Europe Is Going to the Dogs. Are We That Far Behind?

The idea of censoring the Internet, the last bastion of freedom in our over-controlled world, looks more and more attractive to governments everywhere. Here is what the European Union is hoping to do to the freedom Europeans now have of using the Internet:

The Presidency of the LEWP [Law Enforcement Working Party] presented its intention to propose concrete measures towards creating a single secure European cyberspace with a certain "virtual Schengen border" and "virtual access points" whereby the Internet Service Providers (ISP) would block illicit contents on the basis of the EU "black-list".

Of course, we will be told that the black-list will only be used to prevent pedophiles and other criminals from posting their stuff online, which is patently false. Driving human traffickers and pedophiles underground will make it harder to apprehend them. So if this proposed Internet censorship has nothing to do with catching criminals, why introduce it? The answer is obvious:

 In 20 years the government-corporate nexus of power will be able to control nearly completely what that average person experiences in the media again.

Unless we start opposing these and similar measures today, our Internet will be stolen from us. The space where we all can say whatever we want, argue, discuss, find information, organize and plan for political activism can very easily be transformed into a place that offers nothing but political propaganda by those in power and inane advertisement. Look at television. Do you really go there for news and opinion? Or do you rely on the Internet where a multitude of voices is far more likely to tell you how things really stand and offer original thoughts and opinions instead of boring, chewed-over party line?

No matter where you live, when you hear about such measures being proposed, protest, organize, do anything you can to stop it. Don't buy the stupid propaganda about how good, benevolent, paternalistic governments need to protect silly little you from scary pornographers, pirates, and identity thieves. Pornographers, pedophiles and thieves have existed forever. Unfortunately, they will find ways to keep existing after the Internet is castrated. The free Internet has existed for a very short time and needs our protection.