Saturday, September 25, 2010

Text Message Censorship

T-Mobile claims they reserve the right to censor their customers text messages.
The motion comes in regards to a lawsuit filed by EZ Texting against the wireless provider.
EZ Texting asserts their "short code" clients services were terminated by the company after they signed a California Medical Marijuana Dispensary.
Short Code texts work like this:
a company could dispense info upon request simply by those who seek the info texting a specific word to a short number (i.e. text "CASH" to 4321 for 411)

The ordeal mirrors Verizon's decision to reject the request for a "short code" set of digits to be appointed to the abortion rights group Naral Pro-Choice America.
A decision they later reversed.

Any landmark ruling in favor of neutrality of any kind thus becomes a gateway to future censorship.
If we allow corporations to decide who receives restrictions,
how long will it take for them to determine our views & opinions are the ultimate competition and are subject to suppression?