SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the information-wants-to-be-freely-accessible dept.
The first library-hosted Tor node in the U.S. is to be reactivated, after a public meeting on Tuesday at the Kilton Public Library in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, in which area residents expressed support for the Board of Trustees and the Tor system. The Library had also conducted surveys which indicated strong support from both residents and non-residents alike.
The node had been set up as part of the Library Freedom Project's pilot program, following a unanimous decision by the Board in June; however, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had apparently contacted City officials and law enforcement, informing them that (FTA) "Tor sometimes is used by criminals to distribute child pornography or illegal drugs, among other abuses." After discussion with the Town, the Board had suspended the relay, pending discussion at Tuesday's public meeting.
City officials insisted that they had not intended to force the Board into a particular decision, but rather intended to educate the public about their concerns.
The Board Chair, Francis Oscadal, was quoted as saying, "I could vote in favor of the good ... or I could vote against the bad. I'd rather vote for the good because there is value to this."
See also: Concord Monitor .
(Score: 2) by frojack on Thursday September 17 2015, @01:36AM
In the face of all the outrage over the last article I pointed out [soylentnews.org] this would be reversed.
And yet the comments here (above) is nothing but more rage.
The board and the people saw through the nonsense, and put it back up.
After this bitch slap, do you think any other police department is going to go to their library and drop hints about the library's Tor Exit node? I'm guessing not. Or at least not until some event happens that the authorities can trump up some tenuous Tor connection.
There are a lot of libraries that jumped on the Tor exit node bandwagon. They saw it as part of their mission, even though it didn't necessarily serve their own patrons. Apparently their Patrons agree.
Apparently the New Hampshire motto is still alive.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 17 2015, @02:16AM
Apparently the New Hampshire motto is still alive.
Nah. They still have DUI checkpoints and other nonsense.
(Score: 2) by Anal Pumpernickel on Thursday September 17 2015, @02:19AM
In the face of all the outrage over the last article I pointed out this would be reversed.
You may have been right this particular time, but there have been countless instances where government fearmongering has ruined things for everyone. Being cautious of their decision to stop until another vote is not bad. Frankly, they should not have stopped at all in the first place.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Thursday September 17 2015, @02:46AM
I agree, the proper thing would have been to continue running it till the board met.
Its not like terrorists were relying on that particular exit node to sell children or something.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by shortscreen on Thursday September 17 2015, @05:30AM
I wouldn't be surprised. Cops still harass people for trying to photograph/record them, even after courts have informed the cops that they shouldn't be doing that.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Thursday September 17 2015, @02:52PM
True, but that affects them personally, (their misbehavior is about to become public).
Why would they care about a Tor Exit node?
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 17 2015, @07:31PM
It makes some part of their job harder.
Stupid freedom...
(Score: 3, Interesting) by frojack on Thursday September 17 2015, @07:45PM
It makes some part of their job harder.
Makes some parts of their job easier. FIFY.
All they need to do is filter out the IP of the Exit Node when they are doing their deep packet inspection, because nobody in their jurisdiction is going to want to use an Exit Node in the same town as destination of the packets they are inspecting. Those TOR users will be a world away, and beyond their jurisdiction.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.