Peacefire
Encyclopedia
Peacefire is a U.S.
-based website
, with a registered address in Bellevue, Washington
, dedicated to "preserving First Amendment
rights for Internet
users, particularly those younger than 18". It was founded in August 1996 by Bennett Haselton
, who still runs it. The site's motto is, "You'll understand when you're younger."
, which they refer to as censorware or blocking software. They have offered numerous methods for defeating common web filters, and this has drawn some interest from the Internet community. The site has conducted long battles against the most commonly used filter programs, including, most famously, SurfWatch
, Net Nanny
, CyberPatrol
, and Bess. In particular, Peacefire has demonstrated that the filter programs suppress political speech and filter preferentially for corporate and conservative
causes. In other cases, Peacefire has presented evidence that several filtering programs block some websites without having a human being review those sites first, despite the filtering companies' claims to the contrary. However, Peacefire is not usually active against filters that act in a more neutral way. Peacefire criticised SurfWatch
for indiscriminately blocking gay and lesbian web sites.
) site. They also routinely search out sites of liberal
and progressive
content to see if they are blocked. They then compile a report to point out how the said software is discriminatory and restrictive of free speech/free access in what it censors. They offer these reports to the software makers and later follow up to see if any corrective measures have been taken.
The site is also involved in alerting the online community of efforts to pass laws restricting content to websites. Peacefire's own website is often blocked, either in part or whole, by filtering software, and the organization has both sued and been threatened with lawsuits in civil court
in the United States
. Peacefire claims to have about twelve staffers and about 7,000 members. Anyone of any age can become a member by signing up for the site's low-volume, announcement-only electronic mailing list
.
District Court in Bellevue, Washington
in each of three cases against Red Moss Media, Paulann Allison, and Richard Schueler (for sending misleading, unsolicited, commercial emails to its webmaster bearing deceptive information such as a forged return e-mail address or a misleading subject line), in a test of Washington's tough anti-spamming laws.
www.redglue.info
www.brainplate.info
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
, with a registered address in Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
, dedicated to "preserving First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
rights for Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
users, particularly those younger than 18". It was founded in August 1996 by Bennett Haselton
Bennett Haselton
Bennett Haselton is the American founder of Circumventor.com and Peacefire.org, two U.S.-based websites dedicated to combating Internet censorship. Peacefire.org is focused on documenting flaws in commercial Internet blocking programs...
, who still runs it. The site's motto is, "You'll understand when you're younger."
Ideology
Peacefire is primarily concerned with free speech rights. The authors on the site have been opponents of web content filtering and content-control softwareContent-control software
Content-control software, also known as censorware or web filtering software, is a term for software designed and optimized for controlling what content is permitted to a reader, especially when it is used to restrict material delivered over the Web...
, which they refer to as censorware or blocking software. They have offered numerous methods for defeating common web filters, and this has drawn some interest from the Internet community. The site has conducted long battles against the most commonly used filter programs, including, most famously, SurfWatch
SurfWatch
SurfWatch, Inc. was a Los Altos, CA-based company which pioneered the first software that allowed users to block explicit content on the Internet...
, Net Nanny
Net Nanny
Net Nanny is a brand of content-control software marketed primarily at parents as a way to control a child's computer activity. The flagship product allows a computer owner to block and filter Internet content, place time limits on use, and block desktop PC games.-History:The original version of...
, CyberPatrol
SurfControl
SurfControl Plc., was a British software company based in Cheshire, England. The company provided website filtering, e-mail filtering and desktop security software for both enterprise and home users....
, and Bess. In particular, Peacefire has demonstrated that the filter programs suppress political speech and filter preferentially for corporate and conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
causes. In other cases, Peacefire has presented evidence that several filtering programs block some websites without having a human being review those sites first, despite the filtering companies' claims to the contrary. However, Peacefire is not usually active against filters that act in a more neutral way. Peacefire criticised SurfWatch
SurfWatch
SurfWatch, Inc. was a Los Altos, CA-based company which pioneered the first software that allowed users to block explicit content on the Internet...
for indiscriminately blocking gay and lesbian web sites.
Further information
One common test that Peacefire runs is to create web pages filled with content clipped from news items. In particular, they will take quotes from conservative politicians that seem politically sensitive. They will then submit the site to a filter and see if it gets blocked. They will then point out that the content deemed "inappropriate" on their pages was, in fact, "appropriate" when coming from a corporate (or conservative blogBlog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
) site. They also routinely search out sites of liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
content to see if they are blocked. They then compile a report to point out how the said software is discriminatory and restrictive of free speech/free access in what it censors. They offer these reports to the software makers and later follow up to see if any corrective measures have been taken.
The site is also involved in alerting the online community of efforts to pass laws restricting content to websites. Peacefire's own website is often blocked, either in part or whole, by filtering software, and the organization has both sued and been threatened with lawsuits in civil court
Civil procedure
Civil procedure is the body of law that sets out the rules and standards that courts follow when adjudicating civil lawsuits...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Peacefire claims to have about twelve staffers and about 7,000 members. Anyone of any age can become a member by signing up for the site's low-volume, announcement-only electronic mailing list
Electronic mailing list
An electronic mailing list is a special usage of email that allows for widespread distribution of information to many Internet users. It is similar to a traditional mailing list — a list of names and addresses — as might be kept by an organization for sending publications to...
.
Court cases
In March 2002, Peacefire won a $1000 award at King CountyKing County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
District Court in Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
in each of three cases against Red Moss Media, Paulann Allison, and Richard Schueler (for sending misleading, unsolicited, commercial emails to its webmaster bearing deceptive information such as a forged return e-mail address or a misleading subject line), in a test of Washington's tough anti-spamming laws.
External links
- http://wallhopper.com/ *Circumventor (proxyProxyProxy may refer to:* Proxy abuse , abuse committed on behalf of somebody else* Proxy bullying , bullying committed on behalf of somebody else...
) at Stupid Censorship
www.redglue.info
www.brainplate.info