Internet control freaks...

[Laukev7]

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060213/chester

The nation's largest telephone and cable companies are crafting an alarming set of strategies that would transform the free, open and nondiscriminatory Internet of today to a privately run and branded service that would charge a fee for virtually everything we do online.

Verizon, Comcast, Bell South and other communications giants are developing strategies that would track and store information on our every move in cyberspace in a vast data-collection and marketing system, the scope of which could rival the National Security Agency. According to white papers now being circulated in the cable, telephone and telecommunications industries, those with the deepest pockets--corporations, special-interest groups and major advertisers--would get preferred treatment. Content from these providers would have first priority on our computer and television screens, while information seen as undesirable, such as peer-to-peer communications, could be relegated to a slow lane or simply shut out.

Who wants to bet that anti-government websites and non MS-approved (ie. open source) software are going to end up in the slow lanes?

[Refalm]

This will only encourage use of Freenet, which is basically uncontrolable.

[Laukev7]

I don't know, freenet prevents IP tracking, but I don't know if it can protect you from direct ISP control. Besides, freenet is peer-to-peer, so they'll just put all of it in the slow lane altogether (as if it's not slow enough as it is).

[H_TeXMeX_H]

Well ... I not sure their strategy will work ... I mean you can use an innumerable number of proxies to get around the tracking ... IP tracking that is.

Wait ... maybe it will work ... if the ISPs are in on it then you won't be able to access proxies cuz they won't let you ... that means the number of ways to conceal your identity and internet activity is decreased drastically ... pushing some people to less legal ways of doing this.

Just imagine what it would be like for people to know absolutely everything you do online ... would you put with it ? Truly they already do a lot of spying, but to limit the Free internet ... I think that's one step too far ... I know I won't put up with it :mad:


P.S. I never hear about freenet thanks for mentioning it :thumbup:

[H_TeXMeX_H]

Freenet really sounds interesting, but is it ... safe ? It's this quote that bothers me a bit :

Files in the data store are encrypted to reduce the likelihood of prosecution by persons wishing to censor Freenet content.

... does this implicate the users in any way or is it just freenet that will take the hit ?

[noob]

The day this happens I WILL BURN MY HDD, with all my data on it, sell my pc and move totally away from computers. This may be the time when people that have allways stick to corperate shite like Windows and other such crap finally realise that they were wrong all this time

[Dark_Me]

"Why should they be allowed to use my pipes? The Internet can't be free in that sense, because we and the cable companies have made an investment, and for a Google or Yahoo! or Vonage or anybody to expect to use these pipes [for] free is nuts!"

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't all of us here pay for an internet connection? And doesn't Google pay millions in bandwith every year? So the we arn't useing "these pipes for free" are we?

[H_TeXMeX_H]

But this will be a separate price won't it ? I mean yeah you pay for your connection to the internet, but not for the internet itself.

But I think the main point is that our freedoms (if they indeed exist and are not simply an illusion or delusion) will be curbed in that they will know everything we do and they will control what information we have access to ... you know drive society further to the inevitable ... a society of mindless retards working for the rich and powerful and thinking that they will somehow benefit from the ordeal in the end ... slaves and masters ... the way it's always been and always will be for the smartest animal on the planet ... humans

[cymon]

22 years after 1984, this is how we celebrate the anniversary. The worst thing is is that the US government will pass it, they're all corporate, and the people throw away the last Free thing around just to make some billionare richer.

[Laukev7]

BTW, does this belong here? Or should this go in the Network or TCPA forum?

[mobrien_12]

BTW, does this belong here? Or should this go in the Network or TCPA forum?

It belongs here, I think.  The Network is specifically Programming and Networking help section.  This isn't TCPA.