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Pirate Party Banned from Social Networking Site

StudiVZ is a Facebook-style operation and is Germany’s largest web-based social networking site. With the European Parliament elections in sight, the website recently opened up to established political parties for election campaigning. Not for all parties though, as they chose to ban the Pirate Party.

PiratePartyJust a few days ago it was announced that German political parties would be allowed to campaign and engage the public via the social networking site StudiVZ. Not all parties will be allowed to participate though, since the German Pirate Party has been undemocratically banned from StudiVZ.

The other political parties were allowed to have a special account to show they are an organization and not an individual. The Pirate Party, however, was not allowed to have one and instead operated on a standard user account registered by an individual.

StudiVZ noticed that the Pirate Party account was not a “real person” and despite it having a thriving network with hundreds of followers, it was summarily deleted. This means that it is impossible for the Pirate Party to have a presence at all on the largest social networking site in Germany.

The person who created the profile on the site said the action taken by StudiVZ had backfired, noting, “Many young and first-time voters only really became aware of us because they erased our profile.”

The Pirate Party said it condemned the anti-democratic behavior of StudiVZ’s operators and called for the “opening up of the platform for all recognized parties in Germany.” For the Pirate Party in particular, social networking sites are an essential tool in their election campaign.

Andreas Popp, lead candidate for the upcoming European Parliament elections characterizes the censorship as undemocratic. “Just think about it: The Pirate Party needs to put up with a ‘cheap spot’ in a Web 2.0 community, only to get kicked off again. It’s a huge scandal that the smaller parties are being discriminated against in their opportunities to advertise on StudiVZ. That’s not how a democracy works.”

To make it even more absurd, the ideals and plans of the party may be of use to StudiVZ in the future as Facebook will take the German site to court for pirating their concept. We doubt that the German Facebook knockoff can count on support from The Pirate Party in this case.

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  • SJ

    Vote for PP and make a difference!

  • Soro

    Torrents will soon be outdated.
    Better, more reliable, more discreet software on its way.

    Stay tuned.

  • Sanford

    This is cool

  • Sonnyboy

    PP vs. StudiVZ

    we, the german PP win of course :D

    Young Pirat 4 Life ;)

  • nawitus

    This has nothing to do with democracy per se. Private entities have full rights to ban whichever party they like (I don’t think most people would mind that a newspaper would not feature a pedophile party [I would be against that, but the general public won't].

  • SableSlayer

    I hope they are found guilty for ripping off facebooks concept just cause of there unfairness :P

  • BLOB

    HAHAHA!!

    How ‘democratic’ of them.

    You know, that ‘Ubber’ sterile politic-correct ‘democracy’ that the EU is but has been trying to cover.

    @5 – I beg to differ. It’s extremely undemocratic for a so-called social network.

  • PearHat

    is there some version of the pirate party in Britain or a party that has the same ideas?

  • nawitus

    #7:
    It’s has nothing to do with democracy, and a website should be freely do so. Of course, legal doesn’t mean right, and people can and should protest this decision.

  • Anonymous

    This is how Germany thanks their favorite son Carl Lundstrom?

  • BLOB

    @9
    It is because is related to a legislative surfrage.

  • apollo21

    ofc there’s a whole lotta difference between personal sharing and just ripping off websites.
    but srsly studivz really have only themselves to blame there are so many social networking sites out there, but none of them (afaik) so blatantly copied facebook. When they started out there even seemed to be code/markup that looked like it had been copied, referencing “fakebook” on some pages’ code. Then even today studivz still looks very much (apart from colour changes) like facebook did way back when (only worse). They clearly have no idea what they’re doing and I bet the guy who does their css and maybe some flash guy for adverts are their best payed coders.

  • DrCalgori

    Thats a good question #8. Is there a pirate party in the UK? I haven’t heard of one.

    on topic, isn’t it illegal to discriminate against a political party and prevent them from advertising to voters? :/

  • sfadsfa
  • SJ
  • Pirates

    @DrCalgori:

    There you go.

    http://www.pp-international.net/

  • Anonymous

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  • Anonymous

    @9 nawitus
    The fact is that democracy is not just about the law. It is also about the attitudes and the practices of the people. The de facto situation is just as important as the de juro situation in measuring how democratic a country is.

