Do away with government online censorship

ComputerSweden 090403: The gambling inquiry wants to force internet service providers to use a state-run block list to prevent Swedish citizens from accessing foreign gambling services. But it is a poor regulatory proposal

The Swedish IT and telecom industry has long advocated for a balanced regulation of the internet and other forms of electronic communication. Unfortunately, we have seen, perhaps as a consequence of society increasingly moving online, an escalating stream of regulatory proposals aimed at restriction and surveillance. Often they are about limiting the fundamental strengths of the internet, such as openness, decentralization, generativity and free dissemination of information. Some proposals can hardly be seen as sound and balanced.

The latest example of a less well thought-out regulatory proposal is the gambling inquiry's idea that the Swedish state should force internet service providers to prevent Swedish citizens from accessing foreign gambling services. In many cases, these services are legal in their countries of origin. The commission wants to force Swedish internet providers to censor parts of the internet that are not illegal in themselves.

It is evident that there is a lack of coordination within the Government Offices on the regulatory proposals that affect the internet and the ability of citizens to move freely and with privacy.

In the same vein as the Gaming Inquiry's proposals are the Traffic Data Retention Directive, FRA and IPR legislation. And there is a proposal that will give the police the right to request information from telecom providers, without a court order or reasonable suspicion, about which mobile users were in a certain area at a certain time and who they called. This is for offences punishable by fines. A relevant question is how the overall impact of the proposals will affect citizens' trust in the internet and electronic communications?

The Swedish government, like parts of the EU, seems neither able nor willing to engage in a debate on the fundamental implications of any privacy-limiting proposals. The government must recognize the importance of an open and functioning internet that citizens trust and, together with the EU, curb its desire to turn operators into an extension of the legal system.

It is often forgotten that the internet is the biggest technological and societal revolution humanity has ever seen. Almost everything has happened in 15 years, a staggering development in an incredibly short time. This obviously creates a need for regulation. But it must be coordinated and based on an understanding of, and a desire to preserve, the values and functionality of the internet. Without that understanding, opportunism thrives. Material interests are put before the good of society.

The government has an opportunity to take a step in the right direction - throw the proposal for a state internet censorship of foreign gambling services into the paper shredder as soon as possible.

Mikael von Otter
responsible for industry issues, IT & Telecom companies within Almega