Beshear Opens State Computers to Internet - Sort Of

Here’s a little more detail on the Governor Steve Beshear administration’s opening up state computers to see blog sites like this one.

Some observations:

Beshear has blocked more categories of web sites than former Governor Ernie Fletcher had blocked.

While pushing for casino’s Beshear has blocked all of the games and gambling categories.

Beshear has blocked the illegal drug category, but neither blocked the tobacco or alcohol categories.

Fletcher didn’t want you watch sports and Beshear doesn’t want you to find a date.

First a list of the things Fletcher and Beshear can agree on should be blocked.

Pornography - Includes Web sites containing the depiction and illustration of sexually explicit activities and erotic content unsuitable to persons under the age of 18.

Erotic / Sex - Includes Web sites containing nude photography and erotic material, as can be found ontelevision or obtained free of charge from magazines. Sexually explicit activities are not listed here. Includes erotic collections of celebrities pictures as well.

Swimwear / Lingerie / Nudity - Includes Web sites containing nudity, but with no sexual references. Includes illustration of swimwear and lingerie as well.

Illegal Activities - Includes activities that violate the Human Rights Charta or are illegal according to German and European law, such as instructions for murder, manuals for sabotage such as bomb building, instructions for illegal activity, child pornography, sodomy, slavery, torture etc.

Computer Crime - Includes Web sites containing information about the illegal manipulation of electronic devices, data networks and password encryption, as well as about credit card misuse and other methods of Internet fraud such as dialer scam.

Hate / Discrimination - Includes Web sites from and about extreme right and left wing groups, sexism, racism, religious hate, suppression of minorities, inequitable boycott calls and holocaust revisionism.

Illegal Software (Cracked) - This category contains Web sites with software cracks, license key lists and illegal license key generators, as well as providers of equivocal P2P content and violations of copyright.

Extreme - Includes Web sites containing questionable content or promoting extremism (e.g. violence, militancy).

Music / Web Radio - Includes Web sites for radio, Web radio, soundfiles (MP3, Wav, etc.), audio- streaming, homepages of musicians and bands, record labels and music vendors.

Anonymous Proxies - Includes Web sites that allow users to anonymously view Web sites.

Spyware / Adware - This category contains Web sites making use of or providing malicious applications violating personal or corporate privacy without user's explicit knowledge or consent. Examples of violations are unsolicited data exchange beyond simple user authentication or validation, unrequested installation of software among others.

Phishing - This category contains Web sites providing information about financial fraud through manipulated Web sites and e-mails, also known as Phishing.

Malicious Web sites - This category contains Web sites with malicious source code, such as self- installing Trojans and viruses that exploit security vulnerabilities in browsers or firewalls.

State Black List - Any particular site they feel like blocking.

Second a list of those categories that Fletcher blocked but Beshear opened.

Politics - This category contains Web sites of political parties and those sites that provide information about a particular political party and different political topics (election, democracy, etc.)

Religion - Includes Web sites with religious content, information about the [five] main religions, and religious communities that have emerged out of these religions.

Sects - This category contains Web sites about sects, cults, occultism, satanism and religious fundamentalism.

Newsgroups / Blogs - This category contains Web sites that enable the sharing of information such as on a bulletin board. Includes Web logs (“blogs”) and guest book servers as well.

Sports - This category contains Web sites about resort sports, fan clubs, events (e.g. Olympic Games, World Championships), sports results, clubs, teams, sporting federations, magazines and fan sites.

Third, those categories those were open under Fletcher and are now blocked by Beshear.

Gambling / Lottery - Includes lottery organizations, casinos, betting agencies and other gambling sites with chances of profit.

Computer Games - Includes Web sites with computer games, of computer game producers, cheat sites, online gaming zones, gaming clans and other gaming sites without chances of profit.

Toys - This category contains information about dolls, modelling, model trains/cars, board games, card games, parlor games as well as other non-educational products and offerings for children.

Chat / Instant Messaging - This category contains Web sites that allow users to communicate and to have a direct exchange of information with another user from place to place. Also listed are chatroom providers and offerings about Instant Messaging.

Illegal Drugs - This category contains Web sites about LSD, heroine, cocaine, pot, dope, amphetamines, stimulant drugs, magic mushrooms, doping drugs and the utilities for drug use (e.g. water pipes).

Dating / Relationships - This category contains Web sites that promote interpersonal relationships, escort services and family-related content as weddings and adoption.

Personal Homepages: This category contains Web sites about and from private individuals. Includes personal homepage servers and other sites with personal contents and activities.