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SmartFilter Stupidity - School Sites as SEX
posted by md on Wednesday September 18, @09:50AM
from the dept.
Censorship Seth Finkelstein writes "To complement today's preliminary release by EFF and OPG of research showing (gasp!) Internet Filtering Software Wrongly Blocks Many Sites (note mentioned earlier), I've brought some specific ridiculous censorware examples to the party. Here's a list:
SmartFilter stupidity - school sites as SEX

The twist here is that these aren't websites useful in school, but are schools or school-related themselves. And they are all blacklisted as "Sex"."

Zenon Panoussis Ruling Stands | Computers as Criminal Tools  >

 

 
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  • Seth Finkelstein
  • EFF
  • OPG
  • Internet Filtering Software Wrongly Blocks Many Sites
  • mentioned earlier
  • SmartFilter stupidity - school sites as SEX
  • More on Censorship
  • Also by md
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    SmartFilter Stupidity - School Sites as SEX | Login/Create an Account | Top | 5 comments | Search Discussion
    Threshold:
    The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
    bad precedents dept. (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 19, @12:19AM (#310)
    Ive been charged with 'threat to kill' on a BBS,the police say,"anyone can download." Also with using a device to menace,the net presumably.My laptop was seized last june 1 and the trial date was just set for mar 3 03. Discovery has revealed no direct evidence for the alleged 'threat.' More detail available from... profrv@[nospam]fuckmicrosoft.com
    Obviously (Score:1)
    by jma on Thursday September 19, @01:11AM (#311)
    User #464 Info

    The filtering software was made in haste, and a simple web robot -- with overly simplistic rules -- was used to create the blocked site database.

    But as long as the filter software buyers do not care of filtering quality or accuracy, there's nothing much to be done about it.

    I think Finkelstein should start educating filter software buyers instead of flaming the software developers -- they're not going to develop anything better unless their customers demand it. Whining will not draw enough attention to the matter.

    Re:Obviously (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 19, @10:09AM (#314)
    Seth has done more singlehandedly to stop this absurd myth that filtering can be effective than anyone else in the world, and at no little peril to himself. Please do NOT characterize his efforts as "whining."
    He has done that too (Score:1)
    by jma on Friday September 20, @12:48AM (#318)
    User #464 Info

    But amid fighting the issue he's been whining and boasting of his efforts. He sounds as professional as Steve Gibson [grc.com].

    I'm sorry if I cannot bring myself to appreciate the person even if the work he has done is valuable. He's been drawing attention to himself and blaming software companies because they do not listen to his opinion. And I'm just wondering, why doesn't anyone else stand up with him? Probably because he's not the kind of a fellow people want to be associated with.

    This is my opinion. You don't have to agree with it.

    Re:He has done that too (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 21, @10:07AM (#319)
    Well, I don't agree. I've corresponded with him a bit, and find him likeable, reasonable, and with an opinion about many things worth listening to. For example, his postings on Cyberia (Heh heh.... "The Wisdom of Judge....") regarding the DMCA have outshined many of the subscribing lawyers' efforts to boil down the issues and especially the policies and hidden agendas involved... But enough said. We can disagree without carrying on about it... Cheers, JMA... And come visit Daily Rotation [dailyrotation.com]

    Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition. - Isaac Asimov

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