WebProNews

Tag: Bans

  • Russia Bans Wikipedia Over Drug Article, Promptly Reverses Course After Edits

    Russia Bans Wikipedia Over Drug Article, Promptly Reverses Course After Edits

    Roskomnadzor, Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (basically its internet watchdog) has been in the news quite a bit lately. The regulatory body seems to be scouring the web, looking to block certain sites of content it deems harmful – which as of late has all related to drugs.

    Now, over the past couple of days, the Russian agency directed Internet Service Providers to block a certain Wikipedia page, ISPs responded by doing what they could do (which was block all of Wikipedia for a brief time), and Roskomnadzor then lifted the ban after significant editing to the specific article.

    Roskomnadzor was upset over a Wikipedia article about hashish. On Monday, it sent out a decree instructing ISPs to block access to the article. To comply with the order, ISPs were forced to block the entirety of Wikipedia because its “secure communication protocol doesn’t allow the blocking of individual articles,” according to Roskomnadzor.

    But after edits to the article of which Roskomnadzor found satisfactory, the ban was lifted.

    “Unexpectedly, confirmation has arrived from Roskomnadzor that the entry on Charas has been excluded from the register of banned sites,” Wikimedia Russia executive director Stas Kozlovsky said.

    This isn’t the first time in recent memory the Russian watchdog has blocked access to major sites over drug content.

    Roskomnadzor sent out the order to block reddit on August 12th. The government was upset over a post about the “cultivation of narcotic plants” – more specifically mushrooms. Officials said they had been trying to get in touch with reddit about removing the offending thread – but didn’t hear back. So they blocked reddit.

    But reddit soon complied with the request to block the “offending” post and Russia authorities unblocked the site. This led to the revelation that reddit will, in practice, block content in certain countries to “preserve the existence of reddit in those regions.”

  • Reddit Will Block Content in Certain Countries, Has Already Done So in Germany and Russia

    Reddit Will Block Content in Certain Countries, Has Already Done So in Germany and Russia

    Reddit has confirmed that it will locally block content if it receives a “valid request from and authorized entity.”

    The policy confirmation comes after the company blocked a specific thread about growing psychoactive mushrooms in Russia. The country’s Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media, Roskomnadzor, temporarily banned reddit earlier in the week. Blocking the specific post was required of reddit in order to get the entire site unblocked.

    Reddit also revealed that it has blocked the entire r/WatchPeopleDie subreddit in Germany.

    According to the company, it censored the specific content in Germany and Russia in order to “preserve the existence of reddit in those regions.”

    It’s clear that in reddit’s mind, having most of the site available is better than taking a stand and winding up having no reddit in some countries.

    Here’s the full statement from reddit:

    This week, Reddit received valid legal requests from Germany and Russia requesting the takedown of content that violated local law. As a result, /r/watchpeopledie was blocked from German IPs, and a post in /r/rudrugs was blocked from Russian IP’s in order to preserve the existence of reddit in those regions. We want to ensure our services are available to users everywhere, but if we receive a valid request from an authorized entity, we reserve the right to restrict content in a particular country. We will work to find ways to make this process more transparent and streamlined as Reddit continues to grow globally.

    Of course, reddit is far from the only tech company than institutes regional bans on content. Google does it. Twitter does it. Facebook does it. But that doesn’t mean reddit users are going to be happy about this. When it comes to any form of censorship – no matter the circumstance – you can expect a pretty loud pushback from at least some of the site’s population.

  • Reddit Is Now Banned in Russia

    Reddit Is Now Banned in Russia

    Well, it looks like they weren’t lying.

    After warning that it was considering it, Roskomnadzor, Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media, has sent out the order to block reddit.

    Apparently, the government is upset over a post about the “cultivation of narcotic plants.”

    Officials said they had been trying to get in touch with reddit about removing the offending thread – but didn’t hear back.

    Now, according to a tweet from Roskomnadzor, the site is banned:

    From a redditor on r/russia, here’s what they see when they attempt to access reddit via ISP Seven Sky:

    Screen Shot 2015-08-12 at 4.17.43 PM

    Here’s what Roskomnadzor’s original complaint said, via Google translate:

    At the request of Federal Drug Control Service is ready to make the registry page of the site reddit, which posted an article on the cultivation of narcotic plants. Notifications to the requirement to remove the information sent to multiple addresses resource, but no response is still not forthcoming, although earlier treatment from us in the administration treated full. We assume that during the August holidays someone is too relaxed, but this should not be a reason to venture readership. Those who have contacts with the administration – ask them to check your mail for letters from Roskomnadzor otherwise due the technical features of a number of operators may block the entire site.

    it was assumed that the Russian regulatory agency was referring to a post about pot, but Meduza reports that the thread was actually titled “Minimal and Reliable Methods for Growing Psilocybe [Mushrooms].”

