NY attorney general gets more ISPs to block alt.* newsgroups

Found on Ars Technica on Saturday, 12 July 2008
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Using a combination of legal threats and public shaming, Cuomo was able to get three ISPs to drop access to the entire alt.* hierarchy of Usenet, a move that encouraged California to request similar measures.

Cuomo's new web site signifies that he's clearly not done yet. It includes contact information for 20 ISPs that presumably operate in New York, and text of a letter to send to them to urge that they sign on to the campaign.

Regardless of how you feel about Cuomo's efforts or the implementation of his agreements by the ISPs, it's difficult to interpret the new site as anything more than an effort in self promotion.

The rapid shift of focus from an identifiable problem to a high-publicity campaign seems as likely to produce cynicism as it is to lead to progress on the underlying issue.

Oh, there are a handful of childporn websites too, so let's pressure ISPs to block access to the WWW in an coordinated effort to fight pedophiles. They use cameras to make photos and videos, so let's ban the sale of them. Seriously, how stupid can someone be? For the sake of publicity, he forces the blocking of innocent groups. Yes, forces; because he knows that someone who speaks up against his "plans" will be labeled as a pedophile supporter. Colateral damage seems to be his favorite. Both thumbs down for that Cuomo guy.