In the UK there’s possible new legislation, supported by the big copyright holders (the RIAA, MPAA etc) that would allow them to force ISPs to cut off anyone’s internet access if the copyright holders accuse the individual of three (3) copyright violations. That’s right, “accuse” not prove. Corry Doctorow’s article for the Guardian makes a bold claim that we hold them to the same standard.

From the article:

The internet is only that wire that delivers freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press in a single connection. It’s only
vital to the livelihood, social lives, health, civic engagement, education and leisure of hundreds of millions of people (and growing every day).

This trivial bit of kit is so unimportant that it’s only natural that we equip the companies that brought us Police Academy 11, Windows Vista, Milli Vanilli and Celebrity Dancing With the Stars with wire-cutters that allow them to disconnect anyone in the country on their own say-so, without proving a solitary act of wrongdoing.

But if that magic wire is indeed so trivial, they won’t mind if we hold them to the same standard, right?

Read the rest of the article here.

I’m feeling as excited about Cory Doctorow’s new book, “Little Brother”, as I have about any novel in quite some time. Flipping the pages in his newest “young adult” venture, I’m filled with the same kind of visceral excitement I remember having when first reading Robert Anton Wilson’s “Illuminatus!” trilogy and Grant Morrison’s “Invisibles”. What transformed “Illuminatus” and the “Invisibles” - and what is elevating “Little Brother” - beyond simply an intriguing narrative was that they are more than a book, they are a carrier mechanism for vital information and practical techniques on elevating the human mind into a creative spirit and surviving those who would, given the chance, destroy that fastidious spirit.

“Little Brother” is an empowering coming of age story, a primer on security technologies, and the first useful grimoire of the 21st Century. Written with the most noble of ends in mind - to empower young people with the realizable potential of freedom in this lifetime - it will no doubt become the book that many people will remember in years to come as that rhetorical hit of acid that changed their life forever.

In addition to the book Cory is experimenting with some pretty radical ideas on book distribution. The book is available for download and distribution through the Creative Commons Licensing structure, which means it’s freely available and freely available to remix and redistribute as long as you give credit to the author and not use it for commercial ends (this is the same structure we here at the Viking Youth Power Hour use). He’s also taken this another step further and is offering a program where, if you enjoyed the free download, you can purchase a hard copy for a classroom in need. I can think of no greater gift to give a room full of 15 year-olds than the chance to be exposed to this book and all the valuable information contained within it.

If you’re in Chicago, come out to Barnes & Noble on Thursday May 15th and see Cory discuss and sign copies of this newest work. And keep your fingers crossed, we’re working right now to get a Viking Youth interview with him after the signing.

Instructables is doing a series of How-To’s based on Cory Doctorow’s new book “Little Brother” about a group of teens using technology to fight back against surveillance culture. So far there’s been some amazing stuff. Stay tuned…