back to article ISPs: Relax. Blocking porn online won't really work

Since the start of this year it has become clear that the UK government has shifted from a hands-off approach to censoring content online by leaving ISPs to work out an agreed code that would prevent regulatory intervention. So-called Active Choice - whereby a subscriber gets to choose whether or not to block websites …

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  1. Elmer Phud
    Facepalm

    LoL, just LOL

    as title (plus a faceslap)

  2. Wokstation

    Guido ran a poll on his site about what to do regarding the alleged accusations. He's since tweeted that he's going to sue her.

    1. Ken Hagan Gold badge

      It'll be interesting to see whether stupidity is a defence in law against libel.

      1. wowfood

        About time an MP was on the other side of a libel case. Should prove entertaining. I kinda hope el reg cover it.

      2. This post has been deleted by its author

      3. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        "It'll be interesting to see whether stupidity is a defence in law against libel."

        ask Sally Bercow

        1. zooooooom

          pffft I just thought she made a crap defense.

      4. Dazed and Confused

        @Ken Hagen

        > It'll be interesting to see whether stupidity is a defence in law against libel.

        It isn't, a general precept of English law is that ignorance is no defence.

        1. Christoph

          Re: @Ken Hagen

          a general precept of English law is that ignorance is no defence.

          Yes, but there's a range of ignorance. Ignorant, Pig Ignorant, and Tory MP.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: @Ken Hagen

            > Pig Ignorant

            Not knowing the person you're selling pot to is a policeman is also no defence. So I'm told

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: @Dazed and Confused

          Unless you're muslim. And I don't mean this being racist, but.

          http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2268395/Adil-Rashid-Paedophile-claimed-Muslim-upbringing-meant-didnt-know-illegal-sex-girl-13.html

          Apparently ignorance is a defence. (Sorry for the daily fail link, first one I found)

          1. Sir Runcible Spoon

            Re: @Dazed and Confused

            @AC 10:32

            I read the article and the defence was that he was poorly educated in a closed society. This could have been *any* closed secular society as far as I can tell, but in this case it was a muslim school he went to.

            Do you see the difference between leading your comment with 'muslim' and adding it as a point of note at the end?

            1. Just_this_guy
              WTF?

              Re: @Dazed and Confused

              What kind of 'closed' secular society would have taught a young man throughout childhood that women were worthless, and so gravely failed in sexual education as to leave him ignorant of the age of consent?

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      OOer missus

      I see the site is back to "normal", and that link is showing "access denied #31".

      I'd check which position that was but then I'd be viewing p0rn..

      1. frank ly

        A question for Claire Perry

        If you see a house on fire, then shout, "Hey, look, that house is on fire!", have you committed arson?

        Do you think she'd even understand the question?

      2. kyza

        Re: OOer missus

        #31

        That's 'Tits or GTFO' according to the rules of internet

        1. Sir Runcible Spoon

          Re: OOer missus

          If she can somehow manipulate the situation to involve a word of 'national security' then she could get this heard in a secret court where the claimant won't be represented, he'll only get told about the result.

          Then the secret court can issue an order for him not to mention the case, and if he does he can be sent to prison for contempt of courst *without legal representation*.

          Farfetched? It's happening in this country right now - the only thing missing are the black bags but I believe they are on order.

    3. Anonymous Coward 101
      Pint

      I think Guido is a arsehole of the highest degree, but this should be fun.

      1. jswinterburn
        Thumb Up

        It's one of those cases you wish they could both lose

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

    Look , you can disable it - so what's the problem.

    Compare with speeding, for a moment. As no one can control a driver's speed, that means we shouldn't have speed limits??? And yes, the results of speeding and the more unpleasant aspects of the pr0n industry can be very simliar.

    The filtering solution isn't going to be 100% perfect, but given time, it will improve.

    1. Kevin Fairhurst

      Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

      But it has already been alluded to that the "powers that be" will be able to find out who has disabled the filter. Imagine you're trying to adopt, and you get refused... Turns out you're considered unsuitable as a potential parent because you turned off the filter. Or not given custody to your child, or turned down for a job as a teacher, etc....

