------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- From: rich@pencil.math.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel) Subject: Potential Impact of Net Content-Blocking Software Date: 18 Dec 1997 18:56:19 GMT Organization: PACH
/** labr.global: 266.0 **/ ** Topic: Potential Impact of Blocking/Content Selection Software ** ** Written 8:55 AM Dec 17, 1997 by parikhj@hrw.org in cdp:labr.global ** Dear Friends, Some of might have noticed development shaping content selection on the Web. World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) which has more than 300 members (most representing commercial interest) has come up with what is known as Platform for Internet Conent Selection (PICS) Rules.
Most of these developments will enable server manager (read regulator, censoring authorities monitoring proxy servers) to block and impose criterias on what type of information can flow through their pipelines.
These rules are much more than any censorware/blocking software has offered so far. Application of these rules will make rating of web site content more or less compulsory / mandatory. In other words all those web pages without rating / labelling will NOT be visible / accessible.
If they are applied worldwide we may see adverse impact on visibility of material which may not be popular among regulators.
Those who want to more about this please read following submission made by Global Interent Liberty Campaign - (GILC) to W3C.
http://www.gilc.org/speech/ratings/gilc-pics-submission.html
In Solidarity, Jagdish Parikh, Human Rights Watch
** End of text from cdp:labr.global **
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