AT&T blocks Pearl Jam's Bush slam

[Lt_Ripley]

2007.08.08 • 17:50 EST

AT&T blocks Pearl Jam's Bush slam

Anyone who was at Sunday's Pearl Jam show closing the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago would have seen the band in a political mood. Eddie Vedder invited an injured Iraq war soldier up to the stage and called on the audience to work for peace in the Middle East. And in the middle of a performance of "Daughter," Vedder sang "George Bush, leave this world alone" and "George Bush find yourself another home" to the tune of "Another Brick in the Wall."

But if you were at home listening to the show on the Webcast being provided by AT&T, you would have missed those lines. As the band writes on its site, the Web transmission cut out the protest lines. AT&T says its monitor did so by mistake -- what a strangely precise and politically convenient mistake!

The band says the company's actions highlight the need for action on "network neutrality" -- the fight for regulations prohibiting broadband firms from making decisions about what content is and is not allowed on their networks. AT&T is currently fighting network neutrality, helping the NSA spy on Americans, and developing a way for Hollywood to police the Internet.

In a press release, Gigi Sohn, the president of the consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge, says:

How can we trust a company that promises not to interfere with content on the Internet when it has its corporate finger on the button to cut off political criticisms it doesn't like? The admitted censoring of a Pearl Jam performance is just one more reason why content should be protected against the actions of a company looking out for itself, rather than for consumers and the free flow of information over the Internet.... We hope the FCC and Congress take note.

http://machinist.salon.com/

ahhhh just another brick in the wall

[questionmark]

Very opportune mistake. Could it be that either supercar, Aroces or Oxy work for AT&T ?

[Bob26003]

Definate need for nuetrality. You heard douchebag O'Riellly rallying against Kos? What a douche

[BrucePrime]

The band says the company's actions highlight the need for action on "network neutrality" -- the fight for regulations prohibiting broadband firms from making decisions about what content is and is not allowed on their networks. AT&T is currently fighting network neutrality, helping the NSA spy on Americans, and developing a way for Hollywood to police the Internet.

I'm all for network neutrality, but this has nothing to do with that.

This isn't a case of AT&T censoring a website, or a broadcast that just happened to be broadcast using AT&T services. AT&T was making a decision to broadcast an event, with the AT&T name attached to it. As such, they should be allowed to choose what is broadcast when their name is somehow involved.

Since someone (LT. RIPLEY) has decided to lie to us about what the network neutrality issue is about, here's a short defintion:

The principle of net neutrality and regulations designed to support the neutrality of the Internet have been subject to vociferous debate in various forums. Since the early 2000s, advocates of net neutrality rules have warned of the danger that broadband providers will use their power over the "last mile" to block applications they do not favor, and also to discriminate between content providers (e.g. websites, services, protocols), particularly competitors. Neutrality proponents also claim that telecom companies seek to impose the tiered service model more for the purpose of profiting from their control of the pipeline rather than for any demand for their content or services.[4] Others have stated that they believe "net neutrality" to be primarily important as a preservation of current freedoms.[5] As co-inventor of the Internet Protocol Vint Cerf has stated, "The Internet was designed with no gatekeepers over new content or services. A lightweight but enforceable neutrality rule is needed to ensure that the Internet continues to thrive." [6]

[BrucePrime]

Definate need for nuetrality. You heard douchebag O'Riellly rallying against Kos? What a douche

What does Bill O'Rielly have to do with net-neutrality? Being an opinion broadcast, on a cable network, Bill O'Rielly can say whatever he wants about Kos. Net-Neutrality is about the INTERNET...not TV networks.

But typical...the left wants "net-neutrality" to protect speech they like, but restrict speech they don't like. "Freedom of Speech -- unless I don't agree with you!" is the meme.

Edited August 9, 2007 by BrucePrime

[Bob26003]

What does Bill O'Rielly have to do with net-neutrality? Being an opinion broadcast, on a cable network, Bill O'Rielly can say whatever he wants about Kos. Net-Neutrality is about the INTERNET...not TV networks.

But typical...the left wants "net-neutrality" to protect speech they like, but restrict speech they don't like. "Freedom of Speech -- unless I don't agree with you!" is the meme.

I just think it's ridiculous. It's Ok though, Dodd smacked him around.

Almost as bad as I smack you around.

Edited August 9, 2007 by Bob26003

[Lt_Ripley]

I'm all for network neutrality, but this has nothing to do with that.

This isn't a case of AT&T censoring a website, or a broadcast that just happened to be broadcast using AT&T services. AT&T was making a decision to broadcast an event, with the AT&T name attached to it. As such, they should be allowed to choose what is broadcast when their name is somehow involved.

