Paul Blay wrote:
> "Musashi" wrote in evul-printable ...
> > I heard yesterday from a friend in Tokyo that Japanese
> > web sites which had the Kouda Beheading Video have
> > taken them off under the instructions of the Japanese
> > government, on the grounds that it is distressing and
> > disrespectful to the surviving family and friends of the victim.
> > Has anyone else heard this?
>
> Probably - but not me.
>
> > While I certainly agree with the reasoning, if this is true,
> > the notion that a government of a democratic country can or
> > should do such a thing disturbs me. After all, Japan is not
> > the 中華人民共和国。
>
> Ah well I would first check (apart from whether it happened at
> all) whether they were _official_ instructions from a bit of the
> Japanese government with relevant authority or whether it was
> an unofficial request from one or more people who happen to
> be part of the Japanese government.

I doubt the government 'officially' did anything, though some lawmakers
might have turned some screws. Most likely it was the ISP's decision,
regardless of where the pressure came from. They have much more power
in this way (can claim it's a bandwidth issue, if not just outright say
it violates policy).

John W.