BrainPower
Senior Member
- May 19, 2009
- 146
- 1
I remember it as if it was Yesterday.
It was mid april, well past midnight i was paged simultaneously from some of the Isp's home.
Then called.
-BrainPower, We have intelligence officers and an individual from the national regulator.
-Yes.. Im listening...
-They require us to block access to a website that is not adhering to the maadili of Tanzania
-Ohh okey..mmhhh
(now i had already pre-empted this. There are two moves i could make )
Either:-
a) Simply comply with them. Log into the core routers. Block the routes to the website and go back to sleep.
b) Refuse to block the website. Tell them that there is now law in Tanzania that binds me to block any website.
Then make lots of noise. Take this fight to the local + national media , blogs , forums, etc In the name of freedom of speech.
-Well i thought it was unfair to make this decision until i typed in the website url in my browser and saw what was in store. Bloody Hell !
No one in their right mind was going to back me up if i took option 'B'
The conversation ended.........
-Mhh... Well take their ID, names, contact and official letter and i will get right into it.
-Now, wanajamii wenzangu. It is true that there is freedom of speech, but this guy (whoever paid for the controversial site) had crossed the line.
There is also privacy jamanii. Freedom is not Anarchy
Having said that, I have realized now that ISPs play a major role in National Security.
I would like to know people's views on this
a) When is it right for the authorities to ask ISPs to block certain websites ? What if they are legit like the media sites / forum ? Should they go ahead ? What is the criteria ?
b) Is there a need to establish a Tanzania internet filter (which all isps should block routes that are listed in filter 'black book')
I really think it is important to answer these questions right now as we are preparing for the General election (with the concurrent arrival of the fibre optic cable).
A beehive of blogs / sites are going to be opened. A lot of information (true/false) is going to be posted on the net, and a lot of toes will be stepped upon.
I open the debate
It was mid april, well past midnight i was paged simultaneously from some of the Isp's home.
Then called.
-BrainPower, We have intelligence officers and an individual from the national regulator.
-Yes.. Im listening...
-They require us to block access to a website that is not adhering to the maadili of Tanzania
-Ohh okey..mmhhh
(now i had already pre-empted this. There are two moves i could make )
Either:-
a) Simply comply with them. Log into the core routers. Block the routes to the website and go back to sleep.
b) Refuse to block the website. Tell them that there is now law in Tanzania that binds me to block any website.
Then make lots of noise. Take this fight to the local + national media , blogs , forums, etc In the name of freedom of speech.
-Well i thought it was unfair to make this decision until i typed in the website url in my browser and saw what was in store. Bloody Hell !
No one in their right mind was going to back me up if i took option 'B'
The conversation ended.........
-Mhh... Well take their ID, names, contact and official letter and i will get right into it.
-Now, wanajamii wenzangu. It is true that there is freedom of speech, but this guy (whoever paid for the controversial site) had crossed the line.
There is also privacy jamanii. Freedom is not Anarchy
Having said that, I have realized now that ISPs play a major role in National Security.
I would like to know people's views on this
a) When is it right for the authorities to ask ISPs to block certain websites ? What if they are legit like the media sites / forum ? Should they go ahead ? What is the criteria ?
b) Is there a need to establish a Tanzania internet filter (which all isps should block routes that are listed in filter 'black book')
I really think it is important to answer these questions right now as we are preparing for the General election (with the concurrent arrival of the fibre optic cable).
A beehive of blogs / sites are going to be opened. A lot of information (true/false) is going to be posted on the net, and a lot of toes will be stepped upon.
I open the debate