Presentation for Melbourne Internet Show on the impact and methods of Government Intervention in Online Channels. Delivered on 30 April 2012 by David Warwick. Topics include SOPA, PIPA, Australian Internet Filter proposal and the global political dimensions of online censorship.
Impact of Government Intervention in Online Channels
1. Impact of Government Intervention inOnline Channels
David Warwick
The Internet Show – Melbourne
30 April 2012
@drwarwick
Experience. Capability. Technology bwired.com.au
2. Government Intervention 101 – Censorship
Structure and History
Source: http://www.thebigstinkguide.com/
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3. A (partial) World View
Structure and History
Source: Facebook
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4. Political Map – By Online Censorship
Structure and History
Source: Reporters without Borders and OpenNet Initiative (via Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_by_country
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6. Types of Intervention
Structure and History
PROPAGANDA
DoS attacks, Content modification, Controlled channels
BLOCKING
Full (physical) blocking, IP blocking
FILTERING
DNS filtering, URL string filtering, Packet filtering
MONITORING
Fire-hose monitoring, Public channel monitoring
OTHER INTERVENTION CONSIDERATIONS
Over-blocking, Under-blocking, Content Vs Channel
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7. Extreme Intervention – Exhibit A
Structure and History
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
DoS attacks
Content modification
Controlled channels
Content fabrication
Arrest (or worse)
Subversive sites / tools
Source: NASA Satellite image – 2003 (Korean Peninsula)
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8. Extreme Intervention – Exhibit B (Golden Shield)
Structure and History
Chinese Censorship – Categorization Spread
Censored memes – long tail
Effectiveness
Most effective when list is secret
Peer-to-peer V Client server
Channel difference (Skype V Twitter)
Neologisms
Censors follow changing use
Collateral damage
Source: Jeffrey Knockel, University of New Mexico Over-blocking V Under-blocking
http://news.unm.edu/2011/09/unm-research-team-presents-paper-on-chinese-surveillance-and-censorship/
Where is the content line?
Fcuk | Tibet | Tian’anmen | Hold the microphone | 4 Jun 89 | 64 | 8-squared …
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9. Of course it couldn’t happen in the developed world …
Structure and History
North Korea
Only 4% have Internet access, blogging is banned, all content is Government moderated.
Iran
Anyone who has a personal page or blog must register with Ministry of Art and Culture.
China
Monitors web and email, blocks sites, erases inconvenient content.
Syria
Detains citizens for expressing opinion that could ‘jeopardize national unity’.
Vietnam
Agency monitored. Government has asked Google and Microsoft for personal details.
Turkmenistan
Government owns only ISP, bans many news sites and charges exorbitant access fees.
Other extreme Government intervention includes
Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Burma … (USA?, Australia?)
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11. Stop Online Piracy Act HR 3261 (SOPA) – Summary
Structure and History
The Good
Ban business with websites hosting copyright material or counterfeit goods.
Prevent search engines listing sites that breech copyright or counterfeit goods.
Ban ISPs from allowing user access to embargoed sites.
Increase penalties for streaming copyright material on the internet.
SOPA also covers foreign websites that breech copyright or sell counterfeit goods.
The Bad
SOPA allows the government to block any foreign website.
Allows suits merely for features make it possible to post infringed content.
Posting or sharing copyright content is deemed a criminal offense.
Bill makes those who don’t understand the law guilty of ‘willful infringement’.
Sources:
http://sopablackout.org/
judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/112%20HR%203261.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act
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12. SOPA Protest – 18 January 2012
Structure and History
Source: Wikipedia
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13. SOPA on ice? Now Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement
Structure and History
Outcomes
- Rallying of ‘silent majority’
- Underlying ‘agenda’ exposed
- Congress sentiment shifted
- SOPA shelved
- Shift to ACTA international agenda
Sources
www.propublica.org
http://www.onlineroar.com/2012/02/sopa-and-acta-where-are-they-now.html
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14. Filtering Australia
Structure and History
Source: http://www.perthnow.com.au/
ACTA participant | Filter Proposal | History of ‘manipulation’
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15. What would you filter Stephen?
Structure and History
Filter
- <1,000 sites blacklisted by Interpol
- 1,370 sites on initial ACMA list
- 2,395 sites contained on ‘leaked list’
- 10,000 sites, when a review would occur
- 50,000 sites, the anticipated filter capacity
“We are talking about a filtering scheme
here which is being implemented behind
closed doors, with little notification to
customers, no civilian oversight, an unclear
legal framework, the potential for scope
creep and a limited and secretive appeals
process overseen by the agency which drew
up the list to start with.”RenaiLeMay
Source: http://delimiter.com.au/2012/02/28/conroy-misleads-public-on-internet-filter/ (Image: Kim Davies | Comments: RenaiLeMay)
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16. Our own ‘protest’ (of a sort)
Structure and History
Sources:
http://delimiter.com.au/
Illust: Purple Hat Munchkin … http://www.purplefae.com/
http://loonpond.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/
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17. Some more (because you just can’t stop at 4) …
Structure and History
Sources:
http://www.efa.org.au/2010/06/
http://ausfailia.wordpress.com/category/the-internet/
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18. Democracy – the proven (pre-web) structure …
Structure and History
Government
Legislature
Courts
Judiciary
Police
Enforcement
Press
Free speech
Citizens
Rights and responsibilities
Separation of powers and established practice
Does proposed Australian and US action relating to online
channels maintain structural democratic integrity?
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19. Abuse of Internet Censorship
Structure and History
Palestinian minister quits over Internet censorship
Friday, 27 April 2012
AbuDaqa (the Palestinian Communications Minister)
resigned late Thursday, and revealed that the Palestinian
Attorney General had ordered Palestinian Internet Service
Providers to block access to at least eight websites critical
of the President MahmoudAbbas (pictured).
Source: BBC and Global Post (www.globalpost.com)
Internet V Other Electronic Media
We accept an inherent control contradiction
Where is the line …
– Monitoring public content?
– Prescribing allowable public content?
– Creating public perception?
– Monitoring private interaction?
– Secret policy and process on control?
– Secret interrogation?
– No dissent allowed?
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20. Monitoring V Filtering – ‘Listening Post’ Model
Structure and History
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21. END
David Warwick
Director of Technology and Services
davidw@bwired.com.au
M: 0411 411 555
P: 1300 780 566
@drwarwick
April 2012
Experience. Capability. Technology bwired.com.au