The U.S. censors are not the only ones screaming for censorship and regulation of the Net. I found this article this morning:
(sections snipped so that the Copyright Police won't be on my tail)
--begin excerpt--
Monday January 31 4:48 PM ET
Suicide Web Site Sparks Controversy
By ANTHONY DEUTSCH Associated Press Writer
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - A how-to guide of suicide methods on an anonymous Dutch-language Web site has sparked heated controversy in a nation that widely supports the right to die by physician-assisted suicide.
The new Web site provoked an outcry in parliament Monday and demands for a change in the government's lax approach to regulating the Internet.
``Our society is obsessed with the problem of death,'' said Bart Cusveller of the pro-life Center for Medical Ethics.
``I can imagine that someone who is seriously depressed might see this as an option,'' he said. ``It adds to the view that suicide is normal and acceptable.''
The governing Labor Party called on Prime Minister Wim Kok to take action against the site and others containing information that could pose a danger to minors.
``The fact that anyone and everyone can get access to this sort of stuff from their living rooms is the most troubling aspect of the Internet,'' said Willie Swildens, spokeswoman for the left-of-center Labor Party.
.....
``It's extremely regrettable but there are lots more like it,'' said Atzo Nicolai, Internet policy expert for the Liberal Party, which advocates self-regulation for the World Wide Web.
``Everybody must be free to communicate with each other on the Internet.''
Kok, a strong proponent of free speech on the Web, has nevertheless come out in favor of stricter guidelines to protect minors. The only Dutch law enforcement effort devoted to Internet crimes is a team of detectives dealing with offenses such as credit card fraud and child pornography.
.....
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EDITOR'S NOTE - The Web site address is http://huizen.dds.nl/7/8thisbe/verder.
--end excerpt--
Tim again. I tried to access the site, but got a "Not found" message. Maybe it's already been taken down, maybe there was a problem with the URL as given.
It seems that free speech (which should surely include discussions and instructions on suicide) is under assault everywhere. Feinstein wants drug and gun information removed, Gary Bauer wants abortion information removed, the Dutch want suicide information removed, China wants nearly everything blocked, and on and on.
And Double Click wants to track who clicks on what and then sell the info to interested parties. I assume the FBI is already signing on.
--Tim May
print pack"C*",split/\D+/,`echo "16iII*o\U@{$/=$z;[(pop,pop,unpack"H*",<>
)]}\EsMsKsN0[lN*1lK[d2%Sa2/d0<X+d*lMLa^*lN%0]dsXx++lMlN/dsM0<J]dsJxp"|dc`
---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:----
Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,
ComSec 3DES: 831-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets,
"Cyphernomicon" | black markets, collapse of governments.
