Cyber Control

Is it me, or is the number of messages about internet censorship really and rapidly increasing? Over the last a few weeks I've read several reports about governments who are trying to get control over the internet users. Sometimes by blocking favorite search machines, sometimes by manipulating websites and sometimes by simply blocking servers thus preventing anyone to enter cyberspace.

Now you might expect actions like these from (former) communist countries. A number of US companies, including Microsoft, Cisco, Google and Yahoo, have been hauled before the US Congress in recent years and accused of complicity in building the "Great Firewall of China". But what scares me the most are those countries you would never have guessed to censorize any use of internet, like...Australia? Australians Communications minister Stephen Conroy revealed the mandatory censorship. The plan was first created as a way to combat child pornography and adult content, but could be extended to include controversial websites on euthanasia or anorexia. Human Rights Watch has condemned internet censorship, and argued "there is a real danger of a Virtual Curtain dividing the internet, much as the Iron Curtain did during the Cold War, because some governments fear the potential of the internet, (and) want to control it".

Guys, Big Brother isn't watching...your computer is!