Impact of Government Intervention in Online Channels

Experience. Capability. Technology bwired.com.au

Impact of Government Intervention in Online Channels

David WarwickThe Internet Show – Melbourne

30 April 2012

@drwarwick

Experience. Capability. Technology bwired.com.auExperience. Capability. Technology bwired.com.au

Structure and HistoryGovernment Intervention 101 – Censorship

Source: http://www.thebigstinkguide.com/


Structure and HistoryA (partial) World View

Source: Facebook


Structure and HistoryPolitical Map – By Online Censorship

Source: Reporters without Borders and OpenNet Initiative (via Wikipedia)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_by_country



Structure and HistoryTypes of Intervention

PROPAGANDADoS attacks, Content modification, Controlled channels

BLOCKINGFull (physical) blocking, IP blocking

FILTERINGDNS filtering, URL string filtering, Packet filtering

MONITORINGFire-hose monitoring, Public channel monitoring

OTHER INTERVENTION CONSIDERATIONSOver-blocking, Under-blocking, Content Vs Channel


Structure and HistoryExtreme Intervention – Exhibit A

SAMPLE ACTIVITYDoS attacksContent modificationControlled channelsContent fabricationArrest (or worse)Subversive sites / tools

Source: NASA Satellite image – 2003 (Korean Peninsula)


Structure and HistoryExtreme Intervention – Exhibit B (Golden Shield)

Source: Jeffrey Knockel, University of New Mexicohttp://news.unm.edu/2011/09/unm-research-team-presents-paper-on-chinese-surveillance-and-censorship/

Chinese Censorship – Categorization SpreadCensored memes – long tail

EffectivenessMost effective when list is secret

Peer-to-peer V Client serverChannel difference (Skype V Twitter)

NeologismsCensors follow changing use

Collateral damageOver-blocking V Under-blocking

Where is the content line?Fcuk | Tibet | Tian’anmen | Hold the microphone | 4 Jun 89 | 64 | 8-squared …


Structure and HistoryOf course it couldn’t happen in the developed world …

North KoreaOnly 4% have Internet access, blogging is banned, all content is Government moderated.

IranAnyone who has a personal page or blog must register with Ministry of Art and Culture.

ChinaMonitors web and email, blocks sites, erases inconvenient content.

SyriaDetains citizens for expressing opinion that could ‘jeopardize national unity’.

VietnamAgency monitored. Government has asked Google and Microsoft for personal details.

TurkmenistanGovernment owns only ISP, bans many news sites and charges exorbitant access fees.

Other extreme Government intervention includesTunisia, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Burma … (USA?, Australia?)


Structure and HistorySOPA / PIPA

Source: © SAKIMICHAN from Deviant Art http://www.deviantart.com/


Structure and HistoryStop Online Piracy Act HR 3261 (SOPA) – Summary

Sources:http://sopablackout.org/judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/112%20HR%203261.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act

The GoodBan 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 BadSOPA 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’.


Structure and HistorySOPA Protest – 18 January 2012

Source: Wikipedia


Structure and HistorySOPA on ice? Now Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement

Sources www.propublica.org http://www.onlineroar.com/2012/02/sopa-and-acta-where-are-they-now.html

Outcomes- Rallying of ‘silent majority’- Underlying ‘agenda’ exposed- Congress sentiment shifted- SOPA shelved- Shift to ACTA international agenda


Structure and HistoryFiltering Australia

Source: http://www.perthnow.com.au/

ACTA participant | Filter Proposal | History of ‘manipulation’


Structure and HistoryWhat would you filter Stephen?

Source: http://delimiter.com.au/2012/02/28/conroy-misleads-public-on-internet-filter/ (Image: Kim Davies | Comments: Renai LeMay)

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.” Renai LeMay

http://delimiter.com.au/2012/02/28/conroy-misleads-public-on-internet-filter/

http://delimiter.com.au/2012/02/28/conroy-misleads-public-on-internet-filter/


Structure and HistoryOur own ‘protest’ (of a sort)

Sources:http://delimiter.com.au/Illust: Purple Hat Munchkin … http://www.purplefae.com/http://loonpond.blogspot.com.au/http://www.gizmodo.com.au/


Structure and HistorySome more (because you just can’t stop at 4) …

Sources:http://www.efa.org.au/2010/06/http://ausfailia.wordpress.com/category/the-internet/


Structure and HistoryDemocracy – the proven (pre-web) structure …

GovernmentLegislature

CourtsJudiciary

PoliceEnforcement

PressFree speech

CitizensRights and responsibilities

Separation of powers and established practiceDoes proposed Australian and US action relating to online channels maintain structural democratic integrity?


Structure and HistoryAbuse of Internet Censorship

Source: BBC and Global Post (www.globalpost.com)

Palestinian minister quits over Internet censorshipFriday, 27 April 2012

Abu Daqa (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 Mahmoud Abbas (pictured).

Internet V Other Electronic MediaWe 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?


Structure and HistoryMonitoring V Filtering – ‘Listening Post’ Model


ENDDavid Warwick

Director of Technology and Services

[email protected]: 0411 411 555P: 1300 780 566

@drwarwickApril 2012

News & Politics

Impact of Government Intervention in Online Channels