Selective Censorship
Google is rolling out its selective censorship program. 'Not being evil' now means that upon request by intelligence services and law enforcement in a particular country, a blogspot may be blocked from that specific country while being left open to others. - Where this will lead is anyone's guess but it seems to be just another day at the office towards repressing the semi-free internet as we know it. As blogger's new comment word verification system with its often illegible secret words makes it difficult to post replies, I disabled the WV and what do I get? Foreign based spam bots are having a field day trying to infiltrate the comment section with their sales pitches for Viagra and knock-off watches. Over 50 of them the last three days and most not even in English. Many will suggest moving away from google but aren't all the 'free' but not really free blogging platforms going in the same direction; data mining, advertising and spooks keeping an eye on you? They don't call it Zio-blogger for nothing. [...] Self-censorship is one of the goals. "Don't even think about researching and writing (or speaking) about a topic that some group or prominent individual declares insensitive and offensive. It will only get you in trouble." That is a trap. A mind trap where we question ourselves and the results are paralysis. We all know who benefits the most from this self-censorship.