Why Freedom of Thought Requires Free Media

(And Why Free Media Require Free Software)

In this talk, I tried to explain the relationship between developments in media and the privacy issues we have been discussing. Media that watch you watching "content" are unlike the broadcast media of the 20th century. My analysis is partial, of course. Many important points are undiscussed. I leave them to you here.

I was just wondering if you could expand on what "Pretty Good Privacy" did? I am especially interested in the circumstances/reasons that the US government threatened to prosecute Mr. Zimmerman for his actions.

Thank you - Matt Cashia

-- MatthewGriffinCashia - 26 Nov 2012

1. I was wondering why the extension of the data storage period (to five years) regarding persons who are not suspected of any crime has not yet been challenged in a court (I guess for violation of the due process clause). Do you think the extension (as long as it is not based on a formal statute) might be upheld by any court of law in the United States?

2. The intended criminalization of visiting djihadist websites in France would not be the first occurrence of restricting the freedom to read (or to think) in post-World War II Western Europe. In certain European countries, owning a copy of certain specific types of files on one’s computer constitutes in itself a felony, apparently intended to destroy the market for these items – e.g. pictures representing pedophile acts or images glorifying the violent killing of persons. Do you think these statutes should be repealed altogether (as they are inconsistent with freedom of opinion) or do you thinks some limits are acceptable to freedom of opinion, but they should not be extended to the mere visiting of websites?

-- PeterLing - 27 Nov 2012