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Red Rock Eater Digest - HK Government proposes regulations to censor the Internetwriting

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2000-06-19 · 4 min read · Edit on Pyrite

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Automatically imported from: http://commons.somewhere.com:80/rre/2000/RRE.HK.Government.propos.html

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Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2000 23:57:06 +0800 From: Free Net HK Subject: ACTION ALERT: HK Government proposes regulations to censor the Internet

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-----BEGIN FREENETHK ACTION ALERT-----

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This action alert has been issued by Free Net HK (freenethk@bigfoot.com)

CIRCULATE ONLY UNTIL 19 June 2000

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT PROPOSES REGULATIONS TO CENSOR THE INTERNET

For more information: http://freenethk.cjb.net/ http://www.geocities.com/freenethk/

The Hong Kong Government has released a consultation paper on the "Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance (COIAO)". The purpose of this ordinance is to prohibit the publication of content which has been rated as "obscene" and restrict the publication of content which has been rated as "indecent" to adults only. Among other changes, the Government proposes several new ways that the Government can regulate content on the Internet. These proposals include:

  • Requiring all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to provide filtering
    • tools to its customers.
  • Treating ISPs as publishers and leaving them LIABLE for illegal
    • content on their networks even if they play no direct role in the creation of the content and even if it is technically unfeasible to block the content.
  • Giving the Government a new power to direct ISPs to CENSOR AND BLOCK
    • ACCESS to content hosted locally which has been rated as obscene
  • Giving the Government a new power to direct ISPs to CENSOR AND BLOCK
    • ACCESS TO CONTENT HOSTED OVERSEAS which has been rated as obscene
  • Requiring all ISPs to BLOCK ACCESS to obscene material HOSTED
    • OVERSEAS.

    Free Net HK is a group dedicated to preserving Internet freedom in Hong Kong. We are opposed to the Government's proposals as we believe that they are a dangerous first step to eroding the freedom of the public to access the Internet in Hong Kong. These proposals would result in greater expenses for ISPs as they would be required by law to purchase filtering equipment, filtering software, hire additional staff to support that software and to monitor the content on their networks. All these costs would be passed onto the consumer with little or no benefit. These proposals also show a lack of understanding about the nature of the Internet and create a poor environment for Internet businesses and work against the Government's stated aim of establishing Hong Kong as the Internet hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

    These proposals are: BAD FOR FREEDOM BAD FOR CONSUMERS BAD FOR BUSINESS BAD FOR THE IMAGE OF HONG KONG

    We are currently organizing and encouraging people to respond to the Government's proposals.

    WHAT YOU CAN DO:

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    The Government is accepting comments until 19 June 2000

    We need your help to: Comment on the Government's proposals and our responses at our site Sign our petition Send a personal response directly to the Government expressing your concern Spread the word about the Government's proposals

    For more details, please visit our website at: http://freenethk.cjb.net http://www.geocities.com/freenethk/

    At our site, we have written our response to the Government's main points. We need your help to comment on the proposals and our responses and to point out any additional information that would be helpful. On 14 June 2000, we will collect all comments submitted to us and forward them to the Government's Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau so that they can be aware of the concern of the community about their proposals.

    If you agree with our response to the Government's proposal and would like to help to preserve Internet freedom in Hong Kong, please sign our petition. Signatures collected will be compiled and forwarded to the Government.

    In addition to adding your comments to our collective response, you may also choose to send a personal response directly to the Government.

    You can send your comments directly to the Goverment until 19 June 2000

    By Post: Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau 2/F, Murray Building Garden Road Hong Kong

    By Fax: 2511 1458

    By E-mail: itbbenq@itbb.gcn.gov.hk

    Help us to spread the word about these proposals. Please forward this action alert to your friends.

    For more information, please contact us at freenethk@bigfoot.com http://freenethk.cjb.net http://www.geocities.com/freenethk/

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    -----END FREENETHK ACTION ALERT-----

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