AT&T/Bellsouth DSL blocks 4chan /b/, /r9k/, legal questions raised

[Tymon]

img.4chan.org - Twitter Search

Moot has confirmed, AT&T is Blocking 4chan's /b/ and /r9k/

This is all over 4chan's other boards (which have not been blocked and likely won't be) and various other bbs sites across the internet, and is still developing. This came up around 2 hours ago, at the most.

img.4chan.org, the particular server hosting /b/, and another board, /r9k/ was blocked by AT&T, formerly Bellsouth DSL. Reports started from CA, but have been confirmed in TX, MI, IL, and FL. Moot, owner of 4chan, has confirmed that they are indeed doing this.

AT&T's so far public response has been that they were blocked for child pornography.

This brings up legal questions. Child porn is illegal to post on 4chan. Anyone who posts it gets banned rather fast. Yet, still blocked.

Logic comes into play here, by the same line of thought, youtube could be blocked for the same reasoning. CP gets uploaded on YT all the time, and in the same vein, is removed, and the users are banned. So, why playing favorites?

I personally hate /b/, but I think this is going to raise a lot of questions about net neutrality and is already starting a massive firestorm as we speak.

Thoughts, opinions?

[BRP]

And nothing of value was lost

[Zeb]

I have AT&T, previously Bellsouth. /b is not blocked for me and I live in FL.

[Lebzile]

Got AT&T here and /b/ and /r9k/ are both working fine. I only like /v/ anyways. :<

[edit]

Live in lolTennessee

[Jotaru]

Can't access /b/, but can access the other boards. Live in IL, have ATT / SBC. Meh.

[Demosthenes11]

http://mashable.com/2009/07/26/repor...locking-4chan/

http://www.inquisitr.com/30689/censo...locks-4chan-b/

http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/4chan-censorsed.jpg
The global internet censorship debate landed in the home of the free Sunday with news that AT&T has censored the popular 4chan /b/ image board.

The censorship was first reported on Reddit, where users confirmed with AT&T that the site had indeed been censored, and was not being blocked due to a technical issue. 4chan owner Moot later confirmed the news, saying that the /r9k/ was also blocked and that AT&T users should “call or write [to] customer support and [AT&T] corporate immediately.”

The censorship at this time extended only to AT&T DSL customers, with wireless (3G) customers believed to be unaffected. Erling Løken Andersen notes that 15.5% of all US internet users use AT&T DSL, meaning that /b/ is now blocked somewhere around 40-60 million people in the United States.

There is no official word from AT&T on the decision yet, and given that it’s Sunday still in the US none is likely until business hours Monday. 4chan users though aren’t particularly happy about the decision, with /b/tards currently discussing ways to fight back against the imposition of censorship.

The decision by AT&T to censor /b/ may also further spark further debate around net neutrality; love or hate 4chan, the decision by a provider to start censoring sites is the beginning of a slippery slope to unaccountable corporate imposed draconian censorship that should have no place in allegedly free democratic societies.

There is also the question of why censor /b/ now and not previously? Could a third party such as Scientology have lobbied for the decision?

inc fall of at&t

[*Shinzon*]

That's some heavy shit right there. If they get away with this, net providers might as well do whatever it is they want.

[Ksandra]

merged threads, no need for two.

[Ikith]

I would say use a proxy but most people use them to post cp on /b/ so they are banned .

[Tymon]

I would say use a proxy but most people use them to post cp on /b/ so they are banned .

I would say, don't go to /b/

The whole point of this is the legal ratifications of doing something, rather than whom they're blocking. I would prefer /b/ be completely erased from the face of the internet, rather than just be blocked.

Under the FCC’s Comcast/BitTorrent ruling, Internet Service Providers may only slow or cap connection speeds. They are not allowed to block any service or protocol on the internet. Here, 4chan as a web site appears to fall under an internet service, but it is also conforming to standard web page protocols. It appears AT&T does not have the legal right to block 4chan, only to cap customers who are “abusing” their access to the internet.

No source to that, a friend sent it to me. It's interesting all the same

[Stee]

I have AT&T crappy dsl but I couldn't care less about them blocking that crap.

[Damen]

I have AT&T crappy dsl but I couldn't care less about them blocking that crap.

It's not the point, It's about what else are they going to start blocking? Even though I don't care for /b/ myself, I'll be canceling my ATT account because of this(unless they fix it). Net Neutrality .

[Vandole]

glad i don't have to change ISP over this

Spoiler: show

amirite, brp?

[Damen]

Just got off talking to AT&Ts help desk:

	 
System
Connecting to server. Please wait...
System
Connection with server established.
You
Technical Support Topic: DSL High Speed Internet
System
Gabriela has joined this session!
System
Connected with Gabriela
Gabriela
Thank you for contacting AT&T Internet Services. How can I help you?
Gabriela
Thank you for contacting AT&T Internet Services. How can I help you?
Gabriela
Hi, Daniel. How are you?
You
Hi Gabriela, I'm having some troubles getting to a website that I frequent a lot
Gabriela
May I have the web site address?
You
its an image server img.4chan.org
You
I can get to it from my work PC but not at home
You
Any ideas?
Gabriela
We value you as a Member and will be happy to assist you.
Gabriela
Please Contact : Administrator, Chan [email protected] ATTN: 4CHAN.ORG c/o Network Solutions P.O. Box 447 Herndon, VA20172-0447 Phone: 570-708-8780
You
but it's being blacklisted on the ATT network...
You
at the BRAS level
Gabriela
I appreciate your knowledge but believe me this is an issue from their side.
You
OK. So AT&T isn't blocking 4chan's webserver?
You
and it's 4chan's problem?
Gabriela
No!
You
thank you!

[Aidin]

I'm able to access both boards just fine using my AT&T phone as a modem.

[Zanz L. Barre The 3rd]

Why do people hate /B/

[Akiyama]

My /b/ works just fine it seems.

[Damen]

I'm able to access both boards just fine using my AT&T phone as a modem.

It's not the cellular ISP that's got it blocked. It's just landline DSL.

[Knightmare]

I'm glad I don't use ATT but I'm sure it'll get reversed sooner or later. You can't censor the internet without some bad publicity coming your way.

[Killgannon]

r9k and b are timing out for me on AT&T Uverse, too bad its no loss of my own but it's still a moronic thing to do, good thing i quit recently, i'd HATE to have been someone who got a call from Anonymous >.>;

all other boards load fine.