We heard this too. From the mouth of our Prime Minister, Mr. Samaras. " Free Wi-Fi for everyone in a year ," he said. Did he understand what he said? Because, " free " is one thing and " free " is another . Really, how "free" and how "free" will the network he promises us be in the end?
The most important reason why there is not already free Wi-Fi everywhere today is the fear that practically prohibits open Wi-Fi, lest some illegal act be committed. That is, in the consciousness of citizens, but probably also legally, the medium is criminalized, not the content. Known tactics in the field of censorship and monitoring of communications. If the medium (Wi-Fi) were separated from criminal responsibilities and intimidation tactics, then everyone would have their router open if they wanted, resulting in a free and open network everywhere.
So the law that is needed is enough to say that the owner is not responsible for what is transmitted on his node (as is the case with ISPs). This alone is enough for there to be free Wi-Fi everywhere. However, we believe that Mr. Samaras makes us see the beautiful tree of "free internet", while we lose the forest of real freedom of communications and net neutrality.
Mr. Samaras is obviously not interested in these things, he wants to give money to specific interests, to fill the world with Wi-Fi stations that will be under central control, and therefore the monitoring of movements will be possible. He deceives us with the word "free".
We're not saying, free internet is great and I wish things were that simple with "Wi-Fi everywhere in a year," but what can anyone do if their freedom, and therefore the anonymity of users, is not guaranteed.
So free Wi-Fi is not the main issue, but what is sought is to close the last loophole, the last possibility that citizens have to gain access to or even create an unmonitored and uncensored computer network, while at the same time enjoying their "free" service.
So let Mr. Samaras leave the fireworks alone, we don't need to create impressions, what he is proposing is already being done by the metropolitan wireless networks, as long as the law allows them to provide open and free access to everyone!
If his goal is a free network for everyone, let him vote on the corresponding law, and the free network will be created by the citizens themselves without spending a single euro, with the cooperation and consent of everyone, and with zero costs on the part of the state.
If the issue is that he is afraid of free computer networks, let him tell us so directly and let him try to abolish them directly with (military) law, as we have seen done in various (and European) countries.
Let him try whatever he wants from these two, as long as he doesn't spend our money for no reason, without any real result for citizens, and without depriving us of our freedoms in the digital world even further!
Press Release
Pirate Party of Greece
