New round of US attack on Internet freedoms - even worse.

[ThePythonicCow]

Worse than SOPA, CISPA or CFAA ... a new round of attach on the Internet is being drafted in the US Congress. From Rather Than Fix The CFAA, House Judiciary Committee Planning To Make It Worse... Way Worse (techdirt.com) (http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130324/14342822435/rather-than-fix-cfaa-house-judiciary-committee-planning-to-make-it-worse-way-worse.shtml):



So, you know all that talk about things like Aaron's Law and how Congress needs to fix the CFAA? Apparently, the House Judiciary Committee has decided to raise a giant middle finger to folks who are concerned about abuses of the CFAA. Over the weekend, they began circulating a "draft" of a "cyber-security" bill that is so bad that it almost feels like the Judiciary Committee is doing it on purpose as a dig at online activists who have fought back against things like SOPA, CISPA and the CFAA. Rather than fix the CFAA, it expands it. Rather than rein in the worst parts of the bill, it makes them worse. And, from what we've heard, the goal is to try to push this through quickly, with a big effort underway for a "cyberweek" in the middle of April that will force through a bunch of related bills.
Follow the link (http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130324/14342822435/rather-than-fix-cfaa-house-judiciary-committee-planning-to-make-it-worse-way-worse.shtml) for more details. They would increase penalties, apply racketeering crimes as well, and send you to prison for just considering breaking the law just as if you had gone ahead with and completed the crime.

The bastards really, really do intend to clamp down on the Web. Perhaps the US Congress is jealous of the "liberty" that the Chinese government has in controlling and criminalizing any "undesired" expression on the Web?

[Flash]

this is important Paul, it should go viral and action being taken immediately, we have two weeks it seems

[ThePythonicCow]

this is important Paul, it should go viral and action being taken immediately, we have two weeks it seems

Agreed .

[ThePythonicCow]

From Draft bill would make CFAA even worse (Salon.com) (http://www.salon.com/2013/03/25/draft_bill_would_make_cfaa_even_worse/):



In recent months, especially in light of Aaron Swartz’s suicide and Andrew ‘Weev’ Aurnheimer’s prison sentencing, calls for reform to or disposal of the Computer Fraud and Abuses Act (CFAA) have amplified to a fever pitch. If a draft cybersecurity bill (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/627265-sr-005-xml.html) from the House Judiciary Committee is anything to go by, however, these cries for change have fallen on deaf ears.

As noted here (http://www.salon.com/2013/01/16/federal_justice_and_aaron_swartzs_death/), following Swartz’s death, Rep. Zoe Lofgren proposed legislation, “Aaron’s law,” which aims to stop the government bringing disproportionate charges in cases like Swartz’s. The draft cybersecurity bill circulating on Capitol Hill since last weekend, unlike Lofgren’s, appears to expand the CFAA, not limit it. TechDirt (http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130324/14342822435/rather-than-fix-cfaa-house-judiciary-committee-planning-to-make-it-worse-way-worse.shtml) called the proposed bill “so bad that it almost feels like the Judiciary Committee is doing it on purpose as a dig at online activists who have fought back against things like SOPA, CISPA and the CFAA.”
More at the Salon.com link (http://www.salon.com/2013/03/25/draft_bill_would_make_cfaa_even_worse/)

[ThePythonicCow]

From America's Awful Computer-Crime Law Might Be Getting a Whole Lot Worse (Slate.com) (http://www.slate.com/blogs/crime/2013/03/25/computer_fraud_and_abuse_act_the_cfaa_america_s_awful_computer_crime_law.html):



The bill being considered by the House Judiciary Committee would make the CFAA more draconian. It stiffens penalties across the board—accessing a protected computer without authorization and subsequently causing damage, for example, would now be punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as opposed to the current five. It would make “trafficking in passwords” used to access any protected computer an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison—which, theoretically, could mean that sharing your login information for Netflix or The New York Times could land you in jail. And it allows prosecutors to punish failed attempts at computer crime as harshly as successful attempts.
More at the Slate.com link (http://www.slate.com/blogs/crime/2013/03/25/computer_fraud_and_abuse_act_the_cfaa_america_s_awful_computer_crime_law.html).