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

        Scaremongering...

        1. Wokstation
          Facepalm

          Re: scaremonging

          Two ACs, not even sure who you're replying to as a result.

          Mission creep isn't scaremonging, btw, it's a proven phenomena.

          1. Mr Flibble
            Headmaster

            Re: scaremonging

            @Workstation: “phenomena” is plural. The word for which you were looking is “phenomenon”.

            1. Sir Runcible Spoon
              Joke

              Re: scaremonging

              “phenomenon” dud derr da dada, “phenomenon” dud dada da

              “phenomenon” dud derr da dada, da dada, dadadada dum dun dada dum.

              ..or something

            2. Wokstation
              Trollface

              Re: Mr Flibble

              Blame the predictive. I do. It's why I typed "user" instead of "use" in another comment, and I'll be gracious and assume that's also how you managed to spell my name incorrectly! (Oh, the ironing...)

        2. Vimes

          Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

          Scaremongering...

          No. Just paying attention. Look at how the filter aimed at child porn is now being used to block torrent sites...

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

            If only people didn't steal other's work...

        3. Fibbles

          Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

          Scaremongering?

          To avoid government censorship one has to explicitly put their name on what is likely to be regarded as 'The Pervert List'.

          The government doesn't exactly have great form when it comes to keeping lists and databases secure.

          I give it a year before the entire thing is left on an unencrypted laptop on the tube.

          1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
            Unhappy

            Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

            "To avoid government censorship one has to explicitly put their name on what is likely to be regarded as 'The Pervert List'."

            I hate to raise Godwin but does this remind anyone of the gay and lesbian box on the 1935 German census to prevent discrimination because of gender preference?

            Turned out to have other uses.

          2. Havin_it
            Holmes

            Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

            You know, it occurs that this whole "naughty list" tack misses the point. If things were done the other way round, they'd have a list of everyone who does have filtering, so the set of those who don't is is also identifiable by anyone with a copy of the Electoral Roll, by elimination. Any nationwide filter by its very existence rules out obscurity for the refuseniks.

            Icon: well, maybe it was just too bleedin' obvious for anyone to bother explicitly mentioning...

        4. John Smith 19 Gold badge
          Happy

          Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

          "Scaremongering..."

          Titus, is that you again?

          Come out behind that silly AC

          1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

            Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

            > ***us, is that you again?

            With the new system

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

      Dude, it's unlikely to be even 1% effective, it's going to be fucking expensive and it's introducing a mechanism whereby the government can start to censor anything they like. Given the lovely new censorship tools Our Glorious Leader and his successors witll then have their sweaty hands on, how long you you really think it will take until it becomes compulsory?

    3. Wokstation
      FAIL

      Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

      Yeah, coz there's no chance of mission-creep is there? Our Government would never do that, would they?

      It's not like they have form for that, is it? They'd never, for example, user anti-terror legislation to catch people who didn't pick up their dog's excretions, would they?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

        Did the dog mess thing work? Throw the bloody book at them.

        1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

          Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

          I hope there is mission creep.

          If the filters are running on kit with a backdoor to the chinese communist party - perhaps we will see less Royal Baby crap

    4. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

      (a different AC)

      If you're going to compare it to speed limits, at least get the comparison right...

      We have laws against exploitation etc = laws against speeding

      They are wanting to do the internet equivalent of putting a governor on every car that is set to limit to a speed the gubermunt thinks is safe (ie 10mph?). With no concern for where or who is driving.

      But it's alright because if you can work out how to, you can remove the governor... but 'they' will know that you've done so and therefore every policeman you see will be reaching for his speed gun because you're obviously a lunatic intent on causing destruction and mayhem.

      1. streaky
        Devil

        Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

        AC #2 or #3 -

        "But it's alright because if you can work out how to, you can remove the governor... but 'they' will know that you've done so and therefore every policeman you see will be reaching for his speed gun because you're obviously a lunatic intent on causing destruction and mayhem."

