Search for free speech

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday July 12, 2002 01:00 by C.

The Tibetan Government in Exile is now using a data haven based on an old military installation to try and avoid repressive information control regimes. Where should we put our information?

Havenco was set up on the anti-aircraft tower off the coast off England which has become Sealand through one of those quirks of international law. The history is pretty strange - like a cross between Cryptonomicon and Jonathan Swift.

They have gambling, some quiet financial stuff and now, political information that other countries don't protect, or allow.

Ireland may not need eGovernment - but it does need to accept that copyright, charging for public information and refusing to publish online is an attack on our democracy. Or else we'll all have to move to Havenco.