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My theory regarding DHS and how they will go after "Disinformation"
Free Republic ^ | Oct 31 | RandFan

Posted on 10/31/2022 6:35:54 PM PDT by RandFan

RE: TRUTH COPS: Leaked Documents Outline DHS’s Plans to Police Disinformation

I reckon they're trying to set up a system where they can go after the domain names of websites.

So for example they could seize "FreeRepublic.com" or "Infowars.com" (as an example).

DOJ already do this in criminal and some civil matters I believe (like copyright infringements) and I reckon they want to expand this more widely.

It's a nightmare scenario for owners of these domains and websites because it will knock you off-line.

I've thought about it and think this is the only way to truly take someone down because with hosting providers you can always find another one or move overseas etc. but if they seize the domain name you're pretty much done.

Insights welcome.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: anotherstupidvanity; elonmusk; musk; truthsocial; twitter; vanity
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To: RandFan
Commercial communication companies like Google, Verizon and Comcast actually state in their "terms of use" type policies that certain forms of speech are prohibited. For example, Verizon's Acceptable Use Policy states in part,

1. General Policy: Verizon reserves the sole discretion to deny or restrict your Service, or immediately to suspend or terminate your Service, if the use of your Service by you or anyone using it, in our sole discretion, ...is objectionable...or violates the terms of this Acceptable Use Policy (“AUP”). Is so broad and subjectively defined that it can cover all sorts of otherwise protected speech. It used to say, "Verizon reserves the right to deny Service to you, or immediately to terminate your Service for material breach, if your use... promotes or incites bigotry, hatred or racism; (c) might be legally actionable for any reason, (d) is objectionable for any reason...

And Comporium Communications, like the rest, has a SERVICE AGREEMENT in which it states, Objectionable content. Using our services to post, transmit or disseminate any content that is, in our opinion, abusive, libelous, slanderous, defamatory, incites hatred or is otherwise offensive or objectionable.

Likewise, Comcast Cloud Solutions Terms of Service (for businesses) states, in part,

BY USING THE CLOUD SOLUTIONS MARKETPLACE YOU AGREE NOT TO post, upload, or distribute any User Submission (as defined in Section 8 below) or other content that is defamatory....inaccurate... or that a reasonable person could deem to be objectionable, offensive,...threatening, embarrassing, distressing, vulgar, hateful, racially or ethnically offensive, or otherwise inappropriate.

And as usual with these terms of service consents, this contains some ambiguous language( that would allow broad censorship (cf. content that is offensive or objectionable) which can be interpreted to place FR in violation, and you/us as users, now or in the future.

And note Cloudflare's policy which is, as stated vby CEO Matthew Prince, "One of the greatest strengths of the United States is a belief that speech, particularly political speech, is sacred. A website, of course, is nothing but speech ... A website is speech. It is not a bomb. There is no imminent danger it creates and no provider has an affirmative obligation to monitor and make determinations about the theoretically harmful nature of speech a site may contain."

For all customers Cloudflare offers an "I'm Under Attack Mode" setting. Cloudflare claims this can mitigate advanced Layer 7 attacks by presenting a JavaScript computational challenge which must be completed by a user's browser before the user can access a website - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloudflare

But who dropped the American neo-Nazi website "The Daily Stormer" as a customer. Which I would do also, but as said, if a host can deny such based on its content being objectionable, it can deny conservative content on the same basis (unless perhaps the one denied wanted to promote the homosexual agenda or reverse racism.). This issue led to this opinion piece in the NYT no less, The Terrifying Power of Internet Censors :

Generally speaking, there are two kinds of corporate players on the internet: companies that build infrastructure through which content flows, and companies that seek to curate content and create a community.

Internet service providers like Verizon and Comcast, domain name servers, web hosts and security services providers like Cloudflare are all the former — or the “pipe.” They typically don’t look at the content their clients and customers are putting up, they just give them the means to do it and let it flow.

Social media platforms like Facebook are the latter. They encourage their users to create, share and engage with content — so they look at content all the time and decide whether they want to allow hateful material like that of neo-Nazis to stay up.

One of the additional difficulties with Cloudflare is that it is not so much a piece of pipe as it is a service. Specifically, it is a paid-for-protection service. Having to hire Cloudflare to protect your website is like having to hire security to protect you from attackers when you speak in the public square.

Matthew Prince, Cloudflare’s chief executive, acknowledged how much power his company has, and what’s at stake. “The internet is a really important resource for everyone,” he said in an interview with TechCrunch, “but there’s a very limited set of companies that control it and there’s such little accountability to us that it really is quite a dangerous thing.” - https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/13/opinion/cloudflare-daily-stormer-charlottesville.html


21 posted on 10/31/2022 7:21:52 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Turn to the Lord Jesus as a damned+destitute sinner, trust Him who saves, be baptized + follow Him!)
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To: Dr. Sivana
Not completely. You could still use IP numbers.

Correct. Their first action would be to remove the DNS record. As long as there is connectivity and the server is running we would be okay. They probably have no problem confiscating hardware given one of their illegal warrants. You know, it’s only the 1st Amendment and that doesn’t mean anything to judges appointed by Democrats.

22 posted on 10/31/2022 7:22:09 PM PDT by ConservativeInPA ( Scratch a leftist and you'll find a fascist )
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To: SuperLuminal

We would all chip into a legal fund so FR prob. not the best target to start with.

I was thinking they will go after someone really unpopular to get the masses cheering.


23 posted on 10/31/2022 7:23:51 PM PDT by RandFan (For some reason I'm interested in politics, particularly the U.S. Senate)
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To: daniel1212

Really interesting post on the expanded AUPs.

It’s all set up for 95% of the internet then.

Could be a problem.


24 posted on 10/31/2022 7:29:38 PM PDT by RandFan (For some reason I'm interested in politics, particularly the U.S. Senate)
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To: Hostage

I have a digital 2m rig that I can connect to digital repeaters all over the world. While they act like VOIP telephones, if you get on the repeater everyone can hear your conversation.


25 posted on 10/31/2022 7:36:15 PM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: ConservativeInPA
They probably have no problem confiscating hardware given one of their illegal warrants.

Having a server located in Tuvalu, Sealand or Ecuador might help.
26 posted on 10/31/2022 7:39:50 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (What was 35% of the Rep. Party is now 85%. And it’s too late to turn back—Mac Stipanovich )
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To: RandFan

It’s more likely they’ll charge the site for mis-info with some bogus new law congress passes and then fine a site thousands of dollars per day or per violation. Levying fines and penalties is what this govt does best.


27 posted on 10/31/2022 7:43:42 PM PDT by Bullish (Rot'sa Ruck America. )
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To: gswilder

This will not end well. Fixing to hit a wall. Watch out for dead naked bodies falling out of the sky. Kinda joking, kinda not.


28 posted on 10/31/2022 7:53:01 PM PDT by waterhill (Resist)
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To: RandFan

Bookmark


29 posted on 10/31/2022 7:58:26 PM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog. )
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To: Organic Panic

To be ‘Disappeared’-—


30 posted on 10/31/2022 8:18:41 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (We Are JONAH)
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