The recent implementation of usage restriction on certain elements of the hugely popular photo-sharing Web site Flickr has caused somewhat of an uprising in its member ranks, with users in Singapore, Germany, Hong Kong and Korea all suddenly unable to specify a particular personal preference in their account settings that’s related to site-wide search parameters.
More pointedly, some of Flickr’s users have abruptly had their ‘safe search’ options disabled, an account feature that permits users to toggle on and off between whether their specific Flickr search results are filtered with regard to exactly what type of image content is returned. With the removal of said toggle flexibility, the affected users in the aforementioned regions are now only able to receive search images that have first been subjected to the service’s ‘safe’ filtration system.
Defensively, Flickr is claiming the safety move, particularly in regard to its German-based users, is a result of countries such as Germany exercising considerably "more stringent age verification laws than its neighbouring countries" which can result in harsh penalties, including possible jail sentences, for those deemed responsible for exposing underage individuals to content not deemed suitable.
Moreover, the photo-sharing Web site intonated that "in our case, it would be our colleagues in the German office [who would be held responsible under German law] and we’re not willing to make a call that has that kind of consequence for them."
However, the ‘safe search’ restriction has predictably thrown up fervent cries of "censorship" from Flickr’s user base, with many posting protest images to the service, such as a doormat that carries the title: "I don’t want to be treated like a…" and various versions of the "Flickr Loves You" site logo doctored to read "Censr Thinks For You." Perhaps worryingly for Flickr is that these doctored images are actually of physical stickers posted in public places for all to see. Interestingly, searching for ‘censorship’ on Flickr returns a massive 16,352 related images.
However, it is worth noting that Flickr, no longer a localised creation but part of a huge international business like Yahoo, must legally bow to the laws and restrictions imposed upon it in any and all regions where Yahoo chooses to trade. Sadly, that may mean that Flickr’s service in certain territories is in some ways restricted, but should perhaps not be viewed as a poor reflection on Flickr itself.
Initially developed by Vancouver-based Ludicorp and officially launched online in February of 2004, Flickr has swiftly grown to become one of the leading Web 2.0 community-based Web site services. In March of 2005, Internet giant Yahoo Inc. acquired both Ludicorp and Flickr, subsequently closing its own Yahoo Photos service in favour of Flickr’s proven social attraction. Flickr’s existing users were then required to sign up with Yahoo before regaining access to their Flickr accounts
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