Re: Massey, CEO of Compuserve, on Internet

[Steve14571@aol.com]

In a message dated 96-01-03 00:34:25 EST, you write:

>CompuServe is not location-dependant.  The network operates exactly the 
>same regardless of calling location (indeed, the system doesn't even know 
>where you're calling from I believe).  It is a worldwide CompuServe 
>Network that people use to access it.  This network just allows dialups 
>and then gets the users connected to the CompuServe computers.  The main 
>computers handle all traffic.  They don't are location-independant, 
>making it impossible to block access based on location.

I see two possible ways to censor German users only (but I still believe
censoring anyone is wrong).  First, the "main computers" could be told where
they are, and "censored" material could be filtered at that level before it
is sent to individual users.  Or CompuServe could release a software update
for German users.  The software would not recognize banned newsgroups.  How
difficult could that possibly be?