Many ads are malicious. Many try to install software you didn't ask for on your computer, or they try to trick you into pressing a "download" button on a download site that isn't for the thing you wanted but for their software, or they fake error messages to trick you into installing malicious software.
Back when I was younger, all those sort of activities would fall under the banner of "cyber-terrorism". Therefore, installing an ad blocker is an act of counter-terrorism.
I feel like any company who isn't making money off of you will gladly call you a terrorist and will urge their government to call you one as well, especially for people who use their sites and use ad blockers, if given the opportunity.
The judge in question had already decided that the person was a terrorist, and used all the privacy measures they used as evidence that they had something to hide.
It wasn't just the fact that they used ad blockers, but the fact that they used encryption and software that most people wouldn't bother to learn. That, and the fact that they taught others to do the same. Apparently, being technologically literate and concerned about privacy makes you a terrorist.
It's disgusting that a judge can rule on things that they are totally ignorant about. I haven't followed the entire thing, so I don't know if there was a ruling or if the trial is still ongoing, but there have been articles about the judge's statements.
Proud uBlock Origin user Terrorist here. But kind of funny that the organization that fits the definition of a terrorist group (according to @Catsrules's definition in this thread) is pointing fingers and calls others terrorists.
Did you know, the entire world is filled with terrorists who use Arabic Numerals? Thats why we need the great and mighty American World Police and intelligent French Detectives to rid the world of evil!
The hell's up with France, I also recently saw a post about their president blaming video games for the mass riots that have been happening over there.
We are currently organizing the next revolution. There is a lot of debate between citizens about the constitution we should write. I'm on the side of direct democracy without representation. Other french people can contact me if they want to be kept up to date
The video games thing was apparently a translation mistake, because a friend sent it to me and they had changed video games to social media. I would've heard it way more otherwise
I think video games were mentioned as well, not as in they were causing the riots, rather that young rioters were behaving like they were in a violent game. So the criticism might be kind of valid? I don't know if the translation stripped the quote of some subtext, but video games are mainstream enough that I would generally expect most Gen-X and younger to understand me if I said that crossing a street under construction was "like playing Super Mario" that maybe I had to hop across something. If I said something was like CoD, I expect many people to get that as well (of a certain age). The quote I saw was like that, but if the person didn't know games. So, a little awkward. The rioters were treating it like it was one of their video games. This has a "Hello fellow teenagers" vibe. Do you mean they are out there like it's Stardew Valley, and it's the last day of the month and you want to get your crop in? Or do they mean they are out there like it's Grand Theft Auto, and they can wreak havoc and then just let their heat score drop?
I do agree that this case takes way too many shortcuts about privacy/encryption to flag these people as terrorists. However, the people depicted in this case are not just using an adblocker. They run Tails, Tor and signal "by default" and at all times, which I doubt is the case of anyone calling themselves a "terrorist" in this thread.
Doing so require a huge commitment in one's life, and that's what the police is using as "proofs" for their suspicions.
And that's the part that is fucked up, because it's basically duck typing applied in a court. They have no proof of anything, and just suspect these people because they take a lot of extra steps to protect their privacy and anonymity.
As a French people myself, I'm glad that La Quadrature is stepping in to prevent the judge to take this ridiculous shortcuts as proofs. However, as someone using Signal, Tor and adblockers daily, I don't feel like I have anything to fear. Yet.
Ha the FBI also knows more about the internet than the french goverment does. i rather believe them then any goverment on earth regarding cybersecurity.
Ahhh yes. Ignorant and unknowing govements. Everybody knows them, everybody has them. Especially when it comes to technology and cyber security. where are their advisors if you need them?