Censorship and Digg

Censorship is abhorrent to people even if the removal of that knowledge would be beneficial. There are many TV shows, Anime and movies about people who don't remember their past (or parts of it) and the show is the journey to learning the truth about the past.

So, encryption algorithms were 'smuggled' out of the country in a book - the source code and keys a long time ago. This was when the US government was passionate about keeping the highest level of encryption only in the US. I know, it was a really stupid idea on the US part.

I mean really. All they did was prevent US software security firms from competing on a global level. Now other businesses have that business. The economics for these companies in the US to have multiple versions of the software just to have lower power security on the stuff they ship out of the US - foolishness.

Especially in the age of the internet when this book with the source code probably wasn't the first way that source code left the US.

So, now we have a problem with encryption again. We are not a culture that believes in censorship (as a whole) and yet we let a law pass that basically states that if you have any discourse on the security of multimedia products, you are liable.

And this blew up on Digg. Digg was told to remove content because the articles contained an encryption key to secure new style media. The users revolted.

It isn't that all their users are interested in ripping HD-DVD content. It is the fact that they are being told they cannot read material.

The media companies have made their own problems. Unfortunately for the, by not allowing discussion on the weaknesses of their encryption - their encryption is breakable - and it appears that it is relatively easy to do.

I'm glad Digg changed their mind. If they face a lawsuit I think it will be a first amendment battle to end all battles. Copyright vs Freedom of Expression. If we go in order of precedence in our government documents - 1st amendment should outrank copyright protection. They really need to amend the constitution to mandate censorship - and they should be forced to do so if they want to limit public discourse.