Today is Blackout Thursday.
Today is the day that I ask you for a favour. I would like you to contact your ISP, Eircom, IRMA, your TD or the Minister for Communications and ask them the difficult questions regarding IRMA’s attempts to censor the Internet.
Thanks.
According to Ars Technica, Eircom have said that they won’t be blocking The Pirate Bay without a court order. However, as their agreement with IRMA says that they won’t object to the court order, the blockage is a fait accompli.
Sounds to me that Eircom are trying to spin this so that they look better. While IRMA is keeping quiet.
Remember, support Blackout Ireland. Have your say on IRMA’s attempt to censor the Internet.
The Internet has always been about Freedom of Information. From it’s very foundation, the Internet was designed to ensure that the flow of information could not be stopped.
Now IRMA want to take away that Freedom.
They may couch it terms of preventing illegal file sharing, of protecting copyright, of being defenders of the law, but make no mistake, they are attempting to censor the Internet.
Whether you download movies/ music illegally from the Internet is not the issue here. The issue is that a commercial entity are forcing the country’s largest ISP to prevent access to a website. (The Pirate Bay)
It may just be one website, but there will be more. All of these websites will be blocked on the say-so of IRMA. A lobby that is answerable to no-one and who will compile the block list with no oversight.
We’ve long lived with the fear that Big Brother is watching us. We have CCTV in our towns and cities, we have biometric passports, ISP’s that are required to keep logs of what we do and where we go on the Internet. In most cases our fears have stemmed from a fear of an omnipresent government, but now we’re facing an attack on our freedoms from the commercial sector.
Our freedoms are being attacked at every turn, and for the most part we’ve accepted it and continued with our lives, but now we’ve reached a point where we have to make a stand.
It’s time that we make IRMA know that their actions are not acceptable.
I ask you to stand up for your rights and your freedoms.
Write to your ISP, your TD (pdf file), the Minister for Communications. Let them know that censorship is not a solution to IRMA’s problems with copyright infringement. Let them know that IRMA’s actions threaten Ireland’s reputation as a Free Society.
When you have sent your letter, visit Blackout Ireland. Let them know that you support their stand. Let them know that you will stand with them as they fight against IRMA.
Michele over at Blacknight received a letter from IRMA requesting that Blacknight follow Eircom’s lead and censor the Internet. Head over to the Blacknight company blog and have a read of what Michele thinks about the situation. The letter itself is enlightening.
Note: the story has been picked up by The Register.
Disclosure: Blacknight Solutions provide the hosting for this site.[1]
Dear Sir/ Madam,
I am writing to you in relation to recent reports that you have written to Irish ISP’s requesting that they block websites that you deem to be responsible for illegal file sharing, or face court action for failing to do so.
In the public interest, I would appreciate it if you could answer the following questions for me:
I would appreciate a reply at your earliest convenience, and please note that I intend to publish your reply online.
Yours faithfully,
Paul McCarthy.
Lets see if I get a response.
As per James’ comment I have also emailed Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications. Below is a copy of the email I sent.
Dear Minister,
Please find enclosed a copy of an email I have sent to IRMA in relation to their request that Irish ISP’s censor the Internet on IRMA’s behalf.
As the Minister for Communications, I would appreciate it if you could make a response in relation to this situation.
I would also ask you to respond to the following questions:
While I do not condone illegal file sharing, I do firmly believe that no commercial entity should be given a carte blanche to censor what they perceive to be a unfair competition.
If IRMA are allowed to continue in this action, then it cannot be long before other companies will use the same methods to deny the Irish Internet community access to their competitors websites.
Yours faithfully,
Paul McCarthy
Tom Raferty has put together some great tips for new Twitter users. Head over and have a read. You’ll be more enlightened when you’re done.
When you’ve finished with Tom, download my latest plugin and let your blogging friends follow your Twitter Feed!
You’re no doubt aware that Google update their logo for different holidays. This year, they’re running a competition to decide the logo they’ll use for St. Patrick’s Day. You can vote for your favourite one on the public vote page.
Voting ends at midnight on February 16th, so get cracking soon.
Cormac has set up a fantasy league for the Six Nations. He’s under the mistaken impression that his team will win. I scoff at his team picking abilities. I’ve picked my own team:
15 S Williams (WAL)
14 J Simpson_daniel (ENG)
13 T Shanklin (WAL)
12 J Roberts (WAL)
11 P Sackey (ENG)
10 R O’Gara (IRE)
9 C Cusiter (SCO)
1 M Rees (WAL)
2 J Flannery (IRE)
3 M Castrogiovanni (FR)
4 D O’Callaghan (IRE)
5 P O’Connell (IRE)
6 T Dusautoir (FR)
7 Ma Bergomasco (ITA)
8 I Harinordoquy (FR)
The league is the Croke Parkers and the PIN is 8547. You can sign up here.