Well that's what oversight and wacthdog groups are for. Issues like these are complicated but to do nothing is far more reckless.
When dealing with issues like these, the question of how do you balance human rights vs civil rights comes up. My thoughts are you try to find a middle ground and accept the fact from time to time toes will be stepped on each side.
Even if this German initiative fails, I applaud them for trying.
Or the German government could do what every other western nation is doing and treat infractions on a case-by-case basis, rather than instituting a filter which could easily be abused (and for that matter, has been in every nation that's tried it).
National web filters are batting a perfect 0, and Germany isn't a unique snowflake.
That aside, you present a false dilemma by saying that the alternative is "doing nothing." That's not true at all, and I've already explained why in my introduction.
Taking things "case by case" means there has to be a case to take. It does nothing to prevent it in the first place. The kid is already screwed up for life by the time a task force can locate them, If they ever do. I'm sure the overwhelming majority of the cases are not pursued.
Peruse the criminals, block the sites, Limit The Revenues, and you will effectively reduce the amount of children abducted and more importantly decrease the incentive to do so.
Censorship is not the job of any national government or organization. All censorship of media should be done by the individual with the small exception of such material that truly victimizes other people (in which case, it's not really censorship anymore anyway).
Even organizations like the FCC in the US have been co-opted into governors of content. The purpose of the FCC when founded was to find a way to divy up the limited bandwidth represented by broadcast airwaves. Over the years, this has morphed into an entity which sees itself as the babysitter of American broadcast content, and which foists its own values on every media absorbing person in the country.
Any organization given regulation power of any kind over a media outlet eventually lets it's own agenda make the decisions, rather than the well-being of the citizens.
I don't think people mind that a country will block sites that deny the holocaust. Maybe because it's a political hot topic. Child porn seems to be a different story unfortunately.
Thrax
🐌Austin, TX Icrontian
Comments
When dealing with issues like these, the question of how do you balance human rights vs civil rights comes up. My thoughts are you try to find a middle ground and accept the fact from time to time toes will be stepped on each side.
Even if this German initiative fails, I applaud them for trying.
National web filters are batting a perfect 0, and Germany isn't a unique snowflake.
That aside, you present a false dilemma by saying that the alternative is "doing nothing." That's not true at all, and I've already explained why in my introduction.
Peruse the criminals, block the sites, Limit The Revenues, and you will effectively reduce the amount of children abducted and more importantly decrease the incentive to do so.
Case by case is not working and never has.
Censorship is not the job of any national government or organization. All censorship of media should be done by the individual with the small exception of such material that truly victimizes other people (in which case, it's not really censorship anymore anyway).
Even organizations like the FCC in the US have been co-opted into governors of content. The purpose of the FCC when founded was to find a way to divy up the limited bandwidth represented by broadcast airwaves. Over the years, this has morphed into an entity which sees itself as the babysitter of American broadcast content, and which foists its own values on every media absorbing person in the country.
Any organization given regulation power of any kind over a media outlet eventually lets it's own agenda make the decisions, rather than the well-being of the citizens.
Surprising eh?
I don't think people mind that a country will block sites that deny the holocaust. Maybe because it's a political hot topic. Child porn seems to be a different story unfortunately.