Brit mobile operators blocking Pirate Bay
Glyn sez, "BT and other mobile broadband providers are blocking access to The Pirate Bay, as part of a "self-regulation" scheme.
The warning page states the page has been blocked in 'compliance with a new UK voluntary code'.
It may be some thing to do with the UK's P2P process.
PC Pro is reporting that the block is in partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and that 'all five of the UK's major mobile operators have agreed to participate.'"
Wait, what? The IWF is supposed to be in charge of blocking child porn -- now it's copyright too? Good grief. What next?
"This uses a barring and filtering mechanism to restrict access to all WAP and internet sites that are considered to have 'over 18' status," the warning states. It goes on to list a series of categories that are blocked, including adult/sexually explicit content, "criminal skills" and hacking.BT blocks off Pirate Bay (Thanks, Glyn!)It's not stated which category The Pirate Bay breaches, although the site does host links to porn movies.
BT's warning message advises customers to contact customer services if they want the block on the site to be lifted. The message also invites users to seek further information on the self-regulation scheme on the Internet Watch Foundation's website, although an IWF spokesman denies any involvement with the mobile filtering scheme.
the latest
latest episodes
yes, yes, in time, they will learn their place...
BT are utter wankers. they implemented the illegal (breaks EU privacy laws) spyware Phorm then do this. This is why i will never use them
Just another nail in this sorry coffin that is the UK...
So happy I am leaving in just four days never to come back if I can avoid it...
http://www.antiphorm.co.uk/
One of the reasons given, that it's to protect children who steal or otherwise find other people's cellphones, is particularly British.
protect the children?
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/01/japans-face-authorizing-cigarette-machines-no-match-for-bruce-w/
I don't live in the UK and even I'm developing a finely honed dislike for the moral busy bodies at the IWF. They've got about as much legitimacy -- and common sense -- as the MPAA ratings board.
Thats a crying shame...one actually has to opt out...I mean, where are they going to find a phone to do so. Oh wait, they are already on a phone!
A private company makes a rule??? Ohes Noes!
Seriously, its a private company, they don't make a barrier too high to overcome, and it isn't censorship if they still allow you to do it (that and censorship is a gov't thing, not when a private company decides...just like BoingBoing can decide and HAS decided to disemvowell posts).
Good Grief BB, what next!
yeah, but you're an RIAA hack...
Another dodgy policy from BT. Their fixed line internet is ridiculously poorly served and their customer service staff all but say "do I look bothered?" if you complain about the speed and reliablity. That said, for a product which has to share limited radio spectrum with other users blocking easy access to p2p sites is practically "self defence."
The IWF can go and f itself though. It's a frothing at the mouth, fanatical neighbourhood watch scheme that no one else consented to. The moment it became clear they're going to "err on the side of caution" it became starkly apparent that they're on a blue pencil mission.
According to The Register, IWF have nothing to do with it and the link on the page is misleading:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/21/iwf_pirate_bay/
This story is, basically, not true. Tested this earlier today on Vodafone (the BT network provider) and could access TPB and 4Chan with no problems.
I don't deny IWF have too much influence, but dealing with them is surely better handled by facts rather than scaremongering stories?
@#8 Clif Marsiglio:
Just because the barrier is removable doesn't mean it's not there. How well is it advertised that yoiu can remove it? Most services which have similar 'features' which downgrade the service for your convenience e.g. muslim bank accounts with no interest. are OPT-IN, because NORMALLY the company cares about pissing off customers.
NORMALLY marketers are scared of giving potential customers even a whiff that they're getting some degredation in service. So the fact BT et al are doing this shows how cocky and uncaring they are. I think we can get pissed off about that, private company or no.
Think about this from the IWF and mobile operator's perspective: they're doing this because torrents take up more bandwidth than they'd like and to protect the interests of the labels & studios. Why else?
Personally, I'm not keen on the idea that companies who run their cables through miles and miles of public roads can call themselves private at all. If they want the benefits of being private then they can do without the benefits of government support to maintain their infrastructures. What we've got is a compromise, which means they need to give a fair service, not just what makes business sense.
@Takuan --
*FORMER* RIAA hack! Get it straight...
@Felix --
"BT's warning message advises customers to contact customer services if they want the block on the site to be lifted."
Why dont we just have a big list of sites kids are allowed on.
You have a site for kids! great, put it on the list!
Leave the rest of the internet for the adults and stop giving those in charge excuses to steal our rights.
blocking sites will NEVER work. try it the other way around.
Once again good old honest porn is getting lumped in with kiddie porn. The two are completely different. I have been an adult webmaster for years and have, fortunately, NEVER seen child porn though I have visited perhaps tens of thousands of adult sites.
I wonder if they ban firearms sites because they might be misconstrued to encourage crime?
I wonder if they ban political blogs someone might consider "extremist" so as to stop "terrorism"?
Censorship is censorship and it has no place in a free society.
I'm in the UK and I can see Pirate Bay. It's not all UK ISPs.
I'm on BT broadband in the UK, and I can see The Pirate Bay just fine as well - just checked. Doesn't seem to affect everyone...yet?
Shadowfirebird + Nothingless - mobile broadband
I really don't understand why anyone uses BT at all, really I don't. The veracity of this notwithstanding, they are THE worst ISP I have ever used by some margin.
#18, me too. I think it's just mobile folks.
And I'm on Orange and I can see it too.
Maybe Anonymous should swivel their crowd-sourced, 1000 yard stare away from the good folks at isohunt and btjunkie and focus on these BT forkers instead. And the other UK mobile providers. And Phorm.
Because whatever happens in the TPB appeal, the real power struggle will take place right here at the user/ISP interface.
'You have the right to free
Speech as long as you're not
Dumb enough to actually try it.' (J Strummer)
Given that TPB also helps you find legal torrents - ie. stuff that actual artists have put out there for people to find and download and (hopefully) enjoy it would seem that anyone who is barred from accessing TPB by an ISP could make a case against them for prohibiting fair usage...
this goes straight into the same drawer as the newly selfimposed censorship by vodaphone/germanTelekom/hansanet in germany against child pornography with a stop list and an IP log that the police has access too - we all expect that this is going to be extended to p2p next - there is a HUGE outcry in germany over this but government ignores it completely.