Thai Government Official Admits That Internet Blacklists Don't Work

from the get-rid-of-the-blacklist dept

As the US prepares to launch its own internet blacklist, it should be noted that over in Thailand, a senior government minister, Thongchai Sangsiri, overseeing internet and computer forensic related issues is saying that Thailand’s internet blacklist has been a major failure and should be scrapped.

“The blacklists grow with many, many websites to become a burden on ISPs. Blacklisting doesn’t work.”

He later notes that putting up such a blacklist is a political move: it looks good because citizens think their government is doing something. But the reality is that it just doesn’t work and just creates more burdens.

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Comments on “Thai Government Official Admits That Internet Blacklists Don't Work”

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20 Comments
Darren (profile) says:

I see Goody Proctor

Not only do blacklists make citizens feel like the government is doing something, it also creates yet another vehicle through which finger-pointing can ensue. I understand that – according to COICA – the two blacklists would belong to the courts and the attorney general, but that wouldn’t stop scared, self-righteous do-gooders from sending tips on where sites they felt should be on the blacklists reside, a la those FACT ads from the UK a few years ago.

out_of_the_blue says:

Thailand just not comprehensive and draconian enough.

@TehZomB: you’re right up to a point, but not if enough resources are thrown at it. The US already has 850,000 quasi-gov’t spooks doing “something” along these lines, and resources to pay for more, besides having physical control of the root servers and other fundamental machinery. Even more importantly, the US has Google and its web parasites that track you everywhere, so can measure traffic to most sites and measure which are “problems” to the regime. In sum, the US *does* have the comprehensive mechanisms in place, now are beginning to use them and turn draconian.

By the way, incidentally heard *how* draconian jolly old England was only 200 years ago: death sentence by hanging for stealing 40 shillings, or roughly two or three weeks pay for a lower class laborer. Around then, England had 273 offenses one could get hanged for — and without long to wait, a matter of weeks at most. Nice to live in a period where the ruling class has been beaten back from their harsh tyranny, isn’t it?

CommonSense (profile) says:

Re: Thailand just not comprehensive and draconian enough.

“The US already has 850,000 quasi-gov’t spooks doing “something” along these lines, and resources to pay for more”
???????

Have you not heard about the US debt and deficit problems?? How on earth could you possibly make the claim that the US has ‘resources to pay for more’ of anything as wasteful as this with a straight face??

nasch (profile) says:

Re: Thailand just not comprehensive and draconian enough.

The US already has 850,000 quasi-gov’t spooks doing “something” along these lines, and resources to pay for more, besides having physical control of the root servers and other fundamental machinery. Even more importantly, the US has Google and its web parasites that track you everywhere, so can measure traffic to most sites and measure which are “problems” to the regime.

I know we’re tending toward facism, but it’s a bit much to imply that the root DNS servers, Google, and the US government are all one organization with a unified agenda.

Ed C. says:

Re: Re: Thailand just not comprehensive and draconian enough.

I think it’s more that blue fears that with all of those resources here, the government could marshal them together, by force if need be, under a unified agenda. I though it’s technically plausible, I don’t see it happening without a really big push–like the scare that lead to the PATRIOT Act.

naeem ahmad says:

please help and advice

From: naeemahmad67@hotmail.com
To: pr@nesdb.go.th
Subject: HELP AND ADVICE
Date: Sun, 29 May 2011 00:52:41 +0600

Resp. Sir,

It is stated that in your country have any OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR EXCHANGE CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL. REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT. BANK OF AYUDHYA THAILAND

Because BANK OF AYUDHYA THAILAND, send me e-mails and mobile messages about the massive prize winning.
And now told me to deposit the stamp duty of 550 great britton pounds

You are requested to please seriously investigate about the said bank, why they are torture the people and play the human beings.

I think that your good ministry help us.

Thanks
naeemahmad67@hotmail.com

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