[Brother Leon]

Theresa May to create new internet that would be controlled and regulated by government

Andrew Griffin Friday 19 May 2017 14:45 BST
Theresa May is planning to introduce huge regulations on the way the internet works, allowing the government to decide what is said online.

Particular focus has been drawn to the end of the manifesto, which makes clear that the Tories want to introduce huge changes to the way the internet works.

"Some people say that it is not for government to regulate when it comes to technology and the internet," it states. "We disagree."

Senior Tories confirmed to BuzzFeed News that the phrasing indicates that the government intends to introduce huge restrictions on what people can post, share and publish online.

The plans will allow Britain to become "the global leader in the regulation of the use of personal data and the internet", the manifesto claims.

It comes just soon after the Investigatory Powers Act came into law. That legislation allowed the government to force internet companies to keep records on their customers' browsing histories, as well as giving ministers the power to break apps like WhatsApp so that messages can be read.

The manifesto makes reference to those increased powers, saying that the government will work even harder to ensure there is no "safe space for terrorists to be able to communicate online". That is apparently a reference in part to its work to encourage technology companies to build backdoors into their encrypted messaging services – which gives the government the ability to read terrorists' messages, but also weakens the security of everyone else's messages, technology companies have warned.

The government now appears to be launching a similarly radical change in the way that social networks and internet companies work. While much of the internet is currently controlled by private businesses like Google and Facebook, Theresa May intends to allow government to decide what is and isn't published, the manifesto suggests.

The new rules would include laws that make it harder than ever to access pornographic and other websites. The government will be able to place restrictions on seeing adult content and any exceptions would have to be justified to ministers, the manifesto suggests.

The manifesto even suggests that the government might stop search engines like Google from directing people to pornographic websites. "We will put a responsibility on industry not to direct users – even unintentionally – to hate speech, pornography, or other sources of harm," the Conservatives write.

UK General Election 2017

The laws would also force technology companies to delete anything that a person posted when they were under 18.

But perhaps most unusually they would be forced to help controversial government schemes like its Prevent strategy, by promoting counter-extremist narratives.

"In harnessing the digital revolution, we must take steps to protect the vulnerable and give people confidence to use the internet without fear of abuse, criminality or exposure to horrific content", the manifesto claims in a section called 'the safest place to be online'.

The plans are in keeping with the Tories' commitment that the online world must be regulated as strongly as the offline one, and that the same rules should apply in both.

"Our starting point is that online rules should reflect those that govern our lives offline," the Conservatives' manifesto says, explaining this justification for a new level of regulation.

"It should be as unacceptable to bully online as it is in the playground, as difficult to groom a young child on the internet as it is in a community, as hard for children to access violent and degrading pornography online as it is in the high street, and as difficult to commit a crime digitally as it is physically."

Conservative manifesto launch: In 90 seconds

The manifesto also proposes that internet companies will have to pay a levy, like the one currently paid by gambling firms. Just like with gambling, that money will be used to pay for advertising schemes to tell people about the dangers of the internet, in particular being used to "support awareness and preventative activity to counter internet harms", according to the manifesto.

The Conservatives will also seek to regulate the kind of news that is posted online and how companies are paid for it. If elected, Theresa May will "take steps to protect the reliability and objectivity of information that is essential to our democracy" – and crack down on Facebook and Google to ensure that news companies get enough advertising money.

If internet companies refuse to comply with the rulings – a suggestion that some have already made about the powers in the Investigatory Powers Act – then there will be a strict and strong set of ways to punish them.

"We will introduce a sanctions regime to ensure compliance, giving regulators the ability to fine or prosecute those companies that fail in their legal duties, and to order the removal of content where it clearly breaches UK law," the manifesto reads.

In laying out its plan for increased regulation, the Tories anticipate and reject potential criticism that such rules could put people at risk.

"While we cannot create this framework alone, it is for government, not private companies, to protect the security of people and ensure the fairness of the rules by which people and businesses abide," the document reads. "Nor do we agree that the risks of such an approach outweigh the potential benefits."

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...-a7744176.html


United Kingdom of North Korea

[Alf]

I know, it's sickening.

[jaxie]

I think the internet would be pretty hard to regulate successfully now. Back in the day when it new and shiny the way to go forward with it could have been controlled much in the same way that China do it. But not now. It's awfully hard to take a freedom away when people have experienced it. I'm not convinced they could have a lot of impact tbh.

Although maybe they could regulate Debates for us.

[Alf]

I've posted Sargon taking apart Labour, so it's only fair I post Sargons take on the Tory manifesto. And the dilemma he's in, which I share with him.

Youtube video

[Brillopad]

I don't know - but when you think about the kind of things that go on on the net, the grooming of children, child porn , how ISIS use it to promote fear etc would it be such a bad thing. There is no denying the internet is a dangerous place.

[RichardG]

then can try, but i'm not sure how successful they'll be

watching online porn is illegal in south korea but namjoon's computer is still riddled with viruses

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

I don't know - but when you think about the kind of things that go on on the net, the grooming of children, child porn , how ISIS use it to promote fear etc would it be such a bad thing. There is no denying the internet is a dangerous place.

