Pancake City

“Web site name registrar Network Solutions is blocking access to a site owned by a controversial Dutch politician known for his confrontational views about Islam and Muslim immigrants. The move by one of the largest companies in the domain registration business is notable, experts say, because it may be the first documented case of Internet pre-censorship by a major U.S.-based Web registrar.” (link)

The company is pre-censoring the web site because they are afraid of the potential backlash that will come if the politician publishes a movie on his site arguing that the Koran should be banned.

Does Network Solutions need to be this cowardly? They’re located in a different country halfway around the world from the Netherlands. What are Muslims going to do, fly over to America, burn a KFC or two, and fly back? Switch all their domain name registrations from Network Solutions to Go Daddy?

Most people, Muslims or otherwise, don’t even know what a domain name registrar is. Yet before the Dutch politician even posted any offensive material, Network Solutions capitulated and took the site down.

What ever happened to rioting? Back in my day, you had to work for your censorship. Now you don’t even have to leave your house. You can just email a few threats, CC a few of your friends, and frighten companies into compliance.

Maybe in the future someone will create a Fear Bot that will automate the process. You won’t even have to find the offensive material yourself. “Dear [NEW YORK TIMES], Fear Bot has determined your publishing of [SCANTILY-CLAD MUSLIM WOMEN] will offended [A. JABARI (TRIAL USER)]. Please remove immediately or you will be sent [A FROWNY FACE. UPGRADE TO FULL VERSION FOR FATWATS, DEATH THREATS, AND MORE.]

Inflicting or threatening violence on someone just because you are offended by the views they hold is wrong. That’s a principle that supersedes religion and is part of our nation’s values. Network Solution’s action violates this principle, one of our most valuable freedoms, and sets an embarrassingly low standard for caving in.

I hope the ACLU starts a violent extremist wing. That way, every time Muslim extremists threaten a company for publishing something offensive to Islam, ACLU extremists can contact the same company and match their threats. “Oh, yeah? Well, we”ll burn your company and slaughter your employees if you don’t register that domain name.” Maybe being damned if you do and damned if you don’t will make the right thing to do more clear.