[2015-12-11] French Gov’t Mulls Blocking Public WiFi & Tor During State of Emerg

[jdebunt]

The recent terror attacks in Paris has left a deep scar on the world as we know it. As a result of this tense situation, government officials find themselves in an awkward position to make sure events like these can never transpire again. French law enforcement is pressing to ban the usage of public WiFi, as well as Tor, whenever a state of emergency is declared.

https://news.bitcoin.com/french-govt-mulls-blocking-public-wifi-tor-state-emergency/

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[aigeezer]

Good piece about an unpleasant topic. I looked at the source story from your link to Le Monde. It's in French and partly behind a paywall, but from what I can see your coverage is fair.

As Rahm Emanuel famously said "You never let a serious crisis go to waste".

The now-familiar pattern, imho:

1. Ghastly event happens, despite all mechanisms previously implemented to prevent ghastly events.
2. Authorities feel they must "do something" to prevent ghastly events, their previous failures notwithstanding.
3. Authorities select something Draconian, invasive and expensive and announce that it is now mandatory in order to prevent future ghastly events.
4. Ratchet tightens on society as a whole.
5. Rinse and repeat.

Since such an iterative formula eventually leads to complete paralysis of society ("nobody move! - it's for your own good"), it is an inherently unstable system that will eventually collapse. However "just because a thing is inevitable does not mean it is imminent" (Bill Bonner).

Fascinating!

[samanas]

If that happens in a state of emergency, I think it is OK. But the French government can redefine the state of emergency. It might abuse the power.