I love when we agree, its like some sort of parallel universe

Although

what people can post, share and publish online

seems quite dictatory. They need to be more transparent with the rules imo. Who is monitored, when and why is what I wanna know.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Withano

I love when we agree, its like some sort of parallel universe

Although seems quite dictatory. They need to be more transparent with the rules imo. Who is monitored, when and why is what I wanna know.

They most certainly do. This could be a deal breaker for lots of voters.

[Jack_]

This was one of the most disturbing parts I came across when I looked through their manifesto. What's hysterical is that a lot of the same people who claim to be proponents of free speech and anti censorship, will lap this **** up. You couldn't write it.

[Kazanne]

Some parts of the internet need washing away,some of it is depraved and sickening,take away social media and we might get the art of conversation back.i wouldn't worry too much,it wont happen

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

I don't know - but when you think about the kind of things that go on on the net, the grooming of children, child porn , how ISIS use it to promote fear etc would it be such a bad thing. There is no denying the internet is a dangerous place.

Do you really believe that any measures to regulate the internet wouldn't be abused? Handing control over what happens on the internet over to any one government or organisation is a terrible idea.

Anybody that is willing to give up their rights and freedoms out of fear and for a false sense of security is pretty much taking a dump on the sacrifices that allowed us to enjoy the rights and freedoms that we have.

A free internet also gives voices to people without one, it can reveal injustices and corruption that would otherwise remain unknown. It has the power to keep the people in power in check and that's why it must never be regulated by those people.

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Do you really believe that any measures to regulate the internet wouldn't be abused? Handing control over what happens on the internet over to any one government or organisation is a terrible idea.

Anybody that is willing to give up their rights and freedoms out of fear and for a false sense of security is pretty much taking a dump on the sacrifices that allowed us to enjoy the rights and freedoms that we have.

A free internet also gives voices to people without one, it can reveal injustices and corruption that would otherwise remain unknown. It has the power to keep the people in power in check and that's why it must never be regulated by those people.

[DemolitionRed]

What this will force people to do is use underground networks. That's assuming that any of this could be implemented. Anyone who provides any part of an internet service or consumes any part of it will be resistant to such changes.

[Jordan.]

Can oldies keep their hands off technology

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Do you really believe that any measures to regulate the internet wouldn't be abused? Handing control over what happens on the internet over to any one government or organisation is a terrible idea.

Anybody that is willing to give up their rights and freedoms out of fear and for a false sense of security is pretty much taking a dump on the sacrifices that allowed us to enjoy the rights and freedoms that we have.

A free internet also gives voices to people without one, it can reveal injustices and corruption that would otherwise remain unknown. It has the power to keep the people in power in check and that's why it must never be regulated by those people.

You sound as though the internet is the only form of communication. How did the world survive without it I wonder!

There are pros and cons - it's about weighing them up I guess, but undoubtedly there is a very nasty side to the Webb that we could do without.

[user104658]

"Well we all got on fine without these newfangled computermawhatsits interwebby whatnot before. Fish n chips fish n chips god save the queen I say think of the children and vote Tory who ever needed or wanted freedom anyway".

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Jordan.

Can oldies keep their hands off technology

I think you will find the oldies invented the net


The Internet as we know it today first started being developed in the late 1960's in California in the United States.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

"Well we all got on fine without these newfangled computermawhatsits interwebby whatnot before. Fish n chips fish n chips god save the queen I say think of the children and vote Tory who ever needed or wanted freedom anyway".

So cynical. Some freedoms can be over-rated.

Besides you support all the OTT PC gumph so therefore free speech isn't at the top of your agenda, unless it's the one-sided kind.

[DemolitionRed]

Yeah common, North Korea have 30 propaganda websites and virtually no crime rate. If we want obedient people we have to take state control of the interweb.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I think you will find the oldies invented the net


The Internet as we know it today first started being developed in the late 1960's in California in the United States.

Youngsters they have no clue. I think they think 'old' people were always old.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Youngsters they have no clue. I think they think 'old' people were always old.

Shocking

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I think you will find the oldies invented the net


The Internet as we know it today first started being developed in the late 1960's in California in the United States.

Oldies giveth, and oldies taketh away

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Withano

Oldies giveth, and oldies taketh away

The hand that feedith!

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

The hand that feedith!

touché

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

You sound as though the internet is the only form of communication. How did the world survive without it I wonder!

There are pros and cons - it's about weighing them up I guess, but undoubtedly there is a very nasty side to the Webb that we could do without.

Oh yes, the internet is completely disposable, let's completely neuter the one unfiltered source of knowledge in the world because a politician has lied about wanting to stop peados because that's the easiest way of getting people to buy her bull****.

Like with Freedom of Speech, you either accept all of it or you are against it, there are no grey areas. The internet has it's dark sides but those sides aren't beyond the law which makes the idea of handing over control to a government who will only use it to benefit themselves completely silly and needless.

Brillo, people have died to ensure you get to enjoy the freedoms you experience on a daily basis. Do not piss all over their sacrifices for a sense of false security.