Porn + Internet = Death

I don't want to bum anyone out, but the internet is not going to be free forever. As I see it, we are standing on the edge of a long protracted battle to control the web sponsored in large part by major media companies. Namely the music industry and hollywood. Rather than invest their money into new solutions they will be lobbying to censor the web.

Case #1:
In England legislation is being developed to ban people from the web. The Times reports that people caught downloading films or music will be given a warning the first time, a suspension the second time and a permanent ban from the web the third time. The legislation probably won't get passed, but it is out there and it is on the minds of lawmakers. Don't move to the UK kids.

Case #2
Australia is testing an ISP filter in Tasmania this summer according to Australian It News. The filter is intended to filter out pornography and other content deemed inappropriate for children. Pornography is nearly impossible to define, but some how these guys are going to do it. It is not an iron clad filter, you can call your web provider and opt out--for now. The story states that it costs a substantial amount to pay for ISP filters. Guess who will be footing that bill? You will. This is all because of Web 2.0 fears about sexual predators on MySpace and the like.

This fear is misplaced as the Wall Street Journal reported that:

Targeted minors were almost always teenagers who were aware their online correspondent was an adult, rather than someone pretending to be their own age. There was little evidence that teenagers posting personal information on social-networking sites or Web sites were putting themselves at risk. And perhaps most jarring: From 1990 to 2005, as Internet use exploded, the number of substantiated sexual crimes against teenagers actually fell by about half.

Case #3
Ars Technica has a rather lengthy piece derived from a rather short piece about Utah giving ISP's "G" Ratings. There is a piece of legislation up for consideration in Utah stating that ISP's that guarantee they will filter out porn will get a G rating from the state. Presumably, in Utah, this could be a great marketing ploy to sell to concerned Mormons. If an ISP violates its G rating, then it is fined $10,000.

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While looking at this stuff I came upon this site, CP80, a site dedicated to protecting children from porn on the web. They have a great news section. Here are some choice nuggets of information:

Power of Porn Not Understood
...why, when it is suggested that pornography is addictive, do pornographers point to the fact that some therapists suggest pornography is helpful to a marriage? Could it be that pornographers, like tobacco companies of old, want to hide the fact that they understand the true power and addictive nature of their product? It took years before society readily acknowledged the dangers smoking - once a socially acceptable and encouraged behavior. How long until we recognize the true danger of porn?

Pornography Begats Crime

Guillermo Canovas, President of the Spanish nonprofit Protegeles told the Earth Times that the "web not only provides an outlet for people with deep-rooted paedophiliac tendencies, but can also create a sexual attraction to children."

He continued: "Thousands of people are constantly looking for pornography on the web. As their stimulation threshold rises, they feel the need for stronger and stronger material until their search leads them to child pornography. Once a man has become accustomed to child pornography or had sex with a 13-year-old, his perception of children changes. He begins to see them as sex objects instead of children."