Malaysia Government blocks File Sharing websites

You read the title right, it is the most stupid and DUMB thing that those old folks at SKMM do. What a narrow minded people they are.

During the past year, SKMM have been working very hard to block websites with adult content and phishing site that steal user’s information. That’s a good thing and i support their efforts to this.

But Blocking File Sharing? @(#&(*@^$(@#(. According to memo circulated by the SKMM to the Malaysian ISPs, file sharing websites are in violation of Section 41 of the Copyright Act of 1987. The SKMM is, therefore, ordering the ISPs to block access to those websites under Section 263 (1) and 263 (2) of the Communication and Multimedia Act of 1998.

10 file sharing sited that had been blocked.
1.) http://www.warez-bb.org
2.) http://thepiratebay.org
3.) http://www.movie2k.to
4.) http://www.megavideo.com
5.) http://www.putlocker.com
6.) http://www.depositfiles.com
7.) http://www.duckload.com
8.) http://www.fileserve.com
9.) http://www.filestube.com
10.) http://www.megaupload.com
























File Sharing is not only about sharing those related illegal contents. But File Sharing also had suit for other purposes. For me, the file sharing is a good things to had. With it, i had utilized it to:

• Send large file to other people/company where my company email cannot send files more than 2MB.
• I am relying on file sharing to sync project document between my peers. It easy to have an online file sharing where all my project mates can access and update online.
• I also used as a backup repository on all my documents, in case if something happens on my laptop.

Are the issue of piracy and Copyright that they want to address until they had TO block all these services? Is it a right way to do it? I don't think so. Why they did't just come up with an idea, block and stop all ISP from operating by not providing any access to broadband or internet services. The real concept of internet is about sharing without limit of boundaries. Do they understand this? Or someone had to teach them?

If they are concern of Copyright, here are some idea they had to consider :

• Block Youtube because it encourage video streaming & sharing which consist videos, movies, songs etc.
• They also need to block online pdf books because it violating the Copyright of the author although government encourage their "rakyat" to read
• SKMM also can come out with an act to install sniffing tools to monitor every internet activity of every citizen just like parent monitoring their children to behave in a good manners.
• Scan every single of email traffics so that it does not violated any Copyright and did not contains illegal contents.
• Block P2P and Torrents as it is a type of file sharing.
• Block and censored all wording "Share". "Sharing" with "TooTT" on every internet contents as they only understand that Sharing is not good.

Piracy and privacy issue is not only on the internet. It is all around us. How they can resolve the issue online if the existing streets piracy is still there? The problem is not because of the internet, it is because on the existing environment itself. Piracy happens because there is demand.

Blocking this few sharing sites won't stop or resolve the issue. There is a lot of sites and new file sharing services will be born. New technology will be available that will violate the privacy. How would SKMM resolve this?

If you are being FORCE not to use file sharing, will you follow it? People will tends to find a way to bypass the rules because "Rules are made to be BROKEN". Now also there is a way to bypass that restriction by the ISP. So? Does the move to block it a wise decision?

It is a disappointment.