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Protest against internet censorship in Poland grows

29.01.2010 10:02

Around 80,000 have signed a letter to President Lech Kaczynski, asking him to veto a bill which would restrict internet freedoms in Poland.

Head of the Presidential Chancellery, Władysław Stasiak, will meet on Friday with leaders of the movement opposing the bill on internet censorship.

The protesters include academics, NGOs, businesspeople, bloggers and journalists.

The bill, drawn up last November, stipulates that all Internet providers would be obliged to block websites with dangerous content. The 'black list' of sites would be managed by the Office of Electronic Communications, the police, intelligence agencies and the Finance Ministry.

"Government filtering the Internet can be compared to gagging citizens even before they start to speak. It's something that even George Orwell could not predict in his famous novel, '1984'," says the protest letter to the President.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose cabinet came up with the controversial bill, said he wants to talk with the protesters next week. (jn/pg)

Related stories:

Protests against internet censorship bill , thenews.pl 25.01.2010

'No' to internet censorship bill , thenews.pl 23.01.2010

Comments: 22 Add new comment

Maciej Skiba

29/01/2010 15:47:00

I have a feeling Kaczynski is going to veto this law to score some political points. Not that I'm complaining, this law is a bad idea.

Polka

29/01/2010 16:38:55

This is so called "free Poland"...with limited "free speech" and...internet censorship...

Stan

29/01/2010 19:16:35

Considering how much Poland has suffered for centuries in the pursuit of freedom, I'm shocked that such a bill has even been considered!

Malcolm

29/01/2010 19:59:45

The internet is a form of public communication. All other forms of public communication are controlled (eg Libel laws, TV ratings).
Why not the internet?

Maciej Skiba

29/01/2010 20:14:08

Malcolm, defamation and libel laws already pertain to the internet. Plus these laws have checks and balances, such as judicial proceedings. Seeing as the decision will belong to the Office of Electronic Communications, the police, intelligence agencies and the Finance Ministry it will circumvent due process.

Malcolm

29/01/2010 21:17:11

Thanks Maciej,
But these laws would only pertain to Polish and EU websites.
These laws are very easily circumvented by moving 'off-shore.' Surely the government has a responsibility to ensure that all public communications coming into a country meet its rules and regulations...
There are two sides to this argument.
If the laws that pertained to the internet were already effective in Poland, then why is Piracy still rife?

Maciej Skiba

29/01/2010 21:34:23

Malcolm my understand is thats not how the censorship would work. All websites that the government deems unfit to be displayed would be blocked regardless if their based in the Poland, EU or 'off-shore'. That's exactly how they do it in China. There is ways to circumvent this, but not you're average computer user would know how to do. It would only be for the tech savy. There is certain rules and regulations the government has to ensure as long as its done through due process (such as judicial review), not some guy sitting in a secret room making the decisions (who knows for what reason). Truth is these laws do more harm then good. The potential for abuse outweighs any so called benefits these laws are supposed to create. As far as piracy, there is not one country in this world that can completely stamp it out, unless it intrudes on the privacy of every single person, you don't want that do you?

Malcolm

29/01/2010 22:06:12

So, what you are saying is that there should be some laws limiting what can be 'broadcast' on the internet, but not this particular one.
I don't really know too much about the proposed legislation, so my opinion should be taken lightly.
I guess it's very difficult to make good legislation where the line between what is private and what is public is so grey.

Maciej Skiba

29/01/2010 22:21:10

What I'm saying is, more important than what the law is for, is does it have any checks and balances that insures due process to its citizens. Some agency meeting in secret to decide what websites to block doesn't instill confidence and peace of mind in me.

Yes there could be some laws, we already have defamation and libel laws that pertain to the internet also. I don't see the necessity of this particular law. Especially in the way its written that circumvents the judicial system.

But your right its difficult to make legislation where the line between public/private is grey.

Jasiek

30/01/2010 02:48:29

Concretely, the issue is solely about internet gambling. The gambling industry must be lobbying and agitating background this time. Prohibition of private gambling, drag dealing and child pornography, whether or not on the internet, is unavoidable. These have by themselves have nothing to do with political offence. Freedom should be restricted to a certain extent for public welfare, and not for concession hunters, or the rulers, like Big Brother in George Orwell’s 1984. Democracy is not only about right but also obligation.

It is insane that only 80,000 people plus a President out of the 38 million could ditch the new legislation against internet hoodlumism. This confusion is exclusively attributable to the presidential-parliamentary system, which Poland has maintains ever since 1989. This defect is characteristic to the system where the head of state, as well as the government, reserves the right of discretion – veto in Poland’s case.

All in all, presidential-parliamentary system supports radicalism – radical freedom this time – by noisy minorities and consequently causes social disorder quite often.

Technically speaking, making its regulating guideline is easier than you may think. Just refer to the countries among the developed economies where their guidelines of the sort relatively work well, and you will know how to make your own. Don't look at the United States. Plus, the judiciary is for judging each case. Nothing is everlastingly effective. Should you find the curent guideline and its legal background outdated, just change the legislation - quite simple.

On the contrary, Big Brother in 1984 had, as the dictator, a large discretion to change every single guideline without any parliamentary process. You should know in the first place that this is not about today's Poland at all.

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