5 reasons why Cinema-like ratings For English websites will Ultimately fail

(3) What about the freedom of speech?

To quote a sensible comment on the issue, "The law should not restrict adults' rights of free and unfettered speech. In other words any policy, rule, regulation or legislation should not impose unconstitutional burden on adults for the best interest of children. So, this is the only other reasonable, acceptable compromise". It is very likely that any overarching plans to filter, monitor the net will get rejected because it doesn't comply with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution which clealy stipulates "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

(4) Parents are expected to participate in the scheme

Parents are one of the pillars of the new proposed schemes and one obvious problem is that not many parents unfortunately care enough for their children to accompany them while they surf the internet and help them understands the perils and danger of this brave new world. Also, children and teenagers are particularly attuned to new technologies and it is very likely that they, not their parents, will find their ways through the meanders of the net.

(5) Technologically impossible to achieve

Will the government try to force Google, Youtube and other service providers to monitor their content and flag illicit or suspicious files? Many governments have tried it already (including China and Iran) but without great success. Even the great Firewall of China is full of loopholes and just like combating piracy, this game of cat-and-mouse will prove to be a tedious and useless. Just an example, one can use translating services like Google's language translator to access websites in foreign languages (which would not carry any ban). Similarly, it is likely that any targeted ban, like in the case of the very controversial Cover album of German Rock band, the Scorpions, will end up with thousands of websites copying and distributing the content ad infinitum.

Could this parental control system actually form part of a grander plan to implement a Great Firewall of Britain (or at least a Echelon-for-the-web system) coupled with an anti piracy system. If implemented, it would be yet another step to the "big-brother-tisation" of the internet and all means of communications; scary stuff indeed. You can read more about Mike Butcher's attempt to steal the Twitter account of Andy Burnham here.