National

Protests against internet censorship bill

25.01.2010 15:30

Freedom of speech activists in Poland have launched a website to protest against a government plan to control content on the internet.

The web site is called “podziekujpremierowi.pl" (thankprimeminister) and it enables everyone to “thank” PM Donald Tusk for a government draft bill on gambling, which, say critics, introduce more censorship to internet.

The new gambling bill, drafted after the so-called Black Jack scandal, gives government officials the right to include internet sites into a forbidden web sites register.

On Saturday, Polish Pirate Party staged a protest against the draft bill.

The government assures that the new law will not introduce censorship on internet. (mg)

Related story

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

Comments: 11 Add new comment

Jasiek

25/01/2010 15:43:40

As long as it is just about banning internet gambling, this is not the issue of freedom of speech. Practically, freedom is not laissez-faire.

peter pan

25/01/2010 16:17:49

First phone tapping on demand and now internet censorship. Poland is really democratic and free.

janek

25/01/2010 17:22:53

Hmmm... Tusk want to buy everyone free Cenzor...By żyło się lepiej

Anon

25/01/2010 22:07:36

@Jasiek

Remember Australia? It also started with the "forbidden websites register".

Albert

26/01/2010 00:23:58

EU turning into USSR....

Jozek

26/01/2010 01:07:42

"Gambling on the internet is wrong" says the government,
Only when the government provides the gambling is it moral and proper.
Thank God for them politicians. I don't know how I would live my life without them (much better I'm sure).

Jasiek

26/01/2010 02:02:50

Anon, a government is not composed only of the administration and legislation but also of the judiciary. If you are running a certain website and dissatisfied with the administration’s decision over it, you may bring an individual lawsuit against the administration. The Court will judge whether your demand is legitimate. I do not oppose the right to take a legal action in such a case.

In my opinion, however, all private-run gambling activities must be banned. You should only allow public-run gambles such as horse-racing and lottery. Private-run gambling is nothing but what has a harmful influence to the society. It is the most important for the society to how to stabilise the industrial and public finances. In fact, private-run gambling is an obstacle to them everywhere in the world and, to make the matter worse, often a useful tool for money-cleansing activities.

Steve

26/01/2010 08:09:20

Does that mean that government TV gambling is OK, but TVN is not. Surely they are the same. While the government has its TV programmes continuously running gambling "competitions" the whole thing is hypocrisy.

Glos ludu

26/01/2010 09:36:13

Do not steal, our government does not like competition. For some reason I thought about that phrase straight away.

Jasiek

27/01/2010 03:22:59

"Does that mean that government TV gambling is OK, but TVN is not. Surely they are the same."

Steve, nonprofit business is clearly different from profit-making enterprise in purpose. The purpose of the former, when it comes to gambling, is to enhance the public finance.

Published comments are the opinions of private individuals and do not reflect the views of Polskie Radio S.A. With regards to this, Polskie Radio S.A. does not accept any liability for any content published. Any comments containing vulgar language will be deleted in accordance with Polish law.

News from Poland

National

Protests against internet censorship bill

MOST POPULAR