Orange UK 3G modems block Boing Boing
If you've got an Orange UK 3G modem and you think it gives you access to the Internet, think again. Orange has paid some boiler-room full of prudes to assemble a list of websites that people with wireless modems can't look at because they're dirty, and so grown ups can't see 'em. Included in this carefully curated list of pornographic websites that are too hot for wireless? http://boingboing.net.
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My work's connection had boingboing filtered as "pornography" for at least a couple of months.
I've no idea which filter criteria they were using, but it suddenly relaxed a lot about four months ago.
I sometimes use my O2 mobile phone as a GPRS modem, and I've not noticed any 'censoring' of my internet access. I only use this method when I'm not in range of wi-fi, natch. Perhaps it's time to change providers?
I don't really find it odd that site-filters catch BB as pornography. Any site that shows a boob, EVER, or talks about sexual content, usually gets lumped into that category. It's dumb, but whatever. I'm just more baffled that Orange is filtering at ALL.
It's all the fnord-porn you guys surreptitiously include, corrupting our minds without us even knowing...
heh heh heh (watch this one)
Most filterware makes demented, pointless mistakes. Yes to what Ryan W said above.
Case in point: I speak some German. The very large company that I work for puts out a daily tearsheet of large press releases/articles relating to our products. Well, I went to follow a link to a site on sterne.de and got...our "this site blocked; if you are dumb enough to rock the boat, please email the admin at xxxxx with a specific reason why this site should be unblocked."
Well, once I explained that I was following a direct request by a colleague to paraphrase the general gist of the piece, the site got unlocked. They couldn't say why it was blocked in the first place; I mean, yes, they show the occasional female breast but come on now...
Having said that, I am horrified that a utility company would take it upon themselves to decide what their adult clientelle shouldn't be able to see.
@Ryan Waddell
"I'm just more baffled that Orange is filtering at ALL."
Presumably because Orange phones are sold to, or at leased used by, children. If you're over 18 you can confirm this fact with them and then they stop filtering. Why is this a problem?
Daniel, it's a problem because (1) filtering mechanisms are imperfect (consider that BoingBoing is filtered out), and (2) who the hell are Orange to decide what under-18ers can and can't read?
Usually comes down to money and fear of lawsuits doesn't it? Daniel likely right - watch the parents sue when little johnny sees Janet Jackson at the superbowl or whatever.
Heh. One of the "features" my provider here in the US offers (Sprint) is a daily image link from Maxim magazine, among others...
By default blocking access to internet sites by what SHOULD be a "utility" seems wrong. Offering blocking if one wants it is OK, shutting it down with no request to is overreaching.
Let the parents take at least the responsibility of asking to have their precious baby's cell phones bowdlerized.
I have a Vodafone 3G modem and they block BB too. I noticed it once when I clicked through on a link to a video item. At the time I assumed it was to stop you downloading video because of the bandwidth restrictions (this is in spite of their so-called "Unlimited Use" scam which in fact is only 3 Gb a month - but that's a whole 'nother rant). After reading the post I guess that, like Orange, they really are blocking BB in general. In fact you can "apply" to have the block lifted provided you verify you're over 18.
Vodafone are an especially (read: pathetically) prudish outfit. Their online music download service blocks access to songs with "parental advisory" lyrics. Lame. Lame. Lame.
Dude, seriously, you can turn it off. It's only a CIVLIB issue when you can't.
BB on a porn list is a mistake, but I can see why mobile operators would want to try and filter porn. Kids with web-enabled phones WILL use them to surf porn, and possibly rack up charges, in places their parents can't keep an eye on. Like in the loo ;)
The filter was probably added at the request of parents or a group representing 'the children'.
I suppose the alternative to filtering content from minors is to, by default, track every web address they visit from their phones, so the parents can review it on the account. Calls are already itemized, aren't they?
Danegeld - I see the fnords. Sadly, there's no porn behind them.
On that note, why hasn't anyone made a Firefox plugin to reveal fnords? They are everywhere!
I think y'all are giving vodafone too much credit. I doubt that they based their blocking on any actual content on the site, or on any complaints; I suspect they thought that boing boing *sounded* sort of pornographic.
This is a testable theory - you could see whether boink.com is blocked. If yes, it's a name thing. If no - they likely have it in for BB itself.
Call me crazy, but could it not be from the occasional linking to the Reverse Cowgirl?
Vodafone UK Mobile Broadband also blocks Flickr (well, I guess you can find, you know, pictures, on it...) and probably pretty much all alcohol related sites (I know they at least block whisky distilleries, so probably others as well).
Obviously you can get it unlocked if you prove that you're over 18, but that's another hassle with calling them and all that. I wasn't told about this when I bought the card, why isn't this sorted at the point of purchase?