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> And some of the material =
under discussion does indeed appear legitimately</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">to constitute a serious risk of =
harm to others, and that therefore</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">certain</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">action</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">by society against</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> the HPPH</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">is justified in preventing =
it. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">However,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">I</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">m no prude; if consenting adults wish to have sex =
for others to see, and others wish to watch</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">... well C4 proved =
relatively conclusively that this was within the norms =
of</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">acceptable =
behaviour long ago. And</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">again</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">like Mill, I do not accept that</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">those who are merely personally =
outraged due to their own inhibitions</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">count as</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">actu</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">al</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">harm.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">Like it or =
not, some form of net censorship is now</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">in place and will remain pretty =
well</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> =
inevitable</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">–</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> either through organisations such as the IWF, or worse =
by direct intervention from Government</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">s that seem increasingly willing =
to regard civil liberties as an unfortunate =
inconvenience,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">and the internet as</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">merely</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">yet another mass surveillance system that they =
haven</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">t (yet) quite knocked into shape.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">And so ANY =
internet censorship MUST be</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">targeted</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">at limiting the predations of the HPPH, and protecting =
the unwary from unwitting exposure to material that is =
illegal</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">. =
And there must be protection against mission creep to prevent this from =
straying into the censorship that is based upon guardians deciding what =
it is or is not</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">“</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">moral</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">”</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> to put on the internet. John Stuart Mill =
and the</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">“</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">harm principle</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">”</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> are key here</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">; and despite the fact that =
Mill</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">s writing has been abused (largely by selective =
quoting) by those seeking to use the</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">“</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">harm principle</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">”</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> to justify censorship, in reality it does =
nothing of the kind, in the general cases.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">None of the =
following a</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">re =
intended as specific criticism of the IWF</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">–</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> merely as a basis that I feel =
must be met.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">I</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">f we are going to have censorship, I for =
one</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">would =
rather have it from a body like the IWF</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">–</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> hopefully offering some =
separation of such censorship from political =
motivations</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">–</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> than from the government. A</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">nd in</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">either</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> event, the issue of transparency =
becomes increasingly critical.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">One =
transparency I</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">’</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">ve touched on</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">–</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> no</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">body should be censored from content without it being =
explicit that this has happened. It is unacceptable to use a =
commonplace response that often indicates a minor glitch on the =
net</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> or the =
server, OR a response that is meant to indicate a rejection of the =
request by the site owner, as a form of censorship.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">Another =
transparency must be the basis for the decisions. =
T</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">he bodies =
that perform the censorship must be working to clear =
and</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">unambiguous</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> guidelines (preferably in strict</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">correlation</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> to an</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">unambiguous</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> law, though I realise that even =
my optimism must have some limits) that are pu</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">blic, and indeed linked to from =
any censorship notification.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> This is admittedly not going to be easy; I =
rest quite clear that context must play a part in this =
process. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">“</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">The nude child</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">in the bath</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">”</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> image may indeed NOT be indecent when it is in the =
context of the family photograph album; </FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">many</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">however would argue =
that</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">WAS</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> indecent if it formed part of a collection of similar =
images from multiple sources</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">, on an internet site that contained, or linked to, or =
linked from, other collections of more serious images. Dividing =
lines in such cases may be difficult to draw.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">Transparency in =
those formulating the censorship policy is absolutely =
vital,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">and =
must be seen to include adequate representation both from those who =
rightly seek to protect children from</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">abuse</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">, and those who equally rightly =
regard</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> =
censorship</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">as =
a dangerous incursion into freedom. These views =
sometimes cannot be reconciled; there are those whose =
determination that adults should have a</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">completely and =
utterly</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">free =
choice on</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri"> what =
they do and do not watch can ignore the risks to others of such a =
policy, and those who</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">suffer</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">(to</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">quote Alan Coren)</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> =
<FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">“</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">the</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">determin</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">ation</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> to find, at all costs, a cure for =
sex</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">”</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">Few of course are quite on these extremes, though to =
anyone with a strong leaning to one, it can look as if the extremists of =
the other heavily predominate.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">One further =
transparency is</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">essential</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">–</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri"> the transparency of appeals. =
The</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">IWF should =
carry on their site (OK, Post facto if necessary) details of all appeals =
that have been received, the grounds in which the content was blocked, =
the reason for the appeal, and the result of the appeal. Without =
this information, it remains impossible for the</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"> <FONT FACE=3D"Calibri">public to have confidence in the =
appeals process or the operation of the system as a =
whole.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT =
FACE=3D"Calibri">Dave.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"><FONT SIZE=3D1 FACE=3D"Calibri"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"> =
</SPAN></P>
<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-gb"></SPAN></P>
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