Overhype

Overhype

by Mike Masnick




Now If We Just Banned Usenet, Everything Would Be Great...

from the are-these-people-serious? dept

While there's been lots of talk recently about how various politicians are suddenly worried about file sharing networks because there's porn available on them, most people who have actually used the internet respond by pointing out that there's much more porn elsewhere on the internet, with Usenet being near the top of the list. Apparently, someone from the "Alliance for a Safer Internet" just discovered this fact and has decided that it's all the fault of Cox, a cable broadband provider, who they've warned that they've contacted the appropriate authorities. While, it seems likely that Cox's legal representatives aren't shaking in their boots over this revelation, perhaps this group would be better off just waiting, as providers like AOL have already decided that there's no reason to keep offering Usenet access. So, will this group be going after Google next for offering Usenet access to everyone (no matter who your ISP is)? Either way, when will someone explain to these groups that (1) going after one particular internet tool isn't going to have much of an impact and (2) that ISPs really have no control over what content goes over their network?

3 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

Reader Comments

(Flattened / Threaded)

    Aug 10th, 2005 @ 5:59am
  • No Subject Given

    by malhombre

    >>when will someone explain to these groups that (1) going after one particular internet tool isn't going to have much of an impact<< br>
    Sure it will, Mike. It will foster the creation of better internet tools in an ever escalating Darwinian technology arms race...and thats Progress, friend.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Aug 10th, 2005 @ 9:47am
  • No Subject Given

    by Anonymous Coward

    What amazes me is that the gov't/MIAA/RIAA gestapo hasn't gone after the big Usenet server companies like Giganews or Supernews. You'd think those would be prime, juicy targets for FBI raids. How are they managing to stay alive? Are they totally offshore?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    • Aug 10th, 2005 @ 6:51pm
    • Re: No Subject Given

      by Anonymous Coward

      Thats exactly how. They have their servers offshore, but their operations in the us. However they have said they can move totally offshore withen 24 hours.

      (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

Add Your Comment

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now.
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Plain Text HTML
Save me a cookie
  • Plain Text: A CRLF will be replaced by break <br> tag, all other allowable HTML is intact
  • HTML: No formatting of any kind is done without explicitly being written in
  • Allowed HTML Tags: <b> <i> <p> <a> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <hr> <tt>
Close
Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now.
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Plain Text HTML Save me a cookie

Search Techdirt
And now, a word from our Sponsors..



Subscribe to Techdirt's Daily Email Newsletter

Techdirt's Daily Email Newsletter

Related Stories
Close
E-mail It