/images/rss.gif)
More on pagan web filtering
The BBC story on Birmingham’s City Council blocking of pagan and alternative religious websites using Blue Coat filtering software seems to be getting a lot of traction around the Web (and rightly so). Now even Tech World is getting into the fray, advising IT personnel to think carefully before implementing potentially illegal directives passed down by clueless HR managers.
Interestingly it appears that Blue Coat’s filtering software divides web sites into distinct categories. From their site:
Religion
Sites that promote and provide information on conventional or unconventional religious or quasireligious subjects, as well as churches, synagogues, or other houses of worship. Does not include sites about alternative religions such as Wicca or witchcraft (Alternative Spirituality/Occult), or atheist beliefs (Political/Activist Groups).
Alternative Spirituality/Occult
Sites that promote and provide information on religions such as Wicca, Witchcraft or Satanism. Occult practices, atheistic views, voodoo rituals or any other form of mysticism are represented here. Includes sites that endorse or offer methods, means of instruction, or other resources to affect or influence real events through the use of spells, incantations, curses and magic powers. This category includes sites which discuss or deal with paranormal or unexplained events.
Blue Coat do also say that they are willing to discuss fixing this discrepancy, which as has already been pointed out, may fall under illegal religious discrimination in some jurisdictions. Concerned readers are encouraged to contact Blue Coat directly to express their views - please be polite and respectful when doing so, regardless of your personal views on the web filtering business. (And for the record, my personal view is that they should be first up against the wall when the revolution comes, but that’s neither here nor there.)
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment