CN: School Firewall Blocks Conservative Web Sites

[Jim Beaux]

Im sure you will enjoy reading this about as much as I did.

While conducting an Internet search for his classroom debate on gun control, Andrew Lampart’s attempts to access some websites on his school computer were unsuccessful. To start with, the senior at Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury, Connecticut, said he couldn’t access the National Rifle Association’s website.

“So, I went over to the other side,” the 18-year-old told WTIC-TV in Hartford. “And I went over on sites such as Moms Demand Action or Newtown Action Alliance and I could get on these websites but not the others.”

Lampart investigated further — what about his state’s political parties? “I immediately found out that the State Democrat website was unblocked but the State GOP website was blocked,” he told WTIC.

Lampart said he tried websites focusing on abortion issues and religion — and what was seeming like a trend continued.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/06 ... ze-others/

[oohrah]

After a server overhaul at my school, I could no longer access this forum and other similar sites. I asked my IT rep about it. Turns out my school subscribes to a service that offers a variety of "Packages" that allow you specify what kind of content you want blocked. Once IT was notified that the wrong (more restrictive) package had been installed, they corrected the mistake. If I hadn't said anything, I'm not sure it would have ever been corrected.

[BuckFlicks]

I seriously doubt this was a deliberate attempt to block conservative sites. He probably also would have found that websites about video games, gambling, social media, porn and other controversial subjects blocked. It was likely a package blocker that most corporate and commercial entities employ, with little to no control over subject matter by the school's administration. Given the rise of school shootings over the last several years, it's not a left vs right issue to block weapons-related websites at a school. I work in a police and fire administration building. The lean here is considerably right-wing as one might expect in law enforcement in general, especially in Texas. I can't go to weapons-related websites, facebook, fantasy sports, any streaming media page... I can't even read a news article about a video game, much less play a web-based game at my terminal. This has nothing to do with politics, it's the package of browser blocker software that was installed.

I call it the Web-stapo.

[Jim Beaux]

I seriously doubt this was a deliberate attempt to block conservative sites. He probably also would have found that websites about video games, gambling, social media, porn and other controversial subjects blocked. It was likely a package blocker that most corporate and commercial entities employ, with little to no control over subject matter by the school's administration. Given the rise of school shootings over the last several years, it's not a left vs right issue to block weapons-related websites at a school. I work in a police and fire administration building. The lean here is considerably right-wing as one might expect in law enforcement in general, especially in Texas. I can't go to weapons-related websites, facebook, fantasy sports, any streaming media page... I can't even read a news article about a video game, much less play a web-based game at my terminal. This has nothing to do with politics, it's the package of browser blocker software that was installed.

I call it the Web-stapo.

You didnt read the article:

Lampart investigated further — what about his state’s political parties?

“I immediately found out that the State Democrat website was unblocked but the State GOP website was blocked,” he told WTIC.

Lampart said he tried websites focusing on abortion issues and religion — and what was seeming like a trend continued.

National Right to Life’s site? Blocked. Sites for Planned Parenthood and Pro-Choice America? Accessible. Christianity.com and the Vatican’s website? Blocked. But Islam-guide.com? Accessible.Lampart provided WTIC screen printouts of blocked and unblocked sites.

[RoyGBiv]

CN?

CT

Thought this thread was about China.

[cb1000rider]

I seriously doubt this was a deliberate attempt to block conservative sites. He probably also would have found that websites about video games, gambling, social media, porn and other controversial subjects blocked. It was likely a package blocker that most corporate and commercial entities employ, with little to no control over subject matter by the school's administration.
I call it the Web-stapo.

I agree. It's much likely an unintended consequence. Putting it in the media like that is either:
1) Really ignorant and done without checking basic facts.
2) Designed to score a "conservative" point. (yes, both sides do stuff like this)

Blocks like these usually work on keywords and content. What's more likely to display offensive content: Right to life sites or Pro-Choice sites?

We'd need to know that the conservative sites were blocked specifically, not by algorithm.

Don't believe everything you read at face value.... Baa...

[Dave2]

What's more likely to display offensive content: Right to life sites or Pro-Choice sites?

If that's the standard, their software got it backwards.

[cb1000rider]

What's more likely to display offensive content: Right to life sites or Pro-Choice sites?

If that's the standard, their software got it backwards.

Yea, I need to phrase that differently: Which site will have more offensive imagery? I don't mean morally offensive.. I mean like shock and reality.

[Jim Beaux]

I seriously doubt this was a deliberate attempt to block conservative sites. He probably also would have found that websites about video games, gambling, social media, porn and other controversial subjects blocked. It was likely a package blocker that most corporate and commercial entities employ, with little to no control over subject matter by the school's administration.
I call it the Web-stapo.

I agree. It's much likely an unintended consequence. Putting it in the media like that is either:
1) Really ignorant and done without checking basic facts.
2) Designed to score a "conservative" point. (yes, both sides do stuff like this)

Blocks like these usually work on keywords and content. What's more likely to display offensive content: Right to life sites or Pro-Choice sites?

We'd need to know that the conservative sites were blocked specifically, not by algorithm.

Don't believe everything you read at face value.... Baa...

BAA? It would be interesting to read your opinion regarding the practices of the IRS!

This student revealed a liberal trend that was ignored.

“When I first went to the superintendent, he seemed surprised and vowed to fix the problem,” Lampart said. “Nothing was done.”
Lampart said he complained to members of the Region 14 school board and went so far as to speak at the body’s meeting Monday night.

Now the superintendent confirms there was an issue:

The superintendent said he spent an entire day with the district’s information technology officer after Lampart went to the school board. Additional websites that might have an advocacy component such as the Newtown Action Alliance are also blocked now, said Goeler, who added that the district is reviewing its choice of firewall provider.

[cb1000rider]

BAA? It would be interesting to read your opinion regarding the practices of the IRS!

My opinion, based on what has been released, was that the IRS was up to some very partisan abusive behavior. They just haven't managed to pin the tail on the fall-donkey yet.
In regard to the "lost email" fiasco, that could be a legit issue if their server side configuration was to over write every X months. However, a corrupt laptop hard drive can likely be recovered.
Most client side mail programs will delete / clean up too, so I don't know how much use it will be. Basically I don't know if the lost email is a cover up or not.. Could go either way. It does smell bad.

This student revealed a liberal trend that was ignored.

A superintendent ignoring a student until someone raises a public fuss? That doesn't surprise me at all. Also wouldn't surprise me if a public school superintendent doesn't know where to get started in terms of resolving an issue like this.

Apparently they pay for a firewall as a service. Want clarity here? Figure out why the firewall was triggering on some sites and not others. It's not necessarily a partisan conspiracy.

Does anyone really think that a public school firewall prevents kids from accessing content that their interested in? If it was intentional and partisan, it's bad education... But I just can't jump to the worst case conclusion off the cuff.

[anygunanywhere]

Those who think these things are not done intentionally have drank too muich kool aid.

Anygunanywhere

[cheezit]

I sure most school kids know how to proxy surf.