Sheraton Hotels Implement Chinese-style Internet Censorship, Block Alternative News Websites

[JohnyCanuck]

In the wake of the Department of Homeland Security announcing its propaganda partnership with hotels to recruit citizen spies, a loyal reader alerted us that the Sheraton-run CoCo Key Hotel & Water Resort in Danvers, Massachusetts is blocking access to alternative news websites using a content filter service called IBAHN. The firsthand account of which websites were blocked is as follows:

FYI, this past weekend I attempted to search for InfoWars, ActivistPost & FederalJack using public access computers in the lobby of a hotel run by Sheraton. All three websites were blocked from allowing the public to read or view the websites.

Apparently this Chinese-style Internet censorship is not new for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. In 2006, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel proudly announced a deal to use SonicWALL content filtering service. They were employed by Sheraton to provide "an additional layer of security to protect against today's most damaging Internet threats."

snip

It seems contradictory that they would heavily censor alternative information on a public computer to promote a family friendly environment, while they sell hardcore porn with a click of the remote. Are there any potty-trained kids who don't know how to use a remote these days? Sheraton apparently believes porn is morally appropriate for their customers, but alternative ideas are harmful and dangerous.

http://www.activistpost.com/2011/11/sheraton-hotels-implement-chinese-style.html

[MADem]

1. IBAHN is at the Marriott, too...at least the one in DC.

I was there recently and used that service. Never tried to access any of those sites, though.

[ParkieDem]

2. Is this the free internet in the lobby, or

the paid-for internet in the rooms?

I know that in Europe (where few hotels have free wi-fi), you can use free wireless internet in the lobby, but the number of sites is very restricted. If you want full access to the Internet in your room, you have to pay for it.

Also, parents can block the porn from the room TV ... but they can't as easily block the pervert down in the lobby from looking at porn on his laptop for all the world to see.

Not saying that what Sheraton is doing is right, just saying that this may not be the whole story.

[Name removed]

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