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The internet should be censored for security
(13-09-07) - Internet service providers should block searches for bomb-making instructions, according to the EU’s top security official.
Franco Frattini, EU Justice and Security Commissioner, this week told Reuters (see useful links) that freedom of information should come second to security and that sites that could help terrorists in bomb-making and other security issues should be blocked across the EU.
He told Reuters: “I intend to carry out a clear exploring exercise with the private sector on how it is possible to use technology to prevent people from using or searching dangerous words like ‘bomb’, ‘kill’, ‘genocide’ or ‘terrorism’.
“Instructing people how to make a bomb has nothing to do with freedom of expression, or the freedom of informing people. The right balance is to give priority to the protection of absolute rights and, first of all, the right to life.”
The proposal will go before the EU in November one of his counter terrorism strategies, which include the screening of passengers flying into the EU and an early warning system to alert police to thefts of explosives.
However, he added that while actual instructions that could be useful to terrorists would be blocked, historical, academic or opinion and analysis would not.
Chris Eagle, BroadbandChoices.co.uk commercial manager, said: “Everyday users don’t need to worry about this proposal as it won’t have any affect on their use of the internet, and I very much doubt that it signals the end of freedom of information on the internet.”
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