        Nono, it's that the average 3 year old knows how to not only remove the governor but also drive at 300mph on country lanes in full view of the cops without them being able to do anything about it.

        That's why it's such a massive waste of money. It's not that it'll help stop some kids "accidentally" stumbling upon porn as some clueless reg columnist suggested the other day (i've never accidentally stumbled upon porn accidentally in my life, on or off the internet) - it's that it will be completely 100% transparent to anybody over the age of 5. And it totally skirts round any chance of parliamentary discussion on the issue because instead of legislating he's scared the slimiest of our ISPs into doing it *without* any legislation.

        It *is* a total clusterfuck, there can be no doubt. A damn Chinese clusterfuck at that - one that totally removes our ability to take the moral high-ground when talking about freedom in discussions with them too.

        Also don't talk about scaremongering when posting as AC - makes you look like an idiot (had to be said - what are we scared of?).

        1. Ben Tasker
          Joke

          Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

          (i've never accidentally stumbled upon porn accidentally in my life, on or off the internet)

          I have, back in the day you used to find it in hedges, and sometimes it'd fall out as you were walking by. Skinned my knee and now whenever I see tits I get excited and upset at the same time.

          Hows that for a 'knee-jerk' reaction

          In all seriousness though, I've never stumbled across it on the www. without looking. Little easier to do on some of the other internets but given this filter won't apply to them it's kind of a moot point

          Edit: How'd that apostrophe get there?

    5. John Smith 19 Gold badge
      Big Brother

      Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

      "The filtering solution isn't going to be 100% perfect, but given time, it will improve."

      If you think the filtering systems the problem you are very mistaken

    6. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      "Look , you can disable it - so what's the problem."

      Its about control bud. Its about politicians meddling in things they have little technical knowledge of, in an effort to wrestle back control of the net, and be seen to be doing something publicly, all to get votes...

    7. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

      Go and read about what happened when they tried this in Australia!

    8. Lamont Cranston

      Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

      Quite right, Anonymous Coward. Why, just the other day, I was casually surfing the web, when I found myself confronted by a wealth of grot; before I knew it, I'd accidentally caused the deaths of three children, and maimed a dog.

      My wife was livid when the penalty notice came through the post.

    9. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

      By driving a car above a certain speed, I increase the risk of hurting someone. By wanking myself raw over internet p0rn of an evening, I am not hurting anyone except my own wrists.

      Therefore, it's my own damn business.

    10. 02X7Cm
      Thumb Down

      Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

      Epic fail. "Everyone shut up" part of your title is plenty of problem in itself.

      Look, if you want to be Chinese. Move your ass to China, they need english teachers. You'd be happy, I'd be happy.

      Take Cameron with you.

      1. freeman-number-2
        Facepalm

        Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

        Upvoted you, but...

        "Look, if you want to be Chinese. Move your ass to China, they need english teachers"

        1. How will a donkey in China help?

        2. Maybe they're not the only silly arses needing English teachers.

    11. Steven Burn
      Thumb Down

      Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

      The problem? IT'S THE BLEEDIN PARENTS JOB TO FILTER CONTENT!

    12. Alan Edwards
      Big Brother

      Re: Just get the filters installed and everyone shut up.

      > Look , you can disable it - so what's the problem.

      Today you can. That may not be the case in the future, especially once the web sites that don't agree with the government position get added to the censor list.

      Once filtering is at the network level it is totally out of your control. It can be turned on without telling you, and returns a 404 for a site on the list so it just looks like it's dead. The list of censored sites is not published, and there is no review process.

  4. Steve Davies 3 Silver badge
    Childcatcher

    TalkTalk doing the NSA/GCHQ's work then?

    Quote

    TalkTalk's Homesafe.... harvests all the URL's

    All in the interests of keep a few web pages out of the eyes of children.

    How long before NoTalkTalk decides that ElReg should be on the blacklist then?

    and don't try to tell me that even if you switch the filter off ALL your web pages still won't be logged by this package....

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