VM and other UK ISP's start censoring the web !

[nozzer]

Its come to light that VM and other UK ISP's have started to censor our access to the Web. It seems that this is a measure to prevent child pornography (a worthy cause) but its having other effects.

One of the sites to have pages censored is Wiki. Here VM and the others (at a request from the Internet Watch Foundation) force all requests for web pages from WikiPedia through a transparent cache and filter out content that is considered unsuitable. One of the particular pages removed is actually a record cover (in bad taste perhaps but still legal in the UK)

A side effect of being forced through this cache is that everyone from VM has the same IP address. Because of having potentially millions of customers visit through a single address Wiki have removed editing rights from that address, meaning VM customers can no longer edit Wiki articles without logging in through the secure SSl server.

More info -

British ISPs restrict access to Wikipedia amid child pornography allegations - Wikinews, the free news source

 

[edcase]

It was only a matter of time, but I think this is the start of a slippery slope. I read an article a while back in which a guy from virgin was quoted as saying "net neutrality is a load of bollocks".
I guess their long term goal is to make the internet exactly like a pay TV service with heavily filtered content and site subscriptions. They would be able to demand a premium for advertising space too so its a win win situation for them, and a lose lose lose lose situation for freedom of choice and the internet in general.

 

[Dazza]

Something has been worrying me lately re VM. (My ISP is VM btw obviously)

I've got a dedicated spam A/C set with VM, which I just use for, well, spam, and as it's a VM it doesn't get so much hassle as Hotmail/Yahoo seem to on some sites.

Anyway, I've noticed for sometime now that my spam is often reflecting what I've been up to on the 'net... Recently I printed off that free Santa letter for the little'un that was on here. And a week or so later, I'm getting spam offering free Santa letters... Same applies with Digi TV offers... I've noticed it few times now, and it happens with whatever I happen to be surfing on, not stuff I sign up for just to get a freebie...

It's making me think I must say...

 

[pks00]

Something has been worrying me lately re VM. (My ISP is VM btw obviously)

I've got a dedicated spam A/C set with VM, which I just use for, well, spam, and as it's a VM it doesn't get so much hassle as Hotmail/Yahoo seem to on some sites.

Anyway, I've noticed for sometime now that my spam is often reflecting what I've been up to on the 'net... Recently I printed off that free Santa letter for the little'un that was on here. And a week or so later, I'm getting spam offering free Santa letters... Same applies with Digi TV offers... I've noticed it few times now, and it happens with whatever I happen to be surfing on, not stuff I sign up for just to get a freebie...

It's making me think I must say...

Not good, I had better stop surfing porn else Im gonna get those offers!

I think ISP's have started to monitor more what we do, possibly due to illegal downloading. But sounds like VM may be selling your surf habits. But it might be worth checking for some spyware, it could be that. I wouldnt expect VM to do that.

You ever use gmail and notice google ads? It is based on the email content you are viewing.
Oh dear

 

[karym6]

This was all over channel four news as well this evening.

 

[stevemac40]

TBH I think a certain amount of censoring should be encouraged, though it needs to be for the right reasons. I've no problem with them censoring indecent images of children (i've not seen the image in question but if it was an album cover then I suspect they've probably overstepped the mark on this occassion).

 

[english]

anyone notice a similar thing on xbox live? odd things u been searching turn up in xbox live user names in a game?

just because ur paranoid doesnt mean ur not being watched

i wonder if they are tying it to ip address's?

hmm. time for toast.

 

[karym6]

anyone notice a similar thing on xbox live? odd things u been searching turn up in xbox live user names in a game?

just because ur paranoid doesnt mean ur not being watched

i wonder if they are tying it to ip address's?

hmm. time for toast.

MS have been doing that for over a year now. There was quite a popular story about a user with the nick "gaygamer" or something. MS banned his account as it breached their T&C's.