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Is 4chan the perfect Pirate Bay poster child to justify wider UK site-blocking?

(torrentfreak.com)
361 points gloxkiqcza | 1 comments | 24 Aug 25 16:30 UTC | HN request time: 0.222s | source
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klipklop ◴[25 Aug 25 05:14 UTC] No.45010448[source]▶
The game Alpha Centauri had the most hard hitting quote that I think applies now.

"As the Americans learned so painfully in Earth's final century, free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny...Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master. Commissioner Pravin Lal, 'U.N. Declaration of Rights' "

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amelius ◴[25 Aug 25 08:38 UTC] No.45011646[source]▶
> As the Americans learned so painfully in Earth's final century, free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny.

This had until recently been only tested for top-down information. Nowadays, everyone can be a broadcaster and we're seeing quite different results.

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api ◴[25 Aug 25 09:39 UTC] No.45012021[source]▶
I feel like totalitarians are learning to hack and exploit the free flow of information using sophisticated propaganda techniques.

Doesn’t mean a locked down system is better though. With that they don’t have to bother.

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AnthonyMouse ◴[25 Aug 25 11:11 UTC] No.45012575[source]▶
Those are two independent problems. If you have a centralized system, you're screwed, because they just capture it. If you have a decentralized system vulnerable to propaganda techniques then they do that.

What you need is a decentralized system resistant to propaganda techniques.

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FabHK ◴[25 Aug 25 13:57 UTC] No.45013908[source]▶
> a decentralized system resistant to propaganda techniques

That would be nice. What's becoming increasingly clear is that the current system (optimizing for engagement) is not that.

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1. AnthonyMouse ◴[25 Aug 25 23:25 UTC] No.45020445[source]▶
The current system is centralized control. You don't get that if people pay a small pittance for hosting their own stuff the same as they currently pay for internet access or phone service, and thereby remove the man in the middle using control over the network effect to maximize revenue extraction.