I find it amusing when China is criticised for censoring Internet content. It becomes clearer by the day that the “powers that be” here in Europe, and especially in the UK, would love to be able to do the same out in the open, just like China.

But one of the “great” things about living in a democracy is that the fact that I am a slave to the system is fairly well hidden. So I have the freedom to live my life with my head up my ass, in blissful ignorance of my own slavery, while my actions are policed by public opinion and the derision of my peers. Sure it’s a more convoluted technique, but, really, do the “powers that be” have any reason to be jealous?

The Guardian reports today that “the internet industry must take more responsibility for protecting young people from the ‘dark side’ of digital content relating to abuse, violence and suicide, according to a committee of MPs.”

Apparently, the committee “recommended the establishment of a self-regulatory body to create better online safeguards to protect children from being exposed to unsuitable material. The body would police websites, adjudicate on complaints and could help crack down on piracy and illegal file-sharing in Britain.”

Why? Are kids not entitled to know this stuff goes on? And where will the line be drawn? Sex? Drugs? Or, maybe, it’ll be any content which might open young people’s eyes to the truth of this Brave New World we live in.

What the hell do these MPs think qualifies my ISP to police my or my children’s Internet usage anyway? I’d have thought it’s the responsibility of parents to manage their children’s Internet time, and not some nameless, unaccountable little Hitler at an ISP?

Just another in a long line of those they want me to bend over for.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 9:02 am and is filed under Britain, Dictatorship. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.