[SGVLUG] Stiring the pot: online freedom ?

[matti]

Hi,

Basically this is Censorship by corporations.

It is a grave threat to liberty imho,
as the corporations control the network.
( It's just a question of HOW much each
corporation WANTS to control it.. note
that even ISPs are looking at filtering based
on subject matter.)

Bad news to freedoms, the internet is
basically run by corporations, and especially
a threat as we look at the social networks,
and if any one network would dominate.
( i.e become the ebay of social networks )

Numerous reports of various corps censoring
all sorts of subjects, including political 
AND NOT JUST in CHINA, ...this is happening
RIGHT HERE in the USA to us.

you can go out and look about and find
numerous stories.

here's one example:
http://www.freemyspace.com/

Some people have been censored for activities
such as supporting various political candidates.
( inc for reporting on sexual predator )

The "users" will need to push back and demand
some basic rights.
( by users I really mean denizens, by us )

Seriously, problematic to our constitutional
rights as we move online

freedom of speech, assembly, freedom vs
unreasonable search and seizure .. granted
those are rights the government SHOULD not
be infringing on - but what happens when
the corporation controls the commons?? i.e.
imagine the city you live in is completely 
owned/controlled by ONE company, while the adjacent
likewise, etc... 

honestly, this is basically what the internet
is. It is an corporate owned highway system
connecting various corporate owned cities.

Corporations only want us as consumers, not
"real people" with "real issues/beliefs"

anyways, that's my 2c on the soapbox for now,
before the man comes and yanks it away.

best
matti