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Mirrored from
GLOBAL INTERNET LIBERTY CAMPAIGN |
GILC Alert
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Swiss Internet censorship plans lurch forward
Recent events have generated public concern over the future of online free speech in Switzerland.
Nearly three months ago, a local Swiss magistrate, Francoise Dessaux, ordered many Swiss Internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to various websites and to modify domain name system servers so that "the name of the domain swiss-corruption.com points to an empty page."
A number of groups, ranging from cyberlibertarians to industry leaders, immediately questioned the validity of this measure. The Swiss Internet User Group (SIUG-a GILC member) and the Swiss Network operators Group (Swinog) issued a joint press release arguing that the magistrate's order violated Swiss law, notably article 16 of the Swiss constitution, which guarantees to every person "the right to receive information freely, to gather it from generally accessible sources, and to disseminate it." SIUG and Swinog also pointed that the blocking measures (such as those envisioned under the order) could be easily bypassed, as a technical matter.
Subsequently, most Swiss providers at first refused to comply with the judge's request, but backed down for fear for further legal action. However, Guido Honegger of Swiss ISP green continued to hold out against Dessaux's command, and is now facing protracted litigation because of disobedience. Other ISPs like Init Seven AG are redirecting users who try to visit the banned sites to protest pages. In addition, the sites that were supposed to be blocked are still online, this time with new web addresses-a move that is being seen as evidence as to the futility of Dessaux's efforts.
Meanwhile, the Swiss federal office of justice has issued a proposal that may curb the ability of people to see and hear what they want online. The plan would revise Swiss laws (that originally targeted lotteries and betting) so that Internet service providers would be required to prevent their users from access to certain enumerated games. Violators could face a year in prison or fines of up to 1 Million Swiss francs (approximately EUR 660 000). Some observers fear that the scheme, if approved, will set a dangerous precedent and pave the way for harsher restrictions on Internet content. SIUG currently is planning to submit formal objections to the scheme.
A copy of Dessaux's order is available (in PDF format) under http://www.nrg4u.com:80/abuse/canton-de-vaud.pdf
The joint SIUG and Swinog press release is posted at http://www.siug.ch/presse/Presse.20021213.txt
For background information, read "Schweizer Richter verlangt Website-Sperrung von Providern," Heise Online, 12 December 2002 at http://www.heise.de/newsticker/data/hob-12.12.02-000/
Visit the homepage of Swiss ISP green at http://www.green.ch/
For more information about Init Seven, go to http://www.init7.net/
To view a sample protest page, click http://vaud.init7.net/
The relocated banned websites can be seen at http://www.www.googleswiss.com/ http://www.swiss-corruption.com/
http://www.appel-au-peuple.org/ http://www.swissjustice.net/
The official homepage of the Swiss Federal office of justice is located at http://www.ofj.admin.ch/ |
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