  • Felix

    i think the other parties search direct the contact for getting an offical account on this community, when you have a look in the piraten partie forum it seems to be that they registrated they account like normal people

    so really wonder about this ?! this will be the same like a normal user try to register in a name of a partie.

    for more in the piraten partie forum they gave advices each other to try the offical way

    so be cool and try to differ from ojectiv facts and propaganda

  • St0fzguier

    pff how sad

  • Smoo monkey and Garp

    They should use attack monkeys equipped with laser targeting systems if they want to do the right thing.

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  • Carlos

    This is internet.

    “StudiVZ is a Facebook-style operation and it’s Germany’s largest web-based social networking site.”

    Carlos
    http://www.dagorret.net

  • typical

    Democracy is hypocrisy!

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  • BottomLiner

    @17
    That was uncalled for.

  • BigMike218
  • gnazi

    So, is it “StudiVZ”, “StudVZ”, or “StuidiVZ”? Maybe you guys should be using some sort of spellchecker.

  • ar31an

    aahhhhh democracy

    Arslan
    http://www.tech3d.net

  • from blackberry

    Well there really not an official site if they ban partys that are indeed legit. Its obviously run by morons and should be viewed as a joke. Any site that would take such foolish actions should be dismissed as a real political source. Who would want to visit a biased lieing site for political research?

    Its like the onion only there trying to be serious.

  • Jefo

    “So, is it “StudiVZ”, “StudVZ”, or “StuidiVZ”? Maybe you guys should be using some sort of spellchecker.”

    Second that!

  • It’s a troll, kill it with fire

    nawitus: Have you stopped raping children?

  • Paul

    Vote PP everyone. Not only for changes to copyright laws but to save our internet.

    This is the chance to make a difference.

  • Soro

    So, is it “StudiVZ”, “StudVZ”, or “StuidiVZ”? Maybe you guys should be using some sort of spellchecker.

    Sounds all same to me.

  • Grey

    Good luck from the Swedish Pirate Party.

    With a little work there is perhaps enough Pirate Parties in the EU at 2013 to form our own European Pirate Party and the Pirate Group.

  • anon

    acts of oppression? in Germany? *gasp*

    seriously though, this is silly, what did they hope to achieve with this?

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  • chevron

    “Not all parties will be allowed to participate though, since the German Pirate Party has been undemocratically banned from StuidiVZ.”

    Political parties in the UK must BY LAW be given equal campaigning rights to all other parties (ie. if a media outlet gives *unstructured* exposure to one party, equal exposure on the same terms must be offered to all others). Surely the EU must have similar rules to safeguard the campaigning process? *boggle*

  • Slasher

    Well, that was kinda stupid of them I think. It will not be looked upon kindly both by young germans and also other countries.
    When it comes to democracy it really stands for free speech of everyone and some things you might not want to hear, but you must! If you restrict peoples opinions its not a democracy anymore, it some kind of dictatorship. Of course you can create laws that forbid people to say or do some things, but you should be really careful about that. If you dont look out you might find yourself living in a world you created but dont want to live in (or most likely want your children or grandchildren to live in)

  • riaarard

    Not nice.

  • Ghostofchris

    Player haters. Go PP!

  • James

    Gen X and Y are a real threat now to the old ruling class. They will attempt to silence us as much they can.

    Keep up the fight, let people know the truth, push for change.

    We deserve a better world, Vote Pirate Party!

  • Dellum

    And i thought the allies defeated fascism in Germany in WW2… boy! was i wrong.

  • Dellum

    Also, if the Facebook case is true then i hope they win!.

  • Anonymous

    What we call “democracy” in Germamy originated as a system laid lown under the boot of post-WWII military occupation.

    All political parties needed the blessing of the ruling authorities – and all extreme-Left, extreme-Right, and nationalist parties were banned. To a large degree, they still are today.

    Try starting a NAZI party in Germany today. Not only will you be banned from elections – you’ll be thrown in jail.

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  • James

    This is actually democratic.

    Mass vote (all the other parties don’t want competition) So they bann the pirate party.

    Its like All Religions Voting against Gay marriage.

    In democracies the little people get the shaft. So, This website is VERY democratic.

