Can I be Tracked for Posting Online?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around concerns regarding online privacy and the potential for government tracking based on forum posts. Participants explore the implications of being monitored for expressing opinions online, touching on issues of free speech and censorship.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern about being tracked by governments for their online posts, questioning the potential consequences such as being denied access to countries or detention.
  • One participant mentions the existence of keyloggers that could theoretically record everything typed on a computer, suggesting that anti-spy software may not be fully effective due to potential backdoors.
  • Another participant asserts that tracking is possible by various entities, including forum administrators, ISPs, and law enforcement, especially with legal subpoenas.
  • Concerns are raised about censorship and the violation of free speech rights, with comparisons made to historical instances of persecution for radical thoughts.
  • Some participants suggest using alternative methods for online activity, such as using someone else's computer or employing proxies, although they acknowledge potential downsides like reduced speed.
  • A participant questions the rationale behind self-censorship and emphasizes the importance of freedom of expression, even if it comes with risks.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express a mix of concerns about online tracking and censorship, with no clear consensus on the extent of the risks or the best approaches to mitigate them.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss various methods of online privacy without resolving the effectiveness or implications of these methods. The discussion reflects a range of assumptions about government monitoring and individual rights.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in online privacy, freedom of expression, and the implications of government surveillance may find this discussion relevant.

Shahil
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Just a thought.

Do you think I can be tracked down by any govt. and denied access to any country or be detained fro something I post on an online forum like this one?

thanx!
 
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Shahil said:
Just a thought.

Do you think I can be tracked down by any govt. and denied access to any country or be detained fro something I post on an online forum like this one?

thanx!

In theory you could be tracked. There are programs called Key Loggers which can enter your computer via a connection to the Internet and sit on your hard drive. Anything you type in can, theoretically, be recorded at a remote site. You could arm yourself with some Anti-Spy software but they have back doors so...
 
Do you combine your interests in a wine glass and fall out of the window whilst setting fire to the curtains?
 
Shahil said:
Just a thought.

Do you think I can be tracked down by any govt. and denied access to any country or be detained fro something I post on an online forum like this one?

thanx!

Yes, you can be tracked by the admin, the ISP, the webhost. Or with a subpoena the local police.

In most countries, visiting and posting messages on a forum or surfing websites is not really unconstitutional.

Unless you live in China, where online gaming is being cracked down. Most sites which are considered "questionable" gets blocked by their great firewall.
 
Last edited:
Do what I do. Use someone else's computer.
 
Or go to multiproxy.org and just use proxies, It will slow you down though.
 
loseyourname said:
Do what I do. Use someone else's computer.


That's what I do - Don't have the 'net at home (yes, people like us still do exist!) so use my varsity's PC's!

Anyway, the reason why I want to know is that it doesn't reallly make sense does it? It's like censorship of thought isn't it? Kinda like religion in the dark ages where radical thought meant you'd be burnt at the stake. I'm just thinking that my right to "free speech (thought)" as such would be violated if I was to be tracked down. Not that I've done anything bad though...
 
What's the alternative, Shahil? Say nothing that offends people who hold views that oppose your own? Freedom of expression is worth a few travel restrictions, in my opinion.
 

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