Malaysia Stages Internet Blackout To Protest New Censorship Law 76
redletterdave writes "Malaysian netizens, opposition politicians, well-known bloggers and non-governmental organizations staged an Internet blackout Tuesday to protest and raise awareness about legislation that could threaten free expression on the Web. According to Malaysia's Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), the second of two amendments to the Malaysian Evidence Act of 1950, also known as Section 114A, 'enables law enforcement officials to swiftly hold someone accountable (PDF) for publishing seditious, defamatory, or libelous content online.' In addition, those accused of posting this kind of content will be 'assumed to be guilty until proven innocent,' which completely flies in the face of the typical logic of the traditional judicial process, which is 'innocent until proven guilty.' The CIJ warns that 'if allegedly defamatory content is traced back to your username, electronic device, and/or Wi-Fi network, Section 114A presumes you are guilty of publishing illicit content on the Internet.' The CIJ organized Tuesday's blackout, where participating sites blacked out their names and services with messages that read, 'This is what the Web could look like.'"
It's political. Period. (Score:5, Insightful)
This is nothing more than political maneouvering [nst.com.my] by the ruling government.
It's been done before, and will continue to be done. Especially because a General Election is coming up. If you read that link I posted, it was reported that the Malaysian prime minister said "Whatever we do, we must put people first,". If that were truly the case, why wasn't that position taken in the first place before the law was passed?
Basically:
1. Pass draconian law
2. Wait for public outcry
3. Repeal draconian law
4. Look like a hero
5. Profit!
Re:First country that (Score:3, Insightful)
And it will look like Pearl Harbor did in 1941 if anybody tries.
So, how widespread was this blackout anyway? Did Google and Facebook and Microsoft join in?
Re:Censorship (Score:4, Insightful)
Troll alert...
Unless you have been living in a cave for the past 100 years you're wilfully ignoring facts... The communist countries wasted most of their money on preventing free speech and free thought, as well as free movement of its people. The rest was wasted on a stupid arms race they couldn't win. That was one of the primary reasons they failed.
For some reason Islamic countries are even more afraid of free speech, as well as free expression. The middle east almost melted down just because a local newspaper in the small country of Denmark (far, far away from the middle east) published some drawings of Muhammad. It's a very poor and insecure religion that fears open discussion about its premises and prophets, and this is usually due to real issues with these. I mean it is raised above any discussion that Muhammad was a pedophile when he married a 6-year old and consumated the marriage when she (Aisha) was 9 years old, but try mentioning this to a Muslim and you just might not survive the reaction.
Islam is a very violent religion, and any insult, no matter how insignificant, results in demands for blood, beheadings and worse, which of course explains the need for strong censorship in order to prevent roits and revolutions. But the issue is not the insults (which the censorship should prevent) but the mentality and reactions, and those are guided by the clergy (Imams). So they need to re-educate the Imams instead of imposing more censorship. That would solve many problems in addition to those relating to perceived insults, and open up for freedom of speech.
Re:Censorship (Score:4, Insightful)
Turkey is an Islamic country too. They don't have this problem. The problem isn't Islam. It's the jackasses who use Islam as an excuse. That said, we see the same crap in the US on a lesser scale you know. "Blue laws"? Religious crap getting in my way at every turn as far as I'm concerned.
And you don't have to be in a Muslim country to have your free speech threatened either.
It's easy to want to blame a particular religion especially when they speak a non-English language, often have non-white faces, and wear strange clothes. I actually tend to want to do that myself. The reality, though, is much different. There are probably more versions of Islam practiced than there are versions of Christianity. It's all the same crap when you break it down... if an interpretation doesn't agree with you, change it... fork it if you will.
I'm with you in that religion is to blame for a lot of broken thought and a lot of inhumanity. But at its core is humans... doing inhuman things.
Re:Censorship (Score:5, Insightful)
Turkey is an Islamic country too. They don't have this problem. The problem isn't Islam. It's the jackasses who use Islam as an excuse.
Uh. You might want to pay a bit more attention to the world, back in 2008, when the Islamist's started rising to power [wikipedia.org] they amended a bunch of stuff restricting free speech, and a bunch of other things. Hey guess what, you remember Egypt? Wanna guess what's happening there, or do I need to spell it out for you as the Islamists are rising to power there. Goodbye freedoms.
You can believe what you want, but the last time I looked. If someone took a glass filled it with piss and dumped a cruifix in it(let's not forget that it's already been an art exhibit too). You'll get some disgusted looks here in the west, and you'll probably get some people protesting you. Now you try that with a Koran, I'll bet you'll get your first death threat inside of 10minutes, and have your first riot inside an hour. And of course, you'll probably need to go into hiding. That's much more serious than say, oh ... drawing a cartoon.
Re:Censorship (Score:3, Insightful)
Religion is violent. Sexuality in a religious context is invariably screwed up and is invariably about women... controlling, limiting, branding and especially blaming.
Get over it. To me, one religion is pretty much as stupid as another. But be thankful too. We have a lot to thank religion for in our human societies.
1. ...
Okay I may have to post more on that later.. I can't think of any at the moment.
Re:Censorship (Score:4, Insightful)
All countries where the psychopaths in charge hide behind religion or enforced credo, hate free speech and persecute those that attempt it. This also extends to monarchical systems. Pointing out one religion over another is disingenuous and racist, well history has made it clear, as soon as politicians claim to the the interpreters of the 'national' religion abuse becomes rampant and in direct contradiction to the principles of the religion. Especially when then abuse takes on a core of sadistic sexual exploitation not only by those at the top but also by their core enforcers.
Christianity is only a less violent religion because it was forced to be one due to rebellion from within and breakdown of the religion into multiple sub-sects to break up the power of those exploiting the religion for their own purposes.
A prime example of current abuse of religion is by Paul Ryan who for years exposed the atheistic beliefs of Ayn Rand and objectivism which denigrates all Christian principles. Paul Ryan did this while claiming to be a devout Catholic a direct and blatant contradiction but one that does adhere to the principles of objectivism ie. it is acceptable to lie for personal advantage and whilst all religions are nonsense and for the weak and parasites, it is sound and acceptable to pretend to adhere to a religion if one gains personal advantage by doing so.
It is not the religion and never has been, it is it's pretend adherents who abuse religion for their own political, greed and lust based advantage basically the credo of Ayn Rand and Objectivism.