10-01-2007, 09:24 PM
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 | General | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: England, UK
Posts: 4,227
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 Free Speech under threat | |
I thought some of you may find this interesting. Here ya go anyway. I received this in my mail because I signed up to the 'Save the Internet' campaign. Quote:
You've probably heard that Verizon censored text messages sent by the pro-choice group NARAL. They They then reversed the censorship claiming claim it was a glitch. And they feel really, really bad about it.
Today, we have discovered that AT&T wants to deny its Internet services to customers who criticize the company. They say they want "your world delivered" but only if you're nice.
Sorry, Verizon and AT&T. That's not good enough. These are just the latest examples in the long list of phone company efforts to block, filter or interfere with the free flow of information over new communications networks.
Take Action: Protect Free Speech Everywhere!
In August, AT&T censored a live webcast of a Pearl Jam concert just as lead singer Eddie Vedder criticized President Bush. AT&T said it was a glitch.
Both Verizon and AT&T illegally handed over private customer phone records to the National Security Agency. The phone companies first denied it and then started a secret campaign with the White House to gain immunity from any lawsuits.
This pattern of abuse shows that powerful phone companies cannot be trusted to safeguard our basic freedoms. The democratic principles of free speech and open communication are too important to be entrusted to corporate gatekeepers. Whether it's liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, pro-choice or pro-gun, the phone companies can't pick and choose what messages get through.
Censorship by AT&T and Verizon shows us what we can expect in a future where these network gatekeepers gain control over the free flow of information. Congress must reaffirm its commitment to free speech on the Internet, on cell phones, on our airwaves -- everywhere!
Tell Congress: Stop the Gatekeepers
We've had it with phony apologies from phone companies. Congress must act now to protect free speech and the free flow of information.
Thank you for all that you do,
Josh Silver
Executive Director
Free Press
www.freepress.net
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__________________ The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decisions, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. (William Hutchinson Murray) |