I think we can categorize this under the square of Uranus to Pluto: Obsessive (Pluto) government practices (Capricorn) cracking down (square) the technological rights (Uranus) of individuals to feed their own minds (Aries).
The United Kingdom’s new internet filters promise to block much more than just pornography, according to a report by the digital advocacy organization Open Rights Group.
Last week, Prime Minister David Cameron announced online porn would soon become automatically blocked in order to “protect children and their innocence.” The filters will be implemented by the UK’s major internet service providers, which encompass 95% of British web users.
Based on conversations with several ISPs, Open Rights Group says the new “parental controls” will reach far beyond pornography. By default, the controls will block access to “violent material,” “extremist and terrorist related content,” “anorexia and eating disorder websites,” and “suicide related websites.”
In addition, the new settings will censor websites that mention alcohol or smoking. The filter will even block “web forums” and “esoteric material,” though Open Rights Group does not specify what these categories would include.
In the United States pornography (NOT including, of course, child pornography) is considered a first amendment right and pornography in any case is subject to a wide range of interpretation. Back in Queen Victoria’s day a bare ankle was considered pornographic and piano legs were discreetly covered up in order to avoid embarrassment.
Including “esoteric material” opens up a whole other question – is the British government afraid of the masses becoming educated in esoteric practices that for thousands of years been the exclusive province of a small minority? This has been called by some a “War on Consciousness” and perhaps can be viewed as a move to keep esoteric practices in the hands of a select view. The Merriam-Webster definition of esoteric is:
1a : designed for or understood by the specially initiatedalone <a body of esoteric legal doctrine — B. N. Cardozo>b : requiring or exhibiting knowledge that is restricted to a small group <esoteric terminology>; broadly: difficult to understand <esoteric subjects>2a : limited to a small circle <engaging in esoteric pursuits>b :private, confidential <an esoteric purpose>
This… is… just…
:(
Whatever happens, once Pluto enters Aquarius – things, concerning the esoteric, will never be the same.
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Esoteric (adj.): containing more than two-syllable words…
I am shocked! Seriously, Lynn, reading this article made me realise that perhaps I am not really living in 21 century… And this is not a nice feeling for someone with a stellium in the 12th house, you know, my mind easly imagines too much. If I still lived in UK, I would be scared to do my daily shopping for fear to be hunted and burned on the stake.
I don’t think we should be jumping off any bridges. But we should be paying attention and staying awake.
Tis is not a UK only issue… But worldwide. And it’s not really about protecting children. The technology comes from Chineese firm Huawei, who the US were concerned about, but is being sold to other governments… http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23452097 …. Why? The governments must get more out of it than protecting children! Will other things be secretly filtered… Will defamatory or illegal material be blocked, or redacted…. Will more secret records of our Internet activities be kept….
No it’s supposed to look like its to protect children, but there’s got to be more to it! And edging out the alternative, and the spiritual is just the start!
Lynn,
Your website is classified as occult and, in the library wifi of some London boroughs, access to it is blocked.