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MARC LEMIRE GETS CENSORED BY INTERLOG INTERNET IN TORONTO
Since August, 1996, Marc Lemire has had his local Internet account with
Interlog Internet in Toronto, Ontario. Mr. Lemire was forced to move to
Interlog because of the blatant censorship at Pathway Communications in
Toronto. See: http://www.freedomsite.org/pathway_censorship.html
When Mr. Lemire signed on his account at Interlog, he specifically asked
if Interlog censors it's customers and received a resounding "NO".
The termination notice came from Interlog's Vice President, Lorien
Gabel, and reads:
"Dear Sir/Madam:
Please be advised that pursuant to Interlog's Terms and Conditions
(http://www.interlog.com/terms.html) Section 2(g) and 5 (a) your
account, mlemire@interlog.com, will be terminated effective Wednesday
May 20, 1998.
Regards,
Lorien Gabel"
In subsequent messages, Lorien Gabel claims that, "... this is a pure
business decision. Certain of our large corporate customers have been
targeted by certain groups and we can not afford to lose the business."
When asked directly who these "certain groups" were that are targeting
Interlog clients, Mr. Gabel said "I do not wish to disclose that
information."
Just to add a slice of hypocrisy Mr. Gabel goes on in a further E-Mail
to say that "... I support freedom of speech and specifically as those
issues relate to the Internet (in that ISP's should not be censor's
etc.)"
"ISP's should not be censors" but terminates Mr. Lemire's account
because some mysterious "groups" complain? What kind of freedom does
Mr. Gabel really support? The freedom dished out to the Chinese in Red
China? Or how about the wonderful machine gun freedom bestowed on
Palestinians in Israel?
Also note that Mr. Gabel, nor any Interlog staff had bothered to ask Mr.
Lemire's opinion on the situation before this "business decision" was
made, nor was the decision told to Mr. Lemire until after he pre-paid
his account for SEVEN months in advance.
On April 16, 1998 Mr. Lemire went to Interlog and pre-paid his account,
and on April 20, 1998 Mr. Gabel wrote to Mr. Lemire telling him his
account would be terminated. Strange co-incidence? 4 days after
pre-paying his account they shut it down? And to this day, Mr. Lemire
has NOT received the money he pre-paid back? Will he? Time will tell!
To top things off, the following piece appeared in the April 30, 1998
Canadian Jewish News
"...
In another development, Interlog, a Toronto-based ISP, last week
announced it will terminate the account of Marc Lemire, an employee of
Holocaust-Denier Ernst Zundel, on May 20. In closing Lemire's account,
Interlog cited one of its terms and conditions that prohibits, among
other things, using Interlog's service for communicating material 'which
advocates or promotes genocide or incites hatred against any
identifiable group'"
Interlog is clearly implying that I have committed illegal acts.
Here is the letter I sent in response to this libelous remark.
Marc Lemire
152 Carlton Street, Suite 545, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 2K0
To: Interlog Internet Services
1075 Bay Street - Suite 904,
Toronto ON, CANADA
M5S 2B1
Fax: (416) 975-9639
April 29, 1998
Sent via facsimile
Dear Interlog Internet;
I just picked up the April 30, 1998 issue of the Canadian Jewish News,
and noticed a small article on Interlog terminating my account on May
20, 1998.
Are you now sending around press releases stating you are kicking me
off? If not how did they find out, up to now I have done nothing about
your blatant anti-free speech censorship of me, nor have I told anyone
affiliated with the Canadian Jewish News. Copy of article attached.
I would also like to note that the Canadian Jewish News reports that
your reasons for kicking me off is because I, "..promote[s] genocide or
incites hatred against any identifiable group"
As you may know, promoting hatred and genocide is illegal in this
country under Section 318 and 319 of the Criminal Code of Canada and is
a very serious allegation to make.
318. (1) Every one who advocates or promotes genocide is guilty of an
indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding five years.
(2) In this section, "genocide" means any of the following acts
committed with intent to destroy in whole or in part any
identifiable group, namely
(a) killing members of the group; or
(b) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life
calculated to bring about its physical destruction.
319. (1) Every one who, by communicating statements in a public
place, incites hatred against any identifiable group where such
incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace if guilty of
(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term
not exceeding two years; or
(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.
(2) Every one who, by communicating statements, other than in private
conversation, wilfully promotes hatred against and identifiable
group is guilty of
(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term
not exceeding two years; or
(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.
I have never been found guilty under section 318 or 319 of the Criminal
Code of Canada, nor have I even been charged.
As such, these comments are libellous, and defame my character.
We therefore demand, by the close of business on Friday, May 8, 1998:
1. The name and address of your solicitor or representative, so that we
might effect proper service of a libel notice, Statement of Claim, etc.;
2. That you immediately stop from further defaming Mr. Lemire by
claiming he has broken Canadian Law;
3. That you write a letter of apology to Mr. Lemire;
4. That any media releases or press comments surrounding Mr. Lemire's
termination of service be forwarded to Mr. Lemire; and
5. That you prominently display a full and complete retraction and
apology on the Interlog website.
Sincerely;
Marc Lemire
As of May 6, 1998 I have received no answer.
If you are a client of Interlog, or know someone that is, you might want
to reconsider doing business with a company that so blatantly censors
it's users.
There are plenty of Internet companies and why support a company that
now has a proven track record of booting off users when mysterious
groups complain about the content of their website.
And are such cowards that they will not even say who is making
complaints about them, so they can approach the people complaining and
try to find out why they are making these complaints in the first place.
If you want to complain about Interlog's anti-free speech actions,
please write to both: lgabel@staff.office.interlog.com and
support@staff.interlog.com
Our new E-Mail address is: webmaster@freedomsite.org
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http://www.freedomsite.org -- webmaster@freedomsite.org
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