[tor-talk] Fwd: [PET] Japan to possibly/partially block Tor?

[Bernard Tyers - ei8fdb]

(cross-posting to the Tor Project talk list for possibly more information)

Does anyone know about this reported blocking of Tor in Japan?

The metrics of connected users doesn't seem too unusal?

https://metrics.torproject.org/direct-users.png?start=2013-02-01&events=points&end=2013-06-17&country=jp

Thanks,
Bernard

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Wright, Matthew" <mwright at uta.edu>
> Date: 27 April 2013 17:16:30 GMT+01:00
> To: Discussion of privacy enhancing technologies <pet at lists.links.org>
> Subject: [PET] Japan to possibly/partially block Tor?
> Reply-To: Discussion of privacy enhancing technologies <pet at lists.links.org>
> 
> FYI -- any more info?
> 
> From SANS News Bites:
> 
> --Japan's National Police Agency Wants ISPs to Block Tor for Those Who
>    "Abuse" It
> (April 21 & 22, 2013)
> Japan's National Police Agency (NPA) may begin asking Internet service
> providers (ISPs) there to block Tor, a network that helps people
> anonymize their online activity. (Tor stands for The Onion Router). The
> ISPs would be asked to block people's use of Tor if those people had
> been found to be abusing the network. Japanese police were thwarted in
> their efforts to nab a cybercriminal because he used Tor. The NPA's plan
> comes in response to a recommendation from a panel brought together to
> help decide how to fight crime that is committed with the help of Tor.
> http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/04/japanese-police-ask-isps-to-start-blocking-tor/
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22248692
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/04/22/tor_japan_police_ban/
> [Editor's Note (Murray): This is a troubling and confusing report.  Use
> of anonymizers should not "be read as a presumption of guilt."  Resort
> to anonymizers is rare, mostly legitimate, and sometimes even necessary.
> On the other hand, such use in the furtherance of a crime should be
> treated as aggravating.  "To block people's use of Tor if those people
> had been found (presumably by a court) to be abusing the network" seems
> appropriate.  However, it should take something more than a mere
> assertion on the part of the police.]
> _______________________________________________
> PET mailing list
> PET at lists.links.org
> http://lists.links.org/mailman/listinfo/pet

--------------------------------------
Bernard / bluboxthief / ei8fdb

IO91XM / www.ei8fdb.org

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