[CC] Swiss Internet censorship plans lurch forward

[George(s) Lessard]

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.c9c.net/swiss-corruption/info 
http://www.freejustice.de/  

The official homepage of the Swiss Federal office of justice is located at
http://www.ofj.admin.ch/

=========================
---

[ Via / From / Thanks to and / or excerpted from the following : ]

The GILC News Alert is the newsletter of the Global Internet Liberty Campaign, an 
international coalition of organizations working to protect and enhance online civil liberties and 
human rights.  Organizations are invited to join GILC by contacting us at gilc at gilc.org.  

To alert members about threats to cyber liberties, please contact members from your country 
or send a message to the general GILC address.  

To submit information about upcoming events, new activist tools and news stories, contact:

Christopher Chiu
GILC Coordinator
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 17th Floor
New York, New York 10004
USA

Or email:
cchiu at aclu.org

More information about GILC members and news is available at
http://www.gilc.org

You may re-print or redistribute the GILC NEWS ALERT freely.

This edition of the GILC Alert will be found on the World Wide Web under
http://www.gilc.org/alert/alert72.html

To subscribe to the alert, please send e-mail to
gilc-announce at gilc.org
-- 
:-) Message Ends; George(s) Lessard's Keywords Begin (-: 
Freelance Media Arts, Management, Training, Mentoring & Consulting 
On line: Internet / Workshops / Research / Presence / Content / 
On location: TV / Radio / Production / ENG / EFP / Editing
Interests: Access / Activism / Communities  / Cultures / Arts
Resume and more @ http://members.tripod.com/~media002
Queries / Offers / Patronage /  
Commissions should be sent to 
media at _no_spam_web.net
Rostered Volunteer UNV# 120983 & CESO/SACO VA# 11799

-Caveat Lector- Disclaimers, NOTES TO EDITORS 
&  (c) information may be found @ 
http://members.tripod.com/~media002/disclaimer.htm
Because of the nature of email & the WWW, 
please check ALL sources & subjects.
                          - 30 -