[Redacted]

[AB Editor]

Your internet is being censored. Is this what the government should really be doing with it's time?

I've already checked AB, we're not on the dirty internet here: https://www.blocked.org.uk/

I thought some of you might be interested in this worrying (and amusingly put) issue about the censorship of the internet.

From Open Rights Group: www.departmentofdirty.co.uk

"The Department of Dirty is working with internet and mobile companies to stop the dirty internet. We are committed to protecting children and adults from online filth such as:

•Talk to Frank:
This government website tries to educate young people about drugs. We all know what ‘education’ means, don’t we? Blocked by Three.

•Girl Guides Essex:
They say, ‘guiding is about acquiring skills for life’. We say, why would young girls need skills? Blocked by BT.

•South London Refugee Association:
This charity aims to relieve poverty and distress. Not on our watch they don’t. Blocked by BT, EE, Sky and VirginMedia

We need you to help us take a stand against blogs, charities and education websites, all of which are being blocked [1]. It’s time to stop this sick filth. Together, we can clean up the internet."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60eKauWFFPk

[boxtops]

Where did you find this, Ed?!

[AB Editor]

I keep an eye on media/internet censorship stuff as a matter of course - it's a professional interest!

I'm on the Open Rights Group's mailing list, which is where I picked this up from directly.

[Gromit]

I have had sites that will not open when I have been trying to ressearch an answer. I do not know if the authorities were blocking it, or that the site was unavailable for some other reason.

When I was in Turkey earlier this year I experience proper censorship. YouTube was unavailable and parts of the BBC. It was very annoying.

I would hate the UK to go down that route. We must have safeguards against illegal content, but indiscriminate and blanket bans are surely not acceptable. Presumable the Government's own 'Frank' website was banned because it is about drugs. That ban is obviously in error, but highlights how stupid arbitrary restricting internet access is.

[ll_billym]

I'm on Virgin and can access South London Refugee Association no problems.

The site you link to above it says that it will only be blocked if you have specific filtering turned on (which I don't).

Slight misinformation here I think.

[kvalidir]

We are EE and I can access the south London refugee Association too. I'm 100% against censorship though so this is a matter to be taken very seriously.

[AB Editor]

Here's the results for Merton and Wandsworth Asylum Welcome site

[DrFilth]

if they want to block things start with unwanted sales calls and texts to phones

ppi, accident claim, solar panels, double glazing etc


just had one while typing this out -(

[DrFilth]

and this is who phoned me

http://uk.whocalledme.com/PhoneNumber/01325776588

[Kromovaracun]

These measures have been inspired by nothing more than a stupid campaign in the tabloids that amounted to "please think of the children" hysteria. It really angers me.

[boxtops]

Oh Dr F, how I agree with you. I've just been offered an update on the Life Assurance quotes I asked for - not.

[DrFilth]

just had another one boxtops

http://uk.whocalledme.com/PhoneNumber/01325776588

[boxtops]

I've started getting them on my mobile too, at least I can block the numbers on there.