======================================================== A REDACTED history of censorship of the english language ======================================================== * David Miller * @thatdavidmiller Why this talk ============= * http://asofterworld.com - web comic, dark sense of humour, talks about sex * censored by mobile dongle service History ======= Tyndale Bible ------------- * first English translation of bible which was mass produced * thousands of copies burnt * Tyndale hounded out of England * eventually captured, strangled, burnt Star Chamber ------------ * Rich and powerful couldn't be touched. * Star chamber chaired by king, so could get everyone below * all secret (including laws ...) * no right to appeal etc * kings (Henry VII, Charles I) turn it into vicous, brutal, arbitrary court * all books have to pre-approved/pre-censored * 1643 Licensing Act John Milton - Areopagitica -------------------------- In response: John Milton - Areopagitica (speech to parliament) * it won't work * unintended harmful consequences for society - you will censor more than is good 20 years later, without any big crisis, censorship fades away John Stewart Mill ----------------- * humans are fallible - we can't be sure that what we oppose is actually wrong * humans are ... so, don't censor The Present =========== Filtering --------- * default-on network-level adult content filters * filters will be on in any places where children might be present "adult content" - talk about sex, sexual health, drugs, "extremist" sites current filters - over block, easy to circumvent, run by private companies, no appeal or redress "any places where children might be present" - not phone, not home. It is hotels, coffee shop, museum, libraries, trains - "the commons" What can you do? ---------------- * Open Rights Group are "most plausible" group on these issues * http://writetothem.com - write to your MP * Andrews & Arnold Ltd - only UK ISP who refuse to filter at network level * replace the internet !! (medium term goal)