Malaysia denies Internet filter will curb dissent

[Heidi]

Source: Reuters

Fri Aug 7, 2009 5:09pm EDT

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia denied on Friday that a proposed Internet filter would be used to police blogs and websites, saying it would be used only to block pornography.

The denial comes after news that the Southeast Asian country was considering setting up an Internet filter similar to China's "Green Dam" software, a move the opposition said was aimed at suppressing political dissent.

While Malaysia has used sedition laws and imprisonment without trial to prosecute one leading political blogger, censoring political websites is not the aim of the filter said Information Minister Rais Yatim. "The safety of our children is not an Internet game. We will find any way to ensure we are free from the culture of pornography among children," Rais told a news conference in the Malaysian capital.

"Those who call themselves liberals should look at what has happened to other countries who have become victims, where child sex occurs and pornography is widespread," he said.

Malaysia's argument echoes China's rationale for a planned filter to stamp out Internet pornography that drew criticism from the United States and the computer industry.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE5763JF20090807

[saigon68]

1. Ah Yes, your leaders know what's best for you.

A fascist Country at best.

Similar to the other fascist, bad toybox, China,

Where billionaires are made every day and dissent is napalmed out of existence and those who disagree are murdered.

[Heidi]

2. I'm always skeptical when a government acquires a new "weapon"

and then promises to use it only for the good of the people -- and the government, of course, is the sole judge of what's best for the people. :eyes:

Good morning, saigon68! :hi:

[Aragorn]

3. dial-up

is better than all others at protecting one's privacy, but only because it's harder for someone to track you down - not that much harder though. What about the person who claims to have helped install a way to monitor ALL internet traffic, at least over some provider networks - in San Fran as I recall? No need for filters to track opponents - although that could be the real/another purpose.

I don't care if a country wants to (try to) keep porn off their intertubes. I know how that works in our country's religious community.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

4. I have no confidence in the current Malaysian government

I have first hand knowledge of which I speak. The Prime Minister is a corrupt, dictatorial, racist, facist thug who was put in power precisely for the purpose of suppressing democracy and crushing the resurgent political opposition. He has also been implicated in a murder case

I have no doubt of what he and his bunch of government thugs are trying to do here and it has nothing to do with anything other than suppressing free speech and crushing political dissent