Compuserve Censorship of Usenet
Lindsay Haisley
censorship and received the following in reply. The list of suspended
newsgroups apparently includes a number of groups of a general nature,
including gay and lesbian support newsgroups as well as many others which
would not classify as "X" rated newsgroups. I have written to them
requesting a full list of the suspended groups and will forward any reply
which I receive.
At 12:50 PM 12/28/95 EST, Ryan Robbins <11111...@compuserve.com> wrote:
>RE: COMPUSERVE SUSPENDS ACCESS TO SPECIFIC INTERNET NEWSGROUPS
>
>
>COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 28, 1995 -- During the past week, CompuServe
>Incorporated temporarily suspended access to more than 200 Internet
>newsgroups in response to a direct mandate from the prosecutor's
>office in Germany. Each of the newsgroups that was suspended was
>specifically identified to CompuServe by the German authorities as
>illegal under German criminal law. CompuServe did not select any
>groups or determine the nature of the newsgroups that have been
>impacted by this action.
>
>German government officials, as part of an investigation of
>illegal material on the Internet, ordered CompuServe to do what
>was necessary with respect to specified newsgroups in order to
>comply with German law. German authorities are investigating
>newsgroups and other Internet content that may contain child
>pornography, other pornographic material illegal for to adults,
>as well as content that although not illegal for adults is of
>such an explicit nature that it is illegal for minors.
>
>While access has been suspended, CompuServe continues to work
>with German authorities to resolve this matter. CompuServe cannot
>alter the content on the Internet in any way and has only suspended
>access to the disputed newsgroups through CIS. The issues being
>investigated in Germany, like those being addressed across the
>industry, need to remain focused on the individuals and groups
>placing content on the Internet. CompuServe, as an access provider,
>is not responsible for the origination or nature of content on the
>Internet over which it has no creative or editorial control.
>
>The global market is vital to CompuServe. We currently have
>500,000 members in Western Europe and anticipate doubling that
>number in the next year. As the leading global service, CompuServe
>must comply with the laws of the many countries in which we operate.
>However, laws in different countries are often in conflict, and
>this creates new challenges unique to the emerging online industry.
>CompuServe is investigating ways in which we can restrict user
>access to selected newsgroups by geographical location.
>
>CompuServe is an H&R Block (NYSE:HRB) company.
>
>Thank you for using Feedback. Please write to us with any future
>questions or concerns.
>
>Ryan Robbins
>
>
>
(______)
Lindsay Haisley (oo) "The bull
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