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Re: [Fsuk-manchester] [ORG Manchester] New and emerging laws affecting c
From: |
Bob Mottram |
Subject: |
Re: [Fsuk-manchester] [ORG Manchester] New and emerging laws affecting computer freedom life - Post Brexit (RE: Reminder: MFS Meeting. (at PLANT NOMA) Tue, 19 June. "New and emerging laws affecting computer freedom") |
Date: |
Sat, 30 Jun 2018 10:01:35 +0000 |
User-agent: |
NeoMutt/20170113 (1.7.2) |
On Fri, Jun 29, 2018 at 06:03:33PM +0100, Rashid Mhar wrote:
These laws are demanding pro-active steps that aren't even technically
feasible. Such as the scanning of every upload. This means that ISP's will
react with terms and conditions which allow them to hair trigger ban
potential violators, or anyone that falls foul of the recognition signals
that get shared between them as DSM directive violators.
If this goes through I think what will happen is that the ISPs will
adopt whitelisting policies. They'll offer access to a limited range of
systems run by the big tech companies and drop any other unrecognised
packets. That will mean they can have full compliance while also being
able to monetise any other requirements with additional subscriptions
and separate terms deferring liability.
That would eliminate a lot of independent internet systems, and it would
probably be the end of the kind of stuff I'm doing.
One possible proactive response would be to find out what it takes to
run an ISP. Does it take massive amounts of capital investment? What if
there were lots of little ISPs?
I'm reminded of the campaign against Poll Tax, that
was soundly technically beaten at the time but fought back with low level
resistance through insubordination, and complying as late as possible with
as many complaints as possible.
I don't think the same would apply for internet regulations
though. Whereas taxation applies to everyone issues around who can run
internet systems only affect a small minority of the population who can
easily be ignored. Being in the Free Software realm it's easy to
underestimate just how hegemonic Facebook and Google have become for the
average user.
If there are number of us, doing a good piece of work, analysis and
expression on this we can arrange meetings with MP's, council leaders,
regional mayors, councillors, anchor institutions, VSCS etc to press these
forward. The key and important step, is being able to clearly communicate
strong principles where there is agreement supported by democratic
evidence. It is eminently possible and necessarily doable.
One point here is that politicians aren't often persuaded by
evidence. They're much more likely to be persuaded by an imaginative
narrative with a moralistic component which doesn't challenge their
existing business interests.