Proton confirms a 2500% spike in VPN sign-ups since May 15
  • hackerwacker@lemmy.ml
    0·
    6 months ago

    “This is an unprecedented move in Western democracies to block specific Internet sites—and is a worrying progression that they are flirting with the idea of censoring the Internet as a means of crowd control,” Proton VPN’s spokesperson told me.

    It’s really not. For example the UK has blocked rt.com for years now, and many other sites.

    • Joncash2@lemmy.ml
      0·
      6 months ago

      Except by your own argument it really is. The UK has blocked many sites for many reasons. However, none of those reasons are for crowd control. Your example is ironically proof of the statement. This is the first time a western nation has banned media for the explicit purpose of quelling a protest and suppressing speech. Your example is a government banning a site not to quell a protest or to suppress speech, but instead because of a governmental disagreement between two nations. Now which one you think is valid for suppressing speech is a totally different question, only that they are two separate and completely different reasons.

      • hackerwacker@lemmy.ml
        0·
        6 months ago

        This is an unprecedented move in Western democracies to block specific Internet sites

        Claim 1

        and is a worrying progression that they are flirting with the idea of censoring the Internet as a means of crowd control

        Claim 2

        I’m talking about claim 1

        Hope you get help with your reading comprehension problems.

    • jmp242@sopuli.xyz
      0·
      6 months ago

      It’s fascinating how normies will figure out a VPN to use shitty social media but not figure out more open systems or alternative sites.

      • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
        0·
        6 months ago

        What’s the open tiktok alternative? Many tiktok users would love an open platform as an alternative to tiktok.

      • toastal@lemmy.mlEnglish
        0·
        6 months ago

        Right? They realized the power that be, corporations or governments, can take away any service at any time, & look for the loophole to access the service instead of the loophole to the entire centralized system …especially considering those powers can take down the VPNs too. Duct tape thinking.

        • loutr@sh.itjust.works
          0·
          6 months ago

          Yes, only in New Caledonia, and only on mobile. The goal is to prevent the rioters from coordinating on the go.

            • WarlordSdocy@lemmy.world
              0·
              6 months ago

              Not really a messaging app but it works as a way to spread information about what’s happening. Especially through live streams on the platform which people in the protests can use to figure out what’s going on at other parts of the protest.