« Censorship and Free Speech and Neutrality »

Thanks to Michael Geist for this one….

Pearl Jam is reporting that AT&T has censored parts of their recent webcast, cutting out references to George Bush. AT&T has since apologized, but it makes you wonder, if it hadn’t been caught, would AT&T have done anything?  Would anyone have been the wiser?

I just watched The Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing. Completely taken aback at the insanity that permeates the southern US. It’s an outstanding moving/documentary.  Definately worth the watch, even if you aren’t a big country listener.  It’s got some significant scenes that document the political fervor in the US during the 1st Bush Administration.

The lyrics that Pearl Jam had censored:

- “George Bush, leave this world alone.” (the second time it was sung); and- “George Bush find yourself another home.”

What The Dixie Chicks said: We are embarrassed that George Bush is from Texas.

In Pearl Jam’s case - it was the fans who brought the censorship to their attention. With the Dixie Chicks, it was the fans who put the pressure on radio stations to stop playing their lyrics.  It was the fans who went rabid overnight over their beloved Texan president.

Funny what can change over a few years, eh?

Update on Monday, August 20, 2007 at 08:12AM by jules

The Commissioner of the FCC,Michael Copps is now linking the censorship of Eddie Vedder to Net Neutrality issues. 

Perhaps this simply isn’t a case of an over-zealous profanity censor. I think I liked it better when carriers were *neutral*.  I don’t want my phone company involved in my politics. ;-)

Comments

[Jorge]

Shhhh!

Don't you know that George Bush hasn't done anything wrong?

Now Homeland Security is going to come get you.

For the record, we've never met.







:)

[jules]

oh man - if I had your address right now.....
;-)

[Ed Kohler]

I'm surprised your post made it through customs. :-)

[Dick Armstrong]

I don't think is a neutrality issue at all. Change the name "AT&T" to any other corporate sponsor. The webcast was a corporate sponsored broadcast and subject to whatever whims that the sponsor wanted after all, they sponsored the event for their own commercial gain.

An overzealous monitor hit the 'bleep' button (and the sponsor apologized). The fact that the sponsor happens to be a telecom carrier doesn't make this a neutrality issue any more than TV stations choosing to bleep the F word on the Daily Show.