Since someone (LT. RIPLEY) has decided to lie to us about what the network neutrality issue is about, here's a short defintion:

The principle of net neutrality and regulations designed to support the neutrality of the Internet have been subject to vociferous debate in various forums. Since the early 2000s, advocates of net neutrality rules have warned of the danger that broadband providers will use their power over the "last mile" to block applications they do not favor, and also to discriminate between content providers (e.g. websites, services, protocols), particularly competitors. Neutrality proponents also claim that telecom companies seek to impose the tiered service model more for the purpose of profiting from their control of the pipeline rather than for any demand for their content or services.[4] Others have stated that they believe "net neutrality" to be primarily important as a preservation of current freedoms.[5] As co-inventor of the Internet Protocol Vint Cerf has stated, "The Internet was designed with no gatekeepers over new content or services. A lightweight but enforceable neutrality rule is needed to ensure that the Internet continues to thrive." [6]

oh and ABC was sooooooooo neutral about the movie leading up to 911 ( the path to 911) wasn't filled with agenda and BS ? it was right wing wishful thinking.

[Reincarnated]

I'm sick of these whacked out right-wing nuts bringing our country down and blindly supporting fascism. You can pretend I'm just bashing but inside everyone knows it's true and so do they.

Edited August 9, 2007 by Reincarnated

[AROCES]

I'm sick of these whacked out right-wing nuts bringing our country down and blindly supporting fascism. You can pretend I'm just bashing but inside everyone knows it's true and so do they.

Sure, while you pretend you care for the country when your liberal(Socialist) agenda really is what you care about. You are bashing, quite the playing innocent.

[Reincarnated]

Sure, while you pretend you care for the country when your liberal(Socialist) agenda really is what you care about. You are bashing, quite the playing innocent.

The only people pretending to care about their country are the Bush supporters and right-wing nuts such as yourself. I don't see you complaining about the threats to our democracy and suppression of free speeach on UM. C'mon, American supporter!! Show some support and defend what America is all about. Stop being a fascist. Edited August 9, 2007 by Reincarnated

[AROCES]

The only people pretending to care about their country are the Bush supporters and right-wing nuts such as yourself.

There you go, now you don't pretend anymore you are not bashing.

[AROCES]

The only people pretending to care about their country are the Bush supporters and right-wing nuts such as yourself. I don't see you complaining about the threats to our democracy and suppression of free speeach on UM. C'mon, American supporter!! Show some support and defend what America is all about. Stop being a fascist.

I will complain when I see it, not just because the Liberals thinks so. See, told you, you were bashing.

Edited August 9, 2007 by AROCES

[Reincarnated]

You will sit there all day defending criminal actions and laws broken by the most corrupt administration this country as ever seen and you say I don't care about America!!?? That is hilarious and the most hypocritical thing you can ever say! Anyone who supports the criminals in the White House obviously have personal vendettas instead of a true passion for our democracy. I don't need to agrue with you if I truly care about my country because I wouldn't be here if I wasn't. We all know you are a war-mongering, bigot, pig with no real values of a democratic process. And yes, I am bashing on you because you are the scum of the USA with no real values except voilence and fear. BushCo is waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy more of a threat to our democracy than middle-eastern extremist. BushCo are the people taking away our freedoms, not the terrorists! Go back into your delusional day-dream where you think you are a true American.

Edited August 9, 2007 by Reincarnated

[AROCES]

You will sit there all day defending criminal actions and laws broken by the most corrupt administration this country as ever seen and you say I don't care about America!!?? That is hilarious and the most hypocritical thing you can ever say! Anyone who supports the criminals in the White House obviously have personally vendettas instead of a true passion for our democracy.

Pattern of behavior. Bush nor Cheney does not have history of corruption, or criminal activities. When he won the Presidential election that made him a corrupt and a criminal as far as the Liberals are concern.

[questionmark]

Pattern of behavior. Bush nor Cheney does not have history of corruption, or criminal activities. When he won the Presidential election that made him a corrupt and a criminal as far as the Liberals are concern.

When you post something like that please add: Stand-up comedy!

That way people don't get angry with you.

[AROCES]

When you post something like that please add: Stand-up comedy!

That way people don't get angry with you.

But you liberals don't have sense of humor and won't be smiling until a Democrat wins the White House. Just a bunch of angry cry babies..

So, does it matter???

[__Kratos__]

As the band writes on its site, the Web transmission cut out the protest lines. AT&T says its monitor did so by mistake -- what a strangely precise and politically convenient mistake!

Been using att for a while now with my dsl... This does happen. It also happens a bit with live feed video that it sometimes gets cut off at the end because of someone.

Funny how also att has reported on the front page the dixie chicks little rants and such.

