When Dutch ISPs and authorities are being asked to block, filter or shut down IP addresses and domain names in relation to intellectual property violations, online piracy and other copyright related issues they go on auto-pilot regarding freedom of speech, technological difficulties and the futility of blocking measures in general: because there are so many ways to circumvent methods of online censorship. The Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office even issued a guideline instructing authorities not to criminally prosecute online piracy issues.
Apparently not so in case of viruses. According to a news article by Dutch magazine Tweakers.net the Dutch government has not only convinced internet service providers in The Netherlands to voluntarily block the IP addresses of certain servers the Dorifel virus is making use of, but it now has asked ISPs in The Netherlands (and even abroad!) to take down Dorifel related domain names too.
Why is all of this suddenly possible? Because the Dutch banking system and government organizations have been affected this time.
So once and for all: it’s NOT about technology, it’s NOT about freedom of speech. It’s about the interests involved and the parties affected. They’re ‘just not that into’ the U.S. based entertainment industry, even when the damages experienced by the latter are much higher than any damages caused by Dorifel.
Dutch language news article:
http://tweakers.net/nieuws/83698/domeinnamen-dorifel-botnet-offline-gehaald.html
