FPB welcomes Vodacom blocking site

daveza

daveza

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http://www.timeslive.co.za/scitech/article779846.ece/FPB-welcomes-Vodacom-blocking-site

The decision by internet access provider Vodacom to block access to a controversial website containing porn and cyber bullying was welcomed by the Film and Publication Board (FPB).

"It remains within the powers of network providers to take responsible action against identified sites that contain harmful content...by blocking such sites," FPB CEO Yoliswa Makhasi said in a statement.

"We call on other Network Providers to follow suit and take stern action in defense of our children and society against unscrupulous site developers and hosts who seek to expose children to undesirable content," she said.

Access to the controversial Russian-hosted site, Ou Toilet, was blocked by the network provider on Tuesday.

The board had received numerous complaints about the site through the internet, and phone calls.
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I find this concerning, though I understand the sentiment behind the decision.

Numerous complaints - what if the same number of complaints is received about site x or site y for whatever reason.

Surely it's not up to the service providers to decide what one can view and what one cannot ( besides the fact that there are many ways around this block ).

What do others think ?
 
Its hosted in Russia. WTF is Vodacom doing filtering international connections. Seriously. FK Vodacom.

Welcome to the new filtered Internet. Vodacom decides watch you view. Will never ever use them as a data carrier again.


* I dont in any way approve of the website or its relate content I find it despicable but it is NOT Vodacom`s job to filter what sites I go to or do not go to. Wait until the ANCYL marks this as a "cyber bully" website because of the amount of conservative hicks we have in the forum sprouting their right wing delusions. The most important type of free speech to allow is that which you hate hearing the most.
 
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Vodacom are idiots, the people who called for it to be blocked are idiots and those who support the move are idiots. All for reasons that have nothing to do with porn or cyber bullying.
 
don't know enough about the site... and I'm not about to visit it.

But if after investigation Vodacom determines that there is no redeeming value in the site... then I guess that is OK. if you really still want to visit it... you will find a way.

BUT... for all those kids who never knew about the existence of such a site... they have just been introduced to it through mass media. Well done.

Welcome to the Striesand Effect.
 
hmmm... Googling on the site seems to reveal that it is a bunch of chat rooms. So there is child porn being traded in the chat rooms and people are being cyber bullied?

Seems like there must be a million places on the internet where child porn can be traded in chat rooms.

And if you are being cyber bullied in a chat room... just leave. What is so hard about that?

Is Vodacom now going to start censoring ALL the places on the internet where such things MIGHT happen?
 
Just took a look at the message board on the site in question.

Unless you read Mxit language or have an IQ below 3 I wouldn't bother.
 
babycake (16:25 - Nov 23)
hi ek soek n nr vn eyez asb let me knw
Gelvan (15:41 - Nov 23)
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Romano (15:38 - Nov 23)
Gorgeous single ladies invite me mxit contact ********
Starfish (12:50 - Nov 23)
Any port elizabeth grl younger than 19 wna experenc a gud tym wth a lesbn.invt********
RUSH HOUR (12:47 - Nov 23)
22 M PE COL.ANY GRLS LOOKING 4FRIENDSHIP.INVITE ME ******
Zibha (11:21 - Nov 23)
Any hot chck whu want a nyc guy,invyt me ******** mxit.
Urgent plze (08:00 - Nov 23)
Hi need urgent a house or servie plze 2hire leave nmber
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WTF?

As far as I can gather it's basically a REALLY ugly chatroom?

For the life of me I couldn't find any porn, despite my best efforts (just curious to know what the fuss is about)

How is this any more dangerous than, say, Mxit? :confused:

Even if it was reprehensible stuff, what business is it of Vodacoms?
 
Hmmm... if my underaged/innocent kid was being exposed to child porn and was coming to me crying because of cyber bullying... I would think as a parent that the solution would be...

1) To take away the cellphone
2) To limit the use of the cellphone / block content / limit funds
or

3) To teach my kid how to live in the real world and what is appropriate conduct.

or are these parents admitting that they have no control over their kids and they want Vodacom to do their parenting for them?
 
I mean WTF Vodacom? Who are you to decide what I can and can't access?

Do you have a policy on what you block and what you don't? Is this policy available to the public? Was there a process of public consultations when you drew up this policy? Are there safeguards in this policy to protect free speech? How can a site appeal a ban? Is your policy constitutional?

Or does Vodacom think that they're above all that? Above the law?

As for the FPB, they're a bunch of stuck up prudes with too much free time. Every time they make news, they exceed their mandate, and behave as if they're the South African morality police.

But my word, that site is terrible! My eyes started to bleed from the graphic butchery of the English language in every post. Mixit should be blocked first.
 
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w1z4rd said:
Its hosted in Russia. WTF is Vodacom doing filtering international connections. Seriously. FK Vodacom.

Welcome to the new filtered Internet. Vodacom decides watch you view. Will never ever use them as a data carrier again.


* I dont in any way approve of the website or its relate content I find it despicable but it is NOT Vodacom`s job to filter what sites I go to or do not go to. Wait until the ANCYL marks this as a "cyber bully" website because of the amount of conservative hicks we have in the forum sprouting their right wing delusions. The most important type of free speech to allow is that which you hate hearing the most.
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No, free speech is conditional on responsibility. What of pedophilia on the net? What of cyber bullying? Free speech, or a bunch of nasty yobs hiding behind free speech?
 
Ronjay said:
No, free speech is conditional on responsibility. What of pedophilia on the net? What of cyber bullying? Free speech, or a bunch of nasty yobs hiding behind free speech?
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.. and we have the police and a judicial system to deal with that. Not Vodacom. Is there a court order ordering a disconnect?
 
w1z4rd said:
.. and we have the police and a judicial system to deal with that. Not Vodacom. Is there a court order ordering a disconnect?
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Yeah, i wasn't saying that Vodacom are not a bunch of idiots, only that free speech is not unconditional.
 
take stern action in defense of our children and society against unscrupulous site developers and hosts who seek to expose children to undesirable content,
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Dear Vodacom and FPB - that is responsibility of things called ' parents '.

If I was a Vodacom client I would no longer be one - I don't pay others to be my moral guardian.

I can already see Erroll Naidoo drawing up a list for submission.
 
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