    BUT with that said, THE Site sucks for being so democratic and deserves to be beaten in the head with a Pirate sized hat and eyes pecked out by Parrots. *nods*

    LOL “GO PIRATE PARTY!!!” ftw

  • anon2

    yet another attempt by the riaa etc to stop what they dont like and dont want!! wonder how much they paid for this?

  • Freakfreak

    @43: Oi dickhead!

    > What we call “democracy” in
    > Germamy originated as a system
    > laid lown under the boot of
    > post-WWII military occupation.

    Yes, the democracy in Germany has been specially “laid out” and designed after the lessons learned from the failing democracy in the Weimarer Republik and the dictatorial takeover by Adolf Hitlers and his Nazi scum.

    And the “Grundgesetz” had been worked out by elected german representatives of the federal states, partially from people who had experienced the failing democracy of the Weimarer Republik themselfes.

    > All political parties needed the
    > blessing of the ruling
    > authorities – and all
    > extreme-Left, extreme-Right,
    > and nationalist parties were
    > banned. To a large degree,
    > they still are today.

    What are you talking about? About the time of establishing the democracy in Germany (yeah, during “occupation”, they probably “allowed” parties – and no Nazi-ones obviously for good reasons since those offscourings had just pushed the hole of Europe into a war that had cost about 50 MILLION LIVES and had destroyed Germany utterly – thanks to those mentally distorted “NAZI”-vermins!

    And by the way they even “allowed” communist parties back then – and even conservative parties that strived for the reinstation of a monarchical systems like they had existed in the “Kaiserreich” before the Weimarer Republik came into place!!!

    So none of your insinuated suppression had ever taken place!

    I only hope you are not really a supporter of “Nazi”-ideology who tries to identify his insanely twisted view as a suppressed mindset.
    Unfortunatley your statements show a completely misarable understanding – if not misconception of history (and democracy btw) that would fit that stupid frame of views.

    And speaking about today NO party need the blessing of any authority in Germany! Only the written support of a few hundred members to formally found a party and the support of a few thousand people to be eligible to take part in elections. So grass roots democracy in any way without any trace of required “autorization” by any “establishment” at all!

    > Try starting a NAZI party in
    > Germany today. Not only will
    > you be banned from elections
    > – you’ll be thrown in jail.

    ANYONE can start ANY party he likes – EXEPT those parties that strive to overthrow the democratic constitution of Germany.

    If that involves a “Nazi”-party that wants to eradicate the democracy in Germany and establish a new dictatorship – yeah then the hell we will disallow that movement and throw any one in jail who tries to reinstate Nazi-Dictatorship in Germany – for the very good reason of the death, destruction, murder, suppression and insane leadership that those Nazis had brought to our country already once!!!

    So there is NO PLACE for Nazis in Germany any more and any decent citizen will look out that they NEVER will have any say in our country again!!!

    NO democracy is obliged to tolerate those scumbags who want to destroy it!

    And surely no Nazi has any right for toleration to claim from the very democracy he wants to smash.

    We have been there, we have done that, and we will NEVER allow that again!

    A proud (democratic!) German

  • Hegarol

    Guys please remember two things:
    1. This is a commercial activity from StudiVZ. This has nothing to do with the government or democracy. Its their own platform and they can do whatever they want.
    2. This move has NOTHING to do with the Piraten Partei in particular. StudiVZ said they only allow party’s that are currently in the parliament.

    I am in no way saying I support this move. Just wanted to remember everyone that StudiVZ wants publicity and nothing more.

  • o_O

    StudiVZ is crap anyway, I don’t know how ppl can waste their time on it.
    If you need communication, go for something more useful, like DeviantArt.

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  • JTK

    I see a DDoS attack coming up…

  • chessboxing

    Can we vote in Belgium for PP?

  • AnarchyNow

    Once upon a time, some people felt concerns about the environment (like: too many nuclear plants, too many oil tankers on beaches, cars, etc) , so _some_ of them decided to create a “green” party…
    40 years later, all “green” parties have been corrupted and they all are in favor of nuclear energy, they don’t do anything about tankers ending on beaches all they care is their little well-paid politican seats.

    So I say it again: VOTING DOESN’T CHANGE ANYTHING AND ENDORSING A “PIRATE” PARTY WON’T CHANGE ANYTHING AT ALL

  • NubCakes

    Erm, I fail to see what is at issue here.

