[gnfargbl]

Speaking as a UK citizen: you're exactly right. If the UK wants to prevent 4chan from being imported into the UK then it needs to block it at the border as it would for physical goods.

The fact that's technically hard to do (at least without going full-on CCP) doesn't change the situation. Attempting to fine a foreign entity for doing something that breaks no laws in the foreign entity's jurisdiction is just risible.

[cm2187]

And we shall call it "the Great Firewall of the UK".

It is amazing that these guys don't see the irony of monkeying totaliterian states policies, in term of surveillance and censorship.

[bigfatkitten]

The UK, like Australia and many of its other offshoots has always had a bit of a totalitarian streak.

[bigmealbigmeal]

They’re going to keep ignoring these issues because the wrong people are pointing them out. The enemy must always be wrong.

Tribalism is awful for societies. There’s a reason Russia put so much effort into amplifying it in the west.

[tokyobreakfast]

So, the Great FUK for short?

[InterlooperX]

If only it were isolated to the UK. I know a website that does not hold content itself but rather links to other sites. Basically exactly what google does.

And yet, me sitting in Germany suddenly saw a nice banned notice when trying to access the site claiming this is because of "a high court verdict yadayadaya".

Why on earth do I now find ways around a UK court order to unblock a website when I am nowhere near their country? They should at least try and keep things within their jurisdiction.

[thunderfork]

It's very much a rock-and-a-hard-place situation. "It's an import", so they have to respond to it like they'd respond to imports...

But unlike physical imports, there's a sense that blocking these imports is an affront to base philosophical freedom in a way that prohibiting physical imports isn't.

[akersten]

> there's a sense that blocking these imports is an affront to base philosophical freedom in a way that prohibiting physical imports isn't.

It would serve UK legislators well to explore that tingling sense some more before they consider any further efforts in this direction, but that's just my two pence.

[fauigerzigerk]

UK ISPs do block some domains though.

[gnfargbl]

Which does nothing to block 4chan, because everyone knows what a VPN is and how to get one.

[dmix]

The same UK politicians are now pushing to block VPNs. Hence the great firewall talk which they are trying to skirt by fining US companies.

[fauigerzigerk]

Right, but it shows their mindset. They're not letting China comparisons stop them from doing anything. It's not about the technology. In their mind, it's about the purpose and the legitimacy of any censorship.

[frostiness]

Unlike other websites though, VPNs are generally banned from posting on 4chan, which would definitely hurt traffic.

[cocoto]

Yes but the number of 4chan passes would skyrocket to be able to post with a VPN.

[drcongo]

I hope they do block it.