UK local council software blocks atheist websites, allows Christian ones

[muriel_volestrangler]

via Pharyngula

Council ban on atheist websites

Lawyers at the National Secular Society said the move by Birmingham City Council was "discriminatory" and they would consider legal action.
...
The authority's Bluecoat WebFilter computer system allows staff to look at websites relating to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and other religions but blocks sites to do with "witchcraft or Satanism" and "occult practices, atheistic views, voodoo rituals or any other form of mysticism".

Under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, it is unlawful to discriminate against workers because of their religion or belief, which includes atheism.

National Secular Society president Terry Sanderson said the city council's rules also discriminated against people who practise witchcraft, which is also classed as a legitimate belief.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7530519.stm

:mad:

From the 'handbook' for this idiotic product:

Alternative Spirituality/Occult

Sites that promote and provide information
on religions such as Wicca, Witchcraft
or Satanism. Occult practices, atheistic
views, voodoo rituals or any other form of
mysticism are represented here. Includes
sites that endorse or offer methods, means
of instruction, or other resources to affect
or influence real events through the use
of spells, incantations, curses and magic
powers. This category includes sites
which discuss or deal with paranormal or
unexplained events.

http://www.bluecoat.com/doc/direct/4931

Now, they have all sorts of categories - such as just 'News/Media', or 'Cultural/Charitable Organizations', so it's not that atheist websites appear somewhere in their lists - presumably, some employers want to block, or monitor, all internet activity on the grounds of knowing what their employees use their work computers for. Under 'Religion', we find:

Sites that promote and provide
information on conventional or
unconventional religious or quasireligious
subjects, as well as churches,
synagogues, or other houses of worship.
Does not include sites about alternative
religions such as Wicca or witchcraft
(Alternative Spirituality/Occult), or
atheist beliefs (Political/Activist Groups).

though 'Political/Activist Groups' just says

Sites sponsored by or which provide
information on political parties, special
interest groups, or any organization that
promotes change or reform in public
policy, public opinion, social practice, or
economic activities.

No, atheism gets lumped in with the woo-woo stuff (apart from the mainstream woo-woo stuff, of course). :banghead:

[varkam]

1. I've actually used that product before...

and all-in-all, it's a very good program if you're looking to filter content (and it's free). I say that to say this - the list that blocks out atheist sites is not on by default: someone has to actively select it to be blocked.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

2. It depends on whether there is an ideological bias in the filter

If it has options to filter out gay content but not straight content, or to filter out Wicca but not Christianity, or to filter out Communism but not Liberalism or Conservatism, then the program is discriminatory. It may be perfectly legal, but that shouldn't prevent public boycotts and outrages over its bias.