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You Are All Terrorists!

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Ralf Maximus:
Non-US residents, you may cover your eyes now.  The following is strictly an American exercise in overreaction...

According to the always excellent Ars Technica, the US government is considering new legislation that would treat the internet as a terrorist tool.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071128-congress-to-examine-the-internet-as-a-tool-for-homegrown-terrorism.html



This isn't the only article out there on HR 1955 (the Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007), but I found it the most level-headed.  Despite a small technical flaw (Ars Technica reports that Congress is considering the bill, when in actual fact it's passed Congress and is now to be considered by the Senate) they do a reasonable job of covering the relevant bits.  For instance, there's only one section pertaining to the internet, and it's basically an acknowledgement that terrorists could use the 'net for bad things.

However, it makes me squirm when I think about wrinkly old men who have their email read to them considering technological issues.  It would be all too easy to take the foot-in-the-door this bill represents and kick it wide open.  The presumption of guilt before innocence is just a goose-step away.

Hopefully, sanity will prevail once the net-savvy lobbies have their say.  Hopefully.

But even if that happens, and a modified version passes without specifically mentioning the 'net, funds will be allocated to form "research groups" that will look into how the internet can be used to facilitate terrorism.  Along with ways to detect and deter, one would assume. 

Feeling safer?  Maybe not.  But if you're an internet security consultant, prepare for good times.

tinjaw:
Has EPIC, EFF, or CDT picked up on this? I assume they have. I'll need to check their websites today and see if they have put out the message to get on the phone to Senators about this.

f0dder:
I'm certainly a terrorist. I'm committing mindcrime.

Lashiec:
I'm certainly a terrorist. I'm committing mindcrime.
-f0dder (November 29, 2007, 05:12 AM)
--- End quote ---

Is Dr. X calling you at night with strange requests? ;D

Ralf Maximus:
He's got the cure.

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