ComputerWorld reports:
Web hosting company Network Solutions LLC has suspended a Web site that a conservative Dutch politician wanted to use to release an anti-Quran video that critics are saying is extremely critical of Islam....
In a statement sent via e-mail, Network Solutions said that it was investigating a number of complaints that the Web site Fitnathemovie.com may have violated its guidelines on hate language. Network Solutions' acceptable use policy say that the company bans content "that is obscene, defamatory, libelous, unlawful, harassing, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar, constitutes an illegal threat, violates export control laws, hate propaganda, fraudulent material or fraudulent activity, invasive of privacy or publicity rights, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable material of any kind or nature."
According to published reports, Wilders has said the 15-minute film describes Islam as "the enemy of freedom." ... Network Solutions said it has also asked Wilders if the company could review the film before it was loaded onto the site to determine if it violates its acceptable use policy. However, the company said Wilders has not responded to its requests, so, in the interim, it has suspended the Web site....
Note, by the way, that the Network Solutions Acceptable Use Policy begins by saying that it
delineates the relatively narrow range of uses of Network Solutions services that are contrary to Network Solutions' mission, generally because such uses either pose an unacceptable risk to the stability, integrity, or quality of Network Solutions' systems or the systems of its vendors, or harm (or threaten to harm) the rights and interests of third parties
but then goes on to ban, among other things, anything that is "vulgar, ... hate propaganda, ... profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable material of any kind or nature." I realize "relatively narrow" is a pretty vague term, but this doesn't seem "relatively narrow" to me; and it bespeaks a very broad view of what constitutes "an unacceptable risk to ... the rights and interests of third parties." (Of course, if Network Solutions is worried about violent retaliation against itself, that would indeed involve a high risk to their rights and interests; but I'm speaking here of the terms of the policy, and not the particular way it's being applied here.)
That sounds pretty accurate to me, from what I know about Islam and the Quran.
Or, to be a bit kinder, there is no place for freedom as we know it in Islam, if one follows the Quran, the Hadith and Sharia.
It doesn't take much reading of any number of honest books on the subject to figure that out.
But I suppose Network Solutions doesn't like having fatwas issued against it, so they chickened out. Hard to blame them, but if all of our institutions here in the West - governmental and non-governmental - act the same way, we might as well just hand the keys of the White house to bin Laden and prepare for dhimmitude.
Agreed that fitnathemovie.com is registered with Network Solutions as registrar, and it is also hosted on Network Solutions' server. So Network Solutions is both registrar and host. They are apparently acting here in their capacity as host, not registrar.
Fitnathemovie.com's DNS entry has not been removed. The host just displays a page that says the site is suspended pending investigation for violation of AUP.
Hosting providers are free to host whichever web sites they wish and turn away those the don't, except as limited by law (i.e. anti-discrimination). You have no right to be published and they are not a public utility. Don't like it? Buy your own server and a high capacity Internet circuit, perhaps rent some colocation space, and be your own web hoster.
That all being said, I'm an advocate of free speech, as well as an industry analyst who covers the domain name and hosting industry. I've found that Server Central tends to be far more relaxed about what they host, as compared to NetSol, Rackspace, or GoDaddy. There are literally thousands of hosting providers, however, competition is stiff and prices are cheap. Its inconceivable that you won't be able to find someone to host any give (legal) content.
Actually, "common sense", they don't have certain monopoly powers granted them as a domain registrar. Nowadays virtually anybody can go to ICAAN and become a domain registrar, and compete with Network Solutions.
Thus if Network Solutions' AUP sucks to the point that it permits Muslim whackjobs to define the range of speech permitted by Network Solutions users, then the proper response is to get a new domain registrar with a less-suckful AUP. Transferring a domain can be done in less than 24 hours, even making allowances for time spent whining.
Doesn't an American citizen have the right to criticize a freely acting economic entity? Stop criticizing their right to criticize!
If it could be found that Network Solutions hosted an anti-Catholic or anti-Wiccan blog or other such site, could they be sued based on a religious discrimination claim?
Network Solutions pussyed out. Network Solutions can make all the excuses they want to but it comes down to just one thing, lack of testosterone, no balls, chickensh*t management.
Not exactly the type of people I want running a company.
You could pretty much bring down the entire internet with that criterion.
I don't know whether NetSol does it, but what you think is an independent company might in fact simply be a reseller and you might be subject to the underlying company's policies for either registration or hosting.
Based on my history of trying to help customers get support from Network Solutions, I don't think they have anything to worry about--have you ever managed to talk to an actual person employed by the company? Me neither...
<blockquote>
Subject: Offensive, please remove...
I was looking at your website today, and noticed a picture of a woman not wearing a hijab. Her face was completely exposed. I found this to be deeply offensive to my religious beliefs.
I expect that, following your company's precedent with Fitnathemovie.com you will immediately take down the networksolutions.com website and remove this offensive content.
Thank you for your prompt attention and respect for the religious beliefs of the Muslim community.
</blockquote>
Agreed.
Exactly so. Christianity is a genuine religion of peace, and so the Internet is awash with anti-Christian hatred valorized as 'free speech'. But speak out against Islam, the 'religion of peace' (note the quotemarks), and you're silenced or shunned as a hatemonger by all 'decent' (note quotemarks again) liberals. And that's not even mentioning what the Mohammedans themselves do.
But really, I believe, cowardice is just one part of it. It was rightly said of Jimmy Carter with regard to Islamic terrorism, "he's not anti-war, he's just on the other side." The same might be said of outspoken anti-Christians, like, for example, PZ Myers, (who, for all his faults, doesn't seem to be a coward). Given that Network Solutions is based in Virginia, and thus not particularly endangered by either Muslim fanaticism or Dutch law, and that it hosts web sites run by Islamic terrorists, it might be worthwhile to cast a skeptical eye on that company's true loyalties. Just a thought.
I believe the point of the exercise was to demonstrate the extent to which criticism of Islam is restricted, not any actual criticism. It's a hilarious piece of theatre.
funny...i don't see any liberals silencing you. are they all in your head?
In the US, it's mostly only shunning and criticism. Mostly. CAIR and others have tried to use defamation suits.
Outside the US, ask Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn, among others.
is there something wrong with this? is criticism not an acceptable response to someone's stupid comment? what is wrong with choosing not to associate with someone you find offensive?
Outside the US, ask Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn, among others.
which liberals are trying to silence him/her? we are in the US afterall.
Two words: Dixie Chicks.
Thomas Stewart: No one should be forced to do business with someone they dont want to. Thats the antithesis of libertarian thought and leads to tyranny. If you don't agree with NetSol's actions, boycott them and publicly denounce them.
Update: The "movie" is now available on-line. (For the first time.)