It case you haven’t figured it out already, I’m a staunch Libertarian. I’m against pretty much all expansions of government power and infringements on personal liberty.
“the government that governs best, governs least.” – Thomas Jefferson
CNET’s Declan McCullagh has a good write up on the proposed propopsed DMCA expansion:
A proposed copyright law seen by CNET News.com would expand the DMCA’s restrictions on software that can bypass copy protections and grant federal police more wiretapping and enforcement powers.
Wiretaps . . .to stop . . . downloading music? We want government to be able to invade people’s privacy to stop college kids from listening to music? This is a joke- right? People need to understand that every expansion of government power brings us closer to a society like Orwell described in 1984.
Such changes are necessary because new technology is “encouraging large-scale criminal enterprises to get involved in intellectual-property theft,” Gonzales said, adding that proceeds from the illicit businesses are used, “quite frankly, to fund terrorism activities.”
What a complete asshole. Somehow I doubt the next Ji-Had will be funded by me downloading “Hit me Baby One More Time” for free. Especially since no money changes hands when I pirate. This new bill is mostly directed against the noncommercial copyright infringer.
The 24-page bill is a far-reaching medley of different proposals cobbled together. One would, for instance, create a new federal crime of just trying to commit copyright infringement. Such willful attempts at piracy, even if they fail, could be punished by up to 10 years in prison.
How can 10 years for attempting to download music or posting copyrighted material possibly be justified? I may have just reprinted enough of the original CNET article to go to jail for 10 years under the new law. More over Singapore, the US is creating the new paragon for police states and draconian penalties for victimless crimes.
Apparently, our elected officials believe that publishing a copyrighted photo (even one not registered with the United States Copyright Office) is the moral equivalent of murder.
I have just donated to the Electornic Frontier Foundation, a political group set up to fight for online privacy rights. I am also a member of the Free Speach Coaltion.
The Chief Sponsor of this bill is Congressmen Lamar Smith of Texas – his chief of staff is Joseph Gibson: (202) 225-4236. Read the entire bill and give him a call. Every phone call represents more than 1,000 constituents who did not have the time, motivations or intelligence to call.
3 Responses to “Privacy Rights”
The Bush administration is always playing the Kevin Bacon game with terrorism. Everything is linked to terrorism. Porn sites are linked to terrorism. Downloading music supports terrorism. Next, Linux will be supporting terrorism.
I voted for Bush. I’m sorry.
ROFL - Dude, you are helarious and I couldn’t agree more.
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Disclaimer: I am a Bush supporter. I volunteered on his campaign in 2004.
But please…even I am getting tired of the administration’s “we need to do XYZ in order to fight terror” bogus nonsense.
We already know that the Patriot Act is being used for things not even related to terrorism. But at least it was designed to supposedly fight terrorism. This DMCA expansion has absolutely nothing to do with fighting terrorism and yet they are using terrorism as an excuse to get it passed.
What a joke.