The 99% Declaration » 19. No Censorship of the Internet

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# 19. No Censorship of the Internet

Grievances Add comments
Dec 082011

No Censorship of the Internet. The theft of intellectual property and online piracy should be prohibited. However, in 1983, approximately 50 corporations controlled all news media outlets in the United States. Today, ownership of the news media and virtually all content has been concentrated in the hands of about six powerful corporations which are often parents or subsidiaries of corporations that sell their products through the mainstream media. This limitation and control of traditional media outlets highlights the critical importance of an uncensored Internet accessible to all of humanity. The Internet and its related technologies foster free speech, innovation, and foster a global human consciousness. We believe that the Internet and its related technologies are the joint property and work-product of humanity, and as such, it must not be censored without the consent of the people who utilize and contribute to its vitality. We therefore demand the immediate withdrawal or repeal on passage of the Stop Online Piracy Act or “SOPA” (H.R. 3261) and the Protect IP Act or “PIPA” (S. 968). While the theft of online intellectual property must be prevented, these bills, if enacted into law, will grant the government and internet service providers broad new powers to curtail speech on the Internet, block domain names, track internet protocol (“IP”) addresses, dramatically increase the cost of using content on the internet, and ultimately chill innovation and creativity of web entrepreneurs in favor of a few media corporations that already own or control most media content. The Internet is the last outlet of free speech available to the 99%.

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### 12 Responses to “19. No Censorship of the Internet”

1. mikejaskula says:
   2012/02/03 at 11:52 am

   I propose a new grievance which would address the issue of media consolidation. It should probably be a new grievance because consolidation has also taken place in other industries, most notably financial services. The grievance might be entitled “Renewed Enforcement of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.”

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2. kdadamo says:
   2012/01/11 at 11:04 am

   This looks really good. Might I suggest a few tweaks for clarity?

   Please put parentheses around “and its related technologies” to keep the grammar correct. (The sentence goes from plural:”are the joint…” to singular: “it must”.)

   “Internet” is not always capitalized. Please add “and” before “chill”. Then please change “chill” to “inhibit” or a similar word.

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3. Liz Ellis says:
   2011/12/19 at 12:02 am

   EFF provides great information that will flush out specific details on this section
   https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/12/wrapping-week-action-against-sopa

   Here is how SOPA conflicts with the US Constition
   https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/12/internet-blacklist-vs-constitution

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4. progressivist says:
   2011/12/18 at 4:33 pm

   This needs to be broadened. “Censorship” can be defined in many ways, and one of those is by denying access. We need to require that all citizens have access to high-speed internet (kind of like the rural electrification program) at an affordable cost (say, no more than 3 hours’ minimum wage pay per month). We also need to make sure that access to the Internet is not interrupted for political reasons.

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   - lizell says:
     2012/01/14 at 11:51 am

     Excellent point. NoaNet received American Recovery Act funds to supply rural areas of Washington with fiber option and internet. This can be used as a model for other areas. And, as you can see from NoaNet’s website, they are still hiring!
     http://www.noanet.net/

     From 2010
     http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/03/01/daily5.html

     “The Northwest Open Access Network, or NoaNet, a nonprofit corporation that is putting together a rural fiber-optic system in Washington, will receive $84.3 million in federal stimulus funds, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said Monday.

     The stimulus funds will “expand and improve high-speed broadband internet infrastructure across the state,” Cantwell said, adding that the funds will create nearly 2,000 jobs.”

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   - robdinsmore says:
     2012/01/23 at 12:31 pm

     What about the continuous gouging of all Americans by wireless providers? Wireless internet is a huge market for all sorts of new products and ideas, yet providers like VeriATTmobile gouge customers and effectively hinder this market’s evolution. They are essentially a utility yet they continue to profit beyond growth because they manipulate the pricing landscape and collude. 2-year contracts make it extremely difficult to switch providers so there really is no competition and the top 3 providers have no difference accept for the particular models of phones they ‘subsidize.’ And I won’t get into the predatory practices with overages and texting international roaming.

     In the near future we could very easily have a mobile phone and a tablet/ultrabook for most members of a family and an on-board computer in the car with wireless. But who could possibly afford all the data? Apple is trying to get it’s filthy mitts in on education with the new ibooks, some books come at nearly a gig to download. Of course Apple gets 30% for each book which is ridiculous, but wireless companies are going to make a killing off this on any student who downloads their books over their network.

     Sure you can say that poor people shouldn’t buy wireless phones and sign up for data plans, but with smartphones being the status symbol that they are, of course they will. Some people at or below the poverty line will spend close to 10% of their annual income on a smartphone+ data. This industry needs to be regulated in some way to protect people from spending way too much money on communications.

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5. Caroline says:
   2011/12/18 at 2:33 pm

   I do not support Internet censorship. I do not support overkill legislation that would allow media corporations to shut down entire websites without due process. I do, however, support copyright protections for individual artists (i.e., artists whose works are not corporately-owned) who must constantly battle to prevent their copyrighted works from being used WITHOUT PERMISSION OR COMPENSATION for the for-profit and/or political activities of others. Any new legislation or constitutional amendment must not encroach on existing protections for individual artists. I would support increased protection for individual artists in this regard.

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   - lizell says:
     2012/01/14 at 11:55 am

     Would this protection involve or include existing malaware designed to enter your computer without your permission and snoop for copyrighted works? See the lawsuit between the Electronic Frontier Fountain and Sony on this issue.
     https://www.eff.org/cases/sony-bmg-litigation-info

     Issue -
     By including a flawed and overreaching computer program in millions of music CDs sold to the public Sony BMG has created serious security privacy and consumer protection problems that have damaged music lovers everywhere.

     Outcome -
     SonyBMG settled the case providing a range of remedies and compensation to purchasers of CDs with the XCP technology or the MediaMax technology. SonyBMG ultimately stopped putting any DRM on its CDs sold in the United States.

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6. Gambit says:
   2011/12/17 at 8:55 am

   The internet is the last bastion of true free speech. If it fails, then we are no better than the communist Russia, nazi Germany, or fascist Italy we once fought against. We will be like China, Iran, North Korea.

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   - James says:
     2011/12/17 at 8:56 am

     I agree Gambit..thank for your support =)

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7. Steve Wright says:
   2011/12/11 at 8:22 pm

   I believe this to be a critical issue. The Internet should be considered an enabling technology for innovation and entrepreneurship. It should be free and open to the greatest extent possible and the principles of network neutrality should be put in place.

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   - James says:
     2011/12/17 at 8:55 am

     I concur Steve, hence why I suggested this point. I feel it’s important that we not only seek redress of our government, but also that we protect important tools that help us organize to pressure that redress. Thanks for your comment Steve.

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