I'm on att right now looking on the news and they even have this story listed. Big conspiracy!

[secondhand]

Eddie Vedder for President

Oh Yeah

[Reincarnated]

Been using att for a while now with my dsl... This does happen. It also happens a bit with live feed video that it sometimes gets cut off at the end because of someone.

Funny how also att has reported on the front page the dixie chicks little rants and such.

I'm on att right now looking on the news and they even have this story listed. Big conspiracy!

AT&T already admitted their content monitor did in fact cut out the portions of the song genius. Go find another infringement of freedom of speech to deny.

[Luka the Rentboy]

But you liberals don't have sense of humor and won't be smiling until a Democrat wins the White House. Just a bunch of angry cry babies..

So, does it matter???

It's all LIBERALS. I don't like being lumped together with liberals or Democrats. ;<

"You liberals", you are very liberal in your use of the word liberal, which in it's americanised version seems to go for anything left of Bush's administration (regardless of it being leftist or not).

[__Kratos__]

AT&T already admitted their content monitor did in fact cut out the portions of the song genius. Go find another infringement of freedom of speech to deny.

Vedder also railed against oil giant BP during the set, and later, brought a disabled Iraq War veteran onstage to call for an end to the conflict. Neither of these segments were edited.

In a statement, AT&T attributed the bleeping to "a mistake by a Webcast vendor" that was "contrary to our policy. We have policies in place with respect to editing excessive profanity, but AT&T does not censor performances. We very much regret that this happened in the first place."

The company also said it was "working with the band to post the song in its entirety," a sentiment echoed by Pearl Jam on its official Web site (http://www.pearljam.com). "In the future, we will work even harder to ensure that our live broadcasts or webcasts are free from arbitrary edits," read a statement on PearlJam.com.

Source

[ships-cat]

You will sit there all day defending criminal actions and laws broken by the most corrupt administration this country as ever seen and you say I don't care about America!!?? That is hilarious and the most hypocritical thing you can ever say! Anyone who supports the criminals in the White House obviously have personal vendettas instead of a true passion for our democracy. I don't need to agrue with you if I truly care about my country because I wouldn't be here if I wasn't. We all know you are a war-mongering, bigot, pig with no real values of a democratic process. And yes, I am bashing on you because you are the scum of the USA with no real values except voilence and fear. BushCo is waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy more of a threat to our democracy than middle-eastern extremist. BushCo are the people taking away our freedoms, not the terrorists! Go back into your delusional day-dream where you think you are a true American.

(emphasis (bold tags) are mine, not the original content)

Weeell... better late than never. Tell me REincarnated... have you READ the Terms and Conditions of this board ? Directly attacking other members is a no-no. Anyway, you didn't need to do it just to make your point; actually, I think you would have made your point more effectively WITHOUT making jéjúne attacks.

Please be nice, otherwise CAt will dial 'M'.

Meow Purr.

[IronGhost]

I actually have mixed feelings about what ATT did, if they did intentionally censor the remarks.

They are a media company, but not a journalism outfit, per se, -- they are a private business providing content to their customers. Thus, their first concern is for their bottom line, and if they felt that offending the President would be bad for business, it would be understanable for them to edit the content.

If they were posing as a supposedly fair and balanced source of news, then it would not have been ethical to censor the remarks.

ATT is only providing information and entertainment, and makes no pretences of being of The Fourth Estate.

When it comes down to it, all media providers are gate keepers to some extent.

[BrucePrime]

AT&T already admitted their content monitor did in fact cut out the portions of the song genius. Go find another infringement of freedom of speech to deny.

This isn't an attack on Freedom of Speech -- as an independent company, not a government entity, AT&T has the right to determine what can and cannot be said over its broadcasts. Freedom of Speech is not the "freedom to be heard." Freedom of Speech is the guarantee you can say what you want (within certain limits) and not be persecuted by the government for saying it.

Now, if the FCC forced AT&T to censor what Veder said, then yes, it would be a Freedom of Speech issue. This is not. This is a Freedom of Association issue. AT&T did not want to be associated with what Pearl Jam was saying (which by itself, is silly, since they made the decision to broadcast the concert in the first place), and made the choice not to broadcast it.

It would be the same if UM decided it didn't like what some of us were saying...it could easily decided to delete our posts, and it would not be an attack on Freedom of Speech. An independent entity, they have that right.

[BrucePrime]

oh and ABC was sooooooooo neutral about the movie leading up to 911 ( the path to 911) wasn't filled with agenda and BS ? it was right wing wishful thinking.

So what if they did? That is their right and their decision. There are just as many shows that profess a liberal viewpoint.

But that is not what the network neutrality issue is about. So stop lying about it.