The Dublin Community Blog

We seldomly write about direct internet-related issues here at the Dublin Blog; however – I think it’s time to raise awareness about certain tendencies in the online world (and the real one as well) that are threatening our personal freedom.

After last year’s sueing of Eircom by four of the major record companies in this country and this April’s conviction of the Pirate Bay operators, I was shocked today to read a statement of the German minister for family affairs where she condems all internet users capable of using a search engine as “possible pedophiles”. This makes one thing clear: in times when most people are considered lucky in still having a job and have other things on their minds than worrying about the internet, menaces to what we consider guaranteed will crawl from whatever dark space their were inhabiting before. Either major record and gaming companies, like the online casino are unable to adjust their business models to reality (jaysus, they are still thinking there’s money to be made with CD’s), or governments who were unable to tighten their grip on their citizens with the fear of terror will come up with even more phoney reasons why the internet should be better “controlled” and made more “safe”.

Don’t get me wrong: in times when established local businesses such as Road Records are almost forced to close their doors because of filesharing and downloading (I’m skipping the word “illegal” here), there obviously is a negative side to this. But just think about it. And don’t take everything for granted – they may take it away from you sooner than you expect.