  • Russia Threatens to Block Reddit over Drug Post

    Russia Threatens to Block Reddit over Drug Post

    Russia, which has a history of threatening to block access to certain sites over seemingly ridiculous reasons, is now considering a ban on reddit.

    The news comes from Roskomnadzor, Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media, which posted an update on Russian social media site VKontakte.

    Apparently, the government is upset over a post about the “cultivation of narcotic plants.”

    Officials have apparently been trying to get in touch with reddit about removing the offending thread – but have yet to hear back.

    If we’re just talking about a thread on growing pot, it’s unlikely reddit will take any action to remove it.

    Here’s the post, translated by Google:

    At the request of Federal Drug Control Service is ready to make the registry page of the site reddit, which posted an article on the cultivation of narcotic plants. Notifications to the requirement to remove the information sent to multiple addresses resource, but no response is still not forthcoming, although earlier treatment from us in the administration treated full. We assume that during the August holidays someone is too relaxed, but this should not be a reason to venture readership. Those who have contacts with the administration – ask them to check your mail for letters from Roskomnadzor otherwise due the technical features of a number of operators may block the entire site.

    Last month, a Russian senator kicked off an investigation into Facebook and its allowance of “gay emoji.”

  • White House Lifts Ban on Photos, Social Media Posts

    After 40 years of surreptitiously snapping photos of the White House during public tours, people can now do it out in the open.

    The White House has lifted its ban on taking photos during tours of the Presidential mansion. Not only that, but it’s now encouraging people to do so and to share the photos across social media using the #WhiteHouseTour hashtag.

    “Big news! Starting today, we’re lifting the ban on cameras and photos on the White House public tour. Visitors are now able to take photos and keep those memories for a lifetime!” said First Lady Michelle Obama in an Instagram post.

    So, you can now take selfies at the White House. Just don’t bring your selfie stick, however. That’s still banned. Tripods, videos cameras, and flash photography are also banned.

    Last year, the White House got pretty pissed at Samsung and Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz when the selfie he snapped with President Obama turned out to be a marketing ploy.

    Image via David Ortiz, Twitter

  • Facebook Banned in World’s Third-Smallest Country

    The Republic of Nauru sits in the central Pacific and is home to around 10,000 people. The Micronesian island is 8.1 square miles in total area, which makes it the third-smallest country in the world (behind Vatican City and Monaco).

    And it’s just banned Facebook.

    “Pornography is not consistent with our faith or our values,” said Minister for Justice David Adeang, according to The Guardian. “Nauru is a small country with limited resources, and we do not have the capability to monitor the internet like larger nations, so this move and our new laws are both significant measures. The size of our nation makes us more vulnerable.”

    Yes, you heard that right. Pornography.

    Facebook is a lot of things, but porn hub it is not. Any sort of pornographic imagery or videos is strictly prohibited on the site, and if anything Facebook is known to go over-the-top when it comes to removing content – not the other way around.

    If you post a nipple on Facebook, it’s not going to be up for long.

    Some are saying that the ban has nothing to do with pornography, but instead has everything to do with stifling governmental opposition.

    An opposition member told The Guardian that “this is all about Adeang and his cronies being worried about the ever increasing number of people who have taken to social media to criticize his dictatorial style, which even the president is either unwilling – or too scared – to rein in.”

    And Pacific Freedom Forum’s Jason Brown told Radio New Zealand that it’s just going to backfire:

    “The ban will have the opposite effect to what it is seeking to do which is stifle public debate. In fact it has got global attention, with newspapers, radio and television reporting it all over the world. Anything to do with Facebook is almost guaranteed a headline so if Nauru was trying to quieten things down, their ban has achieved quite the opposite,” he said.

    Appears he may be right.

  • Google Glass Likely Banned from UK Movie Theaters

    Google Glass has been available in the UK for less than a week, but the largest cinema group in the region is already stating that the wearable tech will not be welcome in most of their represented establishments.

    The Cinema Exhibitors Association, which represents the interests of around 90 percent of UK cinema operators, is putting the kibosh on Glass before it has a chance to take hold.

    “Customers will be requested not to wear these into cinema auditoriums, whether the film is playing or not,” CEA chief Phil Clapp told The Independent.

    The Independent also notes that individual theater chains are also planning to implement a ban on the device, which won’t be able to be worn “once the lights dim.”

    The main concern here is that Google Glass, basically being a camera you wear on your face, is perfect for those looking to record and distribute pirated copies of newly released films.

    Google’s suggestion when it comes to handling Glass in movie theaters is the same one they’ve had when it comes to Glass and any ‘electronic-free’ zone – treat Glass like a smartphone. If you’re somewhere where smartphones are frowned upon, Google Glass is likely frowned upon too.

