I’m a little bit late to post this, but if you haven’t heard, FileSonic (a leading file storage and sharing site) removed file sharing ability for every single file hosted by its users. Only the owners of each file can access their data after logging it. .This effectively broke millions of download links throughout the internet. So what caused this change?
The people running the site did not admit, why but it is very clear: The MegaUpload raid/ legal action. The FileSonic admins shit their pants and were like “What do we do – we don’t want to get arrested,fined$10 million and put in jail for 5 years. Oh, let’s just not let anyone share files anymore and make it a storage only service for individual users.”
This is what I am calling indirect censorship. The establishment is inciting fear by making examples of other sites with harsh punishment, lawsuits and jail time. This effectivelytricklesdown and scares other startups and people running similar sites. Ultimately, big business and lobbyists win. This is exactly what they are trying to do. It’s only a matter of time before other services like this will be voluntarily shut down by site owners who do not want to get into any trouble.
The same way MegaUpload was shut down, what about Amazon Cloud (cloudfront and s3)? Thousands of startups rely on these services to inexpensively host user uploaded content. Suppose the users upload pirated material? Does that mean we seize the website of the startup? Does that mean we
You don’t need legislation like SOPA and PIPA to hinder creativity. The US already has that ability. Tech startups are booming again. It will not last forever, since economies and industries all boom and bust. History WILL repeat itself and there WILL be another dot com bust – I don’t know when. No one wants to admit that, because things are looking great right now. With all this censorship and the fact that the government can just shut down any site for any nonsensical reason – mark my words “the internet as we know it now will be destroyed.”
Edit: Like 8 more sites shut down: http://torrentfreak.com/cyberlocker-ecosystem-shocked-as-big-players-take-drastic-action-120123/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Torrentfreak+%28Torrentfreak%29&utm_content=Google+ReaderSee!
Side note: Hey look. A blog post that intelligently discusses an issue and isn’t vulgar smut… I’m trying to tone it down a notch. I’ve been a little too aggressive. Batstool was rubbing off on me.
Politics
Indirect Censorship: FileSonic Removes Sharing – Creativity Doomed
January 23, 2012
Computer/ Tech Related, Rants
No Comments
Portfolioso
I’m a little bit late to post this, but if you haven’t heard, FileSonic (a leading file storage and sharing site) removed file sharing ability for every single file hosted by its users. Only the owners of each file can access their data after logging it. .This effectively broke millions of download links throughout the internet. So what caused this change?
The people running the site did not admit, why but it is very clear: The MegaUpload raid/ legal action. The FileSonic admins shit their pants and were like “What do we do – we don’t want to get arrested,fined$10 million and put in jail for 5 years. Oh, let’s just not let anyone share files anymore and make it a storage only service for individual users.”
This is what I am calling indirect censorship. The establishment is inciting fear by making examples of other sites with harsh punishment, lawsuits and jail time. This effectivelytricklesdown and scares other startups and people running similar sites. Ultimately, big business and lobbyists win. This is exactly what they are trying to do. It’s only a matter of time before other services like this will be voluntarily shut down by site owners who do not want to get into any trouble.
The same way MegaUpload was shut down, what about Amazon Cloud (cloudfront and s3)? Thousands of startups rely on these services to inexpensively host user uploaded content. Suppose the users upload pirated material? Does that mean we seize the website of the startup? Does that mean we
You don’t need legislation like SOPA and PIPA to hinder creativity. The US already has that ability. Tech startups are booming again. It will not last forever, since economies and industries all boom and bust. History WILL repeat itself and there WILL be another dot com bust – I don’t know when. No one wants to admit that, because things are looking great right now. With all this censorship and the fact that the government can just shut down any site for any nonsensical reason – mark my words “the internet as we know it now will be destroyed.”
Edit: Like 8 more sites shut down: http://torrentfreak.com/cyberlocker-ecosystem-shocked-as-big-players-take-drastic-action-120123/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Torrentfreak+%28Torrentfreak%29&utm_content=Google+ReaderSee!
Side note: Hey look. A blog post that intelligently discusses an issue and isn’t vulgar smut… I’m trying to tone it down a notch. I’ve been a little too aggressive. Batstool was rubbing off on me.
Politics