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[ThirdSection]

This is my first attempt at posting a story, and I hope you find the wonderfully subversive information herein useful.  The current link to this handy little utility is http://mafiaafire.ezee.se/.  It is also now available for Google Chrome.


MAFIAA Fire: a Firefox add-on to reverse US government domain censorship
Cory Doctorow at 9:13 AM Friday, Apr 15, 2011
Original Story Link: http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/mafiaa-fire-a-firefo.html



Earlier this year, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement shocked the world by asserting the right to seize any .com or .net domain that it characterized as a "pirate" or child porn site, with little due process or judicial oversight. ICE conducted a series of high-profile seizures that were notable in that they were sloppy (80,000 sites were erroneously seized for being implicated in child porn and anyone who subsequently visited them was redirected to a page chiding them for being horrible perverts).

They were also notable for being almost completely ineffective at shutting down the targetted sites. Once their domains were seized, the site operators simply registered new domains, avoiding .com and .net. It wasn't much of a challenge for their users to locate them again. Nevertheless, the ICE has promised more seizures in the years to come.

But one developer decided that subverting ICE censorship was too important to be left to chance, so he created MAFIAA Fire, a Firefox plugin that automatically redirects links to the seized domains to their new homes, effectively undoing the seizures.

"This is just a start, now that we have opened this can of worms people can expect many add-ons, extensions and plug-ins from us," TorrentFreak was told. "Our goal is to reverse governments attempts to censor the Internet, and nearly anything the anti-piracy people put up to protect their dinosaur business models.

"Imagine the old game of whack-a-mole, now imagine playing on multiple machines all around you at the same time."

"We really are tired of the corruption at the highest levels of government by these people. Enough is enough. There is a time to moan and there is a time to take action - and taking action has been long overdue," the MAFIAA Fire developer said.

[ThirdSection]

I just noticed that this is the 100th story posted here.  Do I win a prize?

[KB723]

I am not sure about the prize, but I can see how tough that would be...

Whac-A-Mole CHAMP!!!

Great Post ThirdSection... =)

[Ziggy Strange]

I just noticed that this is the 100th story posted here.  Do I win a prize?

Sure I'll give you a credit boost.

[KB723]

Cool... We print money out of thin air, just like in real life... I Love It!!!  =)

[KB723]

ThirdSection, I sent you some credits as well... =)

[ThirdSection]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!

[Ziggy Strange]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!

We still have to figure out what to buy with the credits. The default stuff is funny but people could get offended.
Check the "shop" link and the "buy stuff"  on the menu in the shop area. It's pretty funny but you never know how touchy people can be.

[KB723]

I wanna buy a Whoopie Cushion... =)

[Ziggy Strange]

We really are tired of the corruption at the highest levels of government by these people. Enough is enough. There is a time to moan and there is a time to take action - and taking action has been long overdue," the MAFIAA Fire developer said.

I'm glad these guys are stepping up against the GOV actions, but there are some intellectual rights that need to be protected. I have a patent on an advanced technology process that cost me a lot of money (all my money) and 20 years to develop and patent. I feel I should be allowed to sell it to people that want to buy it. This is not a silly patent like patenting a web site design, this is hard science. As far as music, as long as the performers, and people that male it get paid, I'm good. I give out a free version of my technology right on the web, even here if you use the MSJ+ option with Firefox 4.* but if an artist wants it in his music he has to pay for the process. It's how I make a living.

[ThirdSection]

We still have to figure out what to buy with the credits. The default stuff is funny but people could get offended.
Check the "shop" link and the "buy stuff"  on the menu in the shop area. It's pretty funny but you never know how touchy people can be.

Well, the random credits thing was fun, but I don't think I'll go and chase my losses....   yet.

I'm glad these guys are stepping up against the GOV actions, but there are some intellectual rights that need to be protected. I have a patent on an advanced technology process that cost me a lot of money (all my money) and 20 years to develop and patent. I feel I should be allowed to sell it to people that want to buy it. This is not a silly patent like patenting a web site design, this is hard science. As far as music, as long as the performers, and people that male it get paid, I'm good. I give out a free version of my technology right on the web, even here if you use the MSJ+ option with Firefox 4.* but if an artist wants it in his music he has to pay for the process. It's how I make a living.

Fair enough, and I wish you the best of luck, and I'm sure we can find a way to protect your patent and the distribution model you have chosen.

However, when the United States Government starts unilaterally seizing .com and .net domains on the flimsiest of grounds, it is 1. denying the very due process that is guaranteed under the constitution to which it is bound, and 2. going beyond its jurisdiction, into 'international cyberspace,' if you will. Of course the US authorities already illegally make arrests on the territory of other sovereign states, so that much oughtn't come as a shock to us, though it should still be appalling.

Finally, if this is how copyrights are to be protected, it looks to me like overzealous overreach.  It's the use of antiaircraft artillery to down a mosquito, the firebombing of a city to flush out the single bank robber who lives there, the... the... It seems I'm all out of metaphors.

[Ziggy Strange]

Finally, if this is how copyrights are to be protected, it looks to me like overzealous overreach.  It's the use of antiaircraft artillery to down a mosquito, the firebombing of a city to flush out the single bank robber who lives there, the... the... It seems I'm all out of metaphors.

I agree with you.I was node 64 on GT Powercom back in 85 and there was no regulation of any kind for that type of communication. Overreach is not strong enough I bought a set of domains for this site tonight and I had to leave one out there just not to get on a list.

Best

Ziggy

[KB723]

I'll Be Back!!!

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