    “We recommend any cinemas concerned about Glass to treat the device as they treat similar devices like mobile phones: simply ask wearers to turn it off before the film starts. Broadly speaking, we also think it’s best to have direct and first-hand experience with Glass before creating policies around it. The fact that Glass is worn above the eyes and the screen lights up whenever it’s activated makes it a fairly lousy device for recording things secretly,” says Google.

    Google’s “don’t knock it till you’ve tried it” defense is unlikely to sway many in the industry, who feel that Glass is a perfect vehicle for piracy.

    Glass is likely to receive similar treatment in theaters across the US. The famously strict Alamo Drafthouse, known for its focus on forcing proper moviegoing etiquette, recently banned Glass in their theaters once the lights dim.

  • Apple, Eternal Wet Blanket, Bans Popular Weed Firm App

    Eternal wet blanket Apple has removed the most popular free app in their App Store. Of course, that seems like a strange thing to do until you know what the concept of that app was, and remember exactly how Apple feels about adult content and basically anything fun.

    The app was called Weed Firm, and it let players–well–run their own weed firm.

    From the app’s description:

    Follow the story of an expelled botany sophomore Ted Growing as he inherits a growing operation and expands it. Learn to grow weed, plant new varieties to increase your yields, expand your customer base and interact with the characters to become the biggest weed dealer in town. Complete tasks to open new shelves in the store and become a more efficient and prosperous weed grower and seller. Watch out for the thugs and cops.

    I mean, it’s more of a business app than anything, right?

    Maybe, but it’s still too risqué for Apple’s sensitivities. As of today, the app is gone.

    “As you might have noticed the game is no longer available on the Apple App Store. This was entirely Apple’s decision, not ours. We guess the problem was that the game was just too good and got to number one in All Categories, since there are certainly a great number of weed based apps still available, as well as games promoting other so-called ‘illegal activities’ such as shooting people, crashing cars and throwing birds at buildings,” says the game’s developers, Manitoba Games.

    Manitoba promises fans of the game that it will return to the App Store–albeit a censored version that fits with Apple’s principles of refusing to let people make up their own minds. The app is currently out of the Google Play Store, but that’s due to a problem with the publisher. Manitoba says they never had any issues with Google during the application process.

    The list of times when Apple acted like a total fuddy duddy is endless, but just a handful of examples include the time they banned the casual hookup app Bang with Friends because people aren’t adults who can make their own decisions or anything; the time they banned a controversial app that dealt with the dark side of smartphone production because, well, obviously; the time they may or may not have reduced Twitter’s Vine app’s visibility in the App Store because there were too many videos with boobies, because the children, remember; the time they banned beautiful photo-sharing app 500px because porn; and finally, the time they held up approval of Imgur’s official app because someone could find nakie pictures if they were looking for them.

    Apple, meanwhile, may just make Dr. Dre an executive. You know, Dr Dre. of The Chronic fame.

    Anyway, back to Weed Firm:

    “If we let hypocrites determine what content is suitable for us we will soon all be watching Teletubbies instead of Breaking Bad and playing… oh I don’t know… nothing good comes to mind, without some form of ‘illegal activity’ or other really,” says Manitoba.

    True, but don’t act like it’s not fun to get blazed and watch Teletubbies.

    Image via Manitoba Games

  • Galaxy Tab 7.7 Banned From Being Sold In 27 European Countries

    The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 has been banned from being sold in Europe, following a ruling in a German court. That’s certainly not good news for Samsung, nor is it good news for Google, who is trying to gain ground in the tablet market with its Android operating system.

    Apple announced yesterday that it sold 17 million iPads last quarter.

    The ruling came as the result of an Apple win in a patent battle with Samsung. CNET shares a statement from Samsung, saying it’s “disappointed with the court’s ruling” and it “will continue…to protect our intellectual property rights and defend against Apple’s claims to ensure our products remain available to consumers throughout the European Union”.

    Slate put together this video report about the ordeal:

    The ban applies to all 27 member states of the European Union, and marks a very significant blow for the product, and for Android. Apparently the Galaxy Tab 10.1 can still be sold, as its design is different enough from the iPad to avoid such a ban. The court just didn’t feel the same way about the Galaxy Tab 7.7.

    It’s certainly a bigger blow to Samsung that it is to Google, as Android is available on plenty of other tablets, but having more choices for Android is what has gotten the operating system where it is today. Not having to rely one specific device, and being available for a multitude of feature sets and price ranges has been key for Android’s increased market share.

    Samsung touts the Galaxy Tab 7.7 as the world’s first tablet to feature “the brilliant Super AMOLED Plus display”.