Blog censorship update: September 2, 2007

by Gramfan on September 2, 2007

in blog censorship, blogging, censorship, censorware, e-jihad, Islam, Spencer and Geller, The Jawa Report, The Religion of Peace

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a lot more work to do!

For rolling updates on this topic:
Stop Blog Censorship!

SonicWALL insults our intelligence…

I recently submitted a request to SonicWALL to take the Atlas Shrugs blog off their blacklist. In return, I received this obnoxious form letter:

From: cfssupport@sonicwall.com
Subject: Your rating submission to SonicWALL
Date: 1 Sep 2007 13:30:11 -0700

Dear Customer:

You submitted the following rating request to SonicWALL CFS Support: Rate atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com as “33.News and Media” at 2007-08-31 05:25:00.697

The request has been reviewed and rated as: “1.Violence/Hate/Racism” at 2007-09-01 13:28:03.150

You should see this rating change reflected within 1 to 3 business days.

Thank you for your request,

SonicWALL CFS Support

The Violence/Hate/Racism rating is what the site already has. In other words, the form letter says that SonicWALL is refusing to re-rate this site. They are giving no explanation. And it doesn’t matter to SonicWALL that there is no violence, hate, or racism whatsoever on that site.

As if all that were not enough, there’s SurfControl!

According to a comment posted at Foehammer’s Anvil:

Surf Control continues to run amok. This morning they blocked Doctor Bulldog’s site as well. It seems like this week has brought a sudden burst of this nonsense from this “gatekeeper”. I wonder what’s up with the increase in activity in this area.

SurfControl still classifies Jihad Watch as “Intolerance and Hate.”

Contact SurfControl and request that they reclassify Doctor Bulldog and Jihad Watch.

“What else can I do?”

Contact SonicWALL, Inc. directly at:

Matt Medeiros, President and CEO
SonicWALL, Inc.
1143 Borregas Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1306
USA

P +1 888.557.6642
P +1 408.745.9600
F +1 408.745.9300

Email contact form
Pass the link to this article along to your family and friends.
- Ask them to use this form to contact SonicWALL and request that they reclassify Atlas Shrugs.
- Ask them to use this form to contact SurfControl and request that they reclassify Doctor Bulldog and Jihad Watch.
Find out whether these sites are blocked where you work, study, or use WiFi:
- Foehammer’s Anvil
- The Religion of Peace
- Jihad Watch
- The Jawa Report
- Atlas Shrugs
- Doctor Bulldog
- Any other antijihadist sites that you want to access.
If antijihadist websites are blocked:
- Try to find out what type of censorware or content filtering system is blocking your access.
Here are two quick ways to pass this information along to us:
- Click here to post a comment on Foehammer’s Anvil
- Click here to use the Contact Us form on this website
Bookmark this link for rolling updates:
Stop Blog Censorship!

Technorati : Atlas Shrugs, Doctor Bulldog, Foehammer s Anvil, Islam, Jihad Watch, Religion of Peace, SonicWALL, Surf Control, The Jawa Report, blacklisting of antijihadists, blog swarm, blogging, censorship, censorware, current events, cyberjihadism, cyberwars, e-jihadis
Del.icio.us : Atlas Shrugs, Doctor Bulldog, Foehammer s Anvil, Islam, Jihad Watch, Religion of Peace, SonicWALL, Surf Control, The Jawa Report, blacklisting of antijihadists, blog swarm, blogging, censorship, censorware, current events, cyberjihadism, cyberwars, e-jihadis
Ice Rocket : Atlas Shrugs, Doctor Bulldog, Foehammer s Anvil, Islam, Jihad Watch, Religion of Peace, SonicWALL, Surf Control, The Jawa Report, blacklisting of antijihadists, blog swarm, blogging, censorship, censorware, current events, cyberjihadism, cyberwars, e-jihadis

Tagged as: Doctor Bulldog and Ronin

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Bert September 3, 2007 at 11:02 am: I remember about a year ago that Pamela started off a post with the heading “F*** Lebanon!”
2 1389 September 3, 2007 at 11:19 am: I avoid using swears in this blog, and I asterisk them out where needed in comments, partly to keep the blog from becoming a free-for-all, and partly to avoid providing anybody with an excuse to ban the entire blog.

That said, the example you gave is no excuse for categorizing Atlas Shrugs as Violence/Hate/Racism. If anything, it’s an acknowledgement of, and an expression of frustration with, the ongoing jihadist violence in that part of the world.

I might have expected them to categorize Atlas Shrugs for containing vulgar language. Even so, what is the justification for the whole idea of blacklisting a blog that contains political speech, just because it also contains swear words, in what is supposed to be a free society?
3 Sounder September 3, 2007 at 4:41 pm: 1389, Jihad watch as of now is classed as “Blogs & Forums” at Surf Control.
4 Sounder September 3, 2007 at 4:46 pm: Dr. Bulldog is now classed as “Blogs & Forums” at Surf Control too.

Thanks to everyone who has helped with this!
5 1389 September 3, 2007 at 6:43 pm: Sounder,

Thanks for your help!

I’ve posted that information here:

https://1389blog.com/2007/09/03/blog-censorship-update-9307/

I’ve also set up a category link to provide rolling updates on this issue. Clicking on this link will show all articles in this category, starting with the most recent:

https://1389blog.com/category/blog-censorship/

1389
6 Dental Fremont September 1, 2009 at 3:24 am: it is fine to express our thought. but there is always a limit to what we posts in the blogs and forums.

Admin 1389 replies: There are already laws in the US and elsewhere that prohibit certain types of speech as a criminal offense, such as exposure of military secrets, child pornography, threats of death or bodily harm, or even fraudulent advertising; or that impose civil liability for certain types of speech, such as libel, slander, or invasion of privacy. When in doubt, I believe that we should err on the side of freedom of speech, and deal with the consequences (if any) without overreacting.