Hacker News Reader

Comment by LiweiZ | Hacker News Reader

I think one of the main advantages of the space internet is it will further take over the control of internet access. Regional rulers have to face a harder time on controlling internet. This will be a huge power to hold. And I guess it may reshape the world economically and politically. Any other thoughts regarding this?

View on HN

The only way that affordable internet access is possible in any country is with explicit and complicit action from the government. You can't get everyone online if the government is run by a group of people who actively don't want it to happen. For example, if a government wants to stop its citizens accessing the web all they need to is make the necessary equipment illegal. When the price of being found with a satellite modem is 30 years in prison most people are going to forego internet access.

The sad thing is there are governments that not only have that sort of power but willingly use it.

Making something illegal is not all that needs to be done. The government would still need a detection and enforcement mechanism.

why was this down voted ?

ps. I ask sincerely trying to understand the reasons when I see grayed out text that seem (to me) quite a reasonable comment.

edit: typos

For a counterexample, check the history of satellite TV in countries with media access laws [1, 2]. There is a lot of political room between 'western media is illegal' and 'we have a network of informants and will put your family in a forced labor camp'.

[1] Iran : http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-iranian-police...

[2] China: http://www.pcworld.com/article/194755/article.html

Reply on news.ycombinator.com