    Sure, it’s a worthy story to report on for TF, however this social networking site is a privately owned concern and has no obligation whatsoever to provide space for the Pirate Party should it not wish to.

    They have no obligation to act in a democratic manner or to allow the Pirate Party or anyone else for that matter any webspace whatsoever.

    It is not “undemocratic” as StudiVZ is simply not an instrument that is part of the established notion that democracy entails. I fail to see why the outrage is being displayed actually.

    Have they banned any other parties or is it just the Pirate Party – anybody know?

  • William

    Democracy ftw

  • aloa5

    Answer to this:
    “Have they banned any other parties or is it just the Pirate Party – anybody know?”

    The main problem is, that StudiVZ made a PR-campaign. They allowed different parties to start an elections campaign. They´ve said “only the parties represented in parliament – but not the NPD” (even the NPD.. the right-wing extremist party.. is not in parliament). There are also different youth- and local groups of the great parties wich have profiles.

    So StudiVZ: “election campaigns at studiVZ started/allowed”. Or (to be exact) StudiVZ made a campaign called “My vote counts”.
    Here is the German press release of StudiVZ:
    http://www.presseecho.de/vermischtes/NA3731394390.htm

    IF someone starts a PR campaign “My vote counts” with party-profiles allowed – aiming to “mobilize many first-voters” (and so on)… THEN he has to face critics (being biassed) if he select specific parties out. And this is what happened.

    Best Regards
    ALOA

  • Phil

    Hey,
    I just want to add, that it’s not just the PP that is banned from studiVZ, but also all parties not present in the German Bundestag (parliament) so this also includes several other small parties…

    I do think they should allow everybody on their platform, but what about protesting for all parties and not just that one known to a subculture?

    Just a thought…

  • Sky

    Hackers, start your engines.

  • Anonymous

    How convenient to protect the status quo of already established parties while preventing any emerging alternatives to even try.

    StudiVZ stinks.

  • celesto

    i interpret this as the beginning of the war PP vs. the other parties..you ll see who ll win ;)!

    PP Austria FTW in the future :)

  • Anonymous

    @5
    Perhaps “assholes to the power” party so you can postulate as a president or better Demi-god.

    WTF has to do pedophilia with pirate party who is defending our rights to free society you retard!

  • Cordelia

    GERMANY = Most important country in the EU right now.

    GERMANS please support this issue and don’t give up just because some poxy site gives into US pressure and bans the account.

    How about creating an independent site that cannot be taken down, and have everyone linking to it from their own profiles?

    WHAT PARTY CAN I VOTE FOR IN THE EU PARLIAMENT ELECTION THAT SUPPORTS NET NEUTRALITY ??

  • Anonymous

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  • hwertz

    “Private entities have full rights to ban whichever party they like.
    (I don’t think most people would mind that a newspaper would not feature a pedophile party [I would be against that, but the general public won't].”
    Well, obviously Germany has it’s own laws, but in the US I think this would not fly.

    Here, the newpapers, TV, and other media can either:
    1) Not cover politics at all or
    2) Give equal coverage to all parties
    In reality, this doesn’t work, they totally ignore the existence of third parties, and pretend there are only 2 parties (Democrats and Republicans, who both hate freedom and want a huge government, and just argue over the exact reasons why, while pretending they are totally different..) In the last election they did not let a candidate into the debates who had ~20% in the polls, because he was not a Dem or Rep!

    *BUT*, the way it’s been interpreted, facebook or the like would either have to kick all parties off their site, or allow all parties, They could not pick and choose as StudiVZ is doing.

    What you all should do is find a new social networking site, maybe arrange a “don’t use StudiVZ” day at the least. If they saw their traffic precipitously drop off they may know they should not interfere in politics.

  • mark

    StudiVZ is owned by Holzbrinck, which is large German Media Enterprise. Of cause they don’t like Pirates. So i don’t wonder.

  • asdf

    Facebook sucks, and they have patented the whole concept? Screw them, I hope they got buried soon and something better comes, something that allows people to do whatever, send files, show titties, WHATEVER!

  • ….

    lol who cares, they have no chance even they have an account on studivz/meinvz.

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