They’re Still at It. SOPA and the “Kill” Switch.

Published on February 8, 2012 By DrJBHL In Personal Computing

According to RT (http://rt.com/usa/news/senate-sopa-new-internet-847/):

“After trying to adopt Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA), both pieces of legislation turned out to be a disaster, causing outrage among Internet giants and ordinary users alike. Congress had to retreat. However it's determined to get what it wants this time.”

More like they’re determined to get what MIAA, RIAA and MPIAA want and what they can give them for it. Amazing that the “do nothing (for the American people)” Congress seems to be in high gear to get this poor legislation done. Well, in a media dominated election year what do you expect, folks?

After all, Sen. Harry Reid did say, “There is no reason that the legitimate issues raised by many about this bill cannot be resolved.” After all, Sen. Reid did add that our Solons will ““continue engaging with all stakeholders to forge a balance between protecting Americans’ intellectual property, and maintaining openness and innovation on the Internet.” A view mirrored by Lamar Smith (R. California).

Apparently, DMCA isn’t good enough for Harry nor Lamar, nor their “constituents”, who probably aren’t the people of Nevada or California in this case. Well, in Lamar’s case maybe some of them: The richest and most powerful, anyway.

Now, the push is on again according to RT and Neowin.net (via RT). The details haven’t been disclosed to the public. Well, after the last fiasco they learned their lesson. The way to secure “no public objection” is to keep the public in the dark.

“However some leaks suggest that the bill will grant the authority to crack down on the Internet to the executive branch of power, namely the White House. It looks highly possible taking into consideration that the legislation has to come out of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, chaired by Connecticut Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman. - http://rt.com/usa/news/senate-sopa-new-internet-847/

Now that’s neither Torah nor Gospel. That’s rumor. But it’s enough to make me demand the details. I hope non-media reporters will hound them until we do find out. After all, “Independent” (“I’ll wear any label to get me elected”) Sen. Joe Lieberman did sponsor the bill that would have granted the President power over “the kill switch” after declaring “a cybersecurity emergency”. That bill also evoked the proper outrage, and never made it to the Senate.

What do you think? Is it on the way back? But do be careful of what you say and how you say it: The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee is chaired by Connecticut Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman.

Beginning to make sense? Oh yes, guess who wrote an Op-Ed piece about PIPA, SOPA and OPEN just yesterday in The New York Times? None other than Cary H. Sherman, RIAA CEO. (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/opinion/what-wikipedia-wont-tell-you.html?_r=3)

Comments (Page 2)

Philocthetes

on Feb 11, 2012

Rovert10

reply 4

My bigger concern right now is ACTA which Obama already signed and is definately an invasion of privacy.

There's an interesting article at Techdirt about whether or not ACTA will be treated as an executive agreement or should be considered a treaty and thus require approval by the Senate. I take the latter position and am about to go sign the petition at Whitehouse.gov linked from that article.

I voted for Obama and will do so again because the alternatives are unacceptable to me, but the health of our republic most definitely depends on active, constructive dissent. The man's steady drift to the right since his election hasn't exactly surprised me, but I must abashedly admit that I'm very surprised at his immediate and strong conversion to the imperial presidency tradition. If he sets this new precedent for expansive use of executive agreements, he'll have opened up a whole new realm of potential abuse of power by presidents of all parties.

Re the OP, that RT article should not talk about "under a new name" when they don't know the name. Rumours are often the start of public awareness of important stories, but both professional and amateur journalists should be direct and clear about when they are sharing rumours vs. known facts. I'm very sympathetic with the counterfeit goods parts of those execrable bills, and I'd be happy to learn that this "under a new name" thing is actually targeted at material goods and not another attempt to extend digital content laws for the benefit of major corporations.

Why do so few of the formal discussions of these online issues include fair use? If the RIAA/MPAA crowd keep on winning, fair use will be reduced to old-school photocopied zines (samizdat).

zigzag

on Feb 11, 2012

GW Swicord

reply 16

The man's steady drift to the right since his election hasn't exactly surprised me, but I must abashedly admit that I'm very surprised at his immediate and strong conversion to the imperial presidency tradition. If he sets this new precedent for expansive use of executive agreements, he'll have opened up a whole new realm of potential abuse of power by presidents of all parties.

Well, if nothing else, at least it's an interesting reminder that American politics always involves more than parties.

myfist0

on Feb 14, 2012

Awwwwwggggg, Canadians are needed.

"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."

Mein Kampf - Adolf Hitler

get to the online petition @ http://openmedia.ca/StopSpying

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