[AusNOG] and you didn't like the Au govt censorship proposal, try Venezuela's...

[Narelle]

[apologies for cross posting]


The Venezuelan government has just sought to put all ISPs' traffic
through a central IX. The Internet Society is actively working with
its Venezuelan chapter to counter this move.

N


Venezuelan govn't seeks media law to regulate the Internet
Proposal submitted by Vice President Elías Jaua increases penalties
against traditional media and cyber-media

Media
The Law on Social Responsibility in Radio and Television (known as
Resorte Law) will affect the Internet. Venezuela's Vice President
Elías Jaua sent to the National Assembly a bill to reform the Resorte
Law that regulates the dissemination of messages through the web.

The proposal drafted by the Venezuelan vice president includes
"Internet service providers (ISP) and electronic media" among the
entities affected by this regulation. Besides, it includes
"subscription broadcasting services" and "other type of audiovisual
and electronic broadcasting services that can arise as a consequence
of the development of telecommunications."

Article 8 of the Resorte Law prohibits the dissemination of messages
through radio, TV and electronic media that "could lead to the
assassination of the President" or "can represent media manipulation
designed to promote uneasiness in the community or disturb public
order."

The bill provides that "the National Telecommunications Commission
(Conatel) may order Internet Service Providers to restrict access to
websites or messages disseminated over the Internet or other
electronic means" that spread those contents.

In a section related to "classified items," the amendment to Resorte
Law will include "texts" and not only images and sounds.

Devastating punishment
The draft project submitted by Jaua also strengthens penalties against
possible offenders.

If traditional or electronic media disseminate messages that "could
lead to the assassination of the President" or are "contrary to
national security", the media will have to pay a fine equivalent to
"10 percent of its gross income" during the year and a suspension of
up to 72 consecutive hours.

Similarly, any radio, TV service provider, subscription broadcasting
service and Internet service provider that does not broadcast the
national anthem or incurs in any of the other 19 violations provided
by the law will have to pay a fine equivalent to 1 to 2 percent of its
gross income. Currently, the penalty for those acts is limited to
"providing space for the dissemination of cultural and educational
messages."

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas

Pedro Pablo Peñaloza
EL UNIVERSAL


from:
http://english.eluniversal.com/2010/12/10/en_pol_esp_venezuelan-govnt-se_10A4838455.shtml





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Narelle
vice-president at isoc-au.org.au