A-Infos (en) Aotearoa/New Zealand: Students cry foul over Infoshop.org censorship

> From Aotearoa/New Zealand after students cry no fair over censorship of infoshop.
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050512045146756
Mallard should send censorship software to the dogbox
Nandor Tanczos MP, Green Party IT & Youth Issues Spokesperson
18th May 2005
Education Minister Trevor Mallard should withdraw approval of software that
a North Shore high school pulled from its computers today following student
protests, says Nandor Tanczos, the Greens’ IT and Youth Issues Spokesperson.
Takapuna Grammar announced today it will abandon ‘Watchdog’ after students
from Auckland group Radical Youth lobbied for its removal. The software,
which was approved by Mr Mallard last year, blocks websites using a list
of terms set in the US by a right-wing “Christian-principled” corporation.
The ban list includes sites containing independent news, discussions of
anarchist political theory and satire of evangelical groups. The school
will move to ‘Surfcontrol’, which is also Ministry-approved, but allows
schools themselves to set what material is banned.

“Our schools have a right and duty to control their students’ on-premises
net surfing, but our teachers should be the ones deciding what can and
cannot be seen here, not a programmer working in the paranoid atmosphere
currently prevailing in the US,” said Nandor.

“Most New Zealanders would object to having Brian Tamaki telling them
what their children can see online.

“This move by Takapuna Grammar is a vote of no confidence in Watchdog.
Mr Mallard should withdraw the Ministry’s endorsement of the product
immediately and provide any assistance needed to affected schools for
transition to a new service.

“Maximum respect to Radical Youth for their awesome effort at highlighting
this issue. Young people throughout New Zealand should let their schools
know that US censorship has no place in New Zealand. This demonstrates the
ability of young people to organise and be heard.

“I also want to congratulate Takapuna Grammar for listening and responding
to the serious concerns of their students,” said Nandor.

http://www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/PR8678.html

    From:    chuck-A-mutualaid.org

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