[rgray222]

This is an issue that will not go away, the internet is viewed as an endless stream of revenue for governments (tax, fees and licenses) that they have yet to gain control over. They will continue to come after the internet until they find a way to get their foot in the door. Once in the door they will be able to change/modify laws to pretty much do what they want. As is the way with most government laws, it will be done for the good of society. It will be passed under the guise of homeland security, preventing terrorism, prevent pedophilia, stop identity theft, copyright infringement or for any number of well meaning issues. The underlying issue will be money, make no mistake about it.

Keep in mind the slightest entry is all they are seeking. Once in, the damage is done. There is one way to prevent this and that is for the people to rise up and say no. Sign petitions, write congress, be vocal. Do whatever it takes to keep all government from exercising control of the internet. People need to recognize that they are the ones that have the power to prevent this from happening.

[spiritguide]

Another attack on first ammendment rights. Our congress seems intent on attacking the bill of rights for citizens and allowing corporations to do as they wish. IMHO

[ThePythonicCow]

The underlying issue will be money, make no mistake about it.
More than just the money I suspect.

I'm not worried much that they will get my money; I don't have much of that.

I'm worried they will suffocate the remnants of my freedom. The Internet, in various forms including forums such as this, has been instrumental in increasing the awareness of millions of people, which I doubt pleases the bastards in power.

[gripreaper]

The reason they let the internet flourish was to create a network of complete surveillance, and a database on everybody's activities. What they did not expect, was that people would flock to the internet and use it to wake up. Now that their cyber surveillance network is in place, it's time to clamp down on the awakening and shove the people back into submission.

What remains to be seen, is if the genie is already out of the bottle and impossible to put back in. The attack is so pervasive and on every front, it's a wonder why some people are still so docile, while others are ramping up the awakening and spreading the word.

Something has to give, and soon.

[Nanoo Nanoo]

this is important Paul, it should go viral and action being taken immediately, we have two weeks it seems

i get 8 to 10 days ...

[Snookie]

Worse than SOPA, CISPA or CFAA ... a new round of attach on the Internet is being drafted in the US Congress. From Rather Than Fix The CFAA, House Judiciary Committee Planning To Make It Worse... Way Worse (techdirt.com) (http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130324/14342822435/rather-than-fix-cfaa-house-judiciary-committee-planning-to-make-it-worse-way-worse.shtml):



So, you know all that talk about things like Aaron's Law and how Congress needs to fix the CFAA? Apparently, the House Judiciary Committee has decided to raise a giant middle finger to folks who are concerned about abuses of the CFAA. Over the weekend, they began circulating a "draft" of a "cyber-security" bill that is so bad that it almost feels like the Judiciary Committee is doing it on purpose as a dig at online activists who have fought back against things like SOPA, CISPA and the CFAA. Rather than fix the CFAA, it expands it. Rather than rein in the worst parts of the bill, it makes them worse. And, from what we've heard, the goal is to try to push this through quickly, with a big effort underway for a "cyberweek" in the middle of April that will force through a bunch of related bills.
Follow the link (http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130324/14342822435/rather-than-fix-cfaa-house-judiciary-committee-planning-to-make-it-worse-way-worse.shtml) for more details. They would increase penalties, apply racketeering crimes as well, and send you to prison for just considering breaking the law just as if you had gone ahead with and completed the crime.

Yeah, now they are trying to implement the idea of "Thought Crime" put forward in Minority Report.

The No Agenda Show discussed this in depth on Sunday. It sounds as though they were changing/adding to the bill in the middle of the night hoping the changes would be slipped in without being noticed.

[Gardener]

We are dealing with psychpaths, the people pushing this agenda. Psychopaths 'own' possess and control, everything; their partner, children, everything belongs to them to do as they wish. That's how they think.
USA gov does not own the web, they want to own and control the main spines of the web but so far no-one has allowed them to do that. They are pis*ed. They are paranoid.
When they were refused the extradition of Gary Mack they were pi*sed, he went looking for UFO and Zero point energy, they don't know if he saw anything, and they wanted to know, but they weren't able to take ownership and control, so they are pi*ssed. Hence intensified control which is to them is justified, because they 'own' it and will make sure everyone knows they own and control the world. More and more they exhibit the traits of the psychopath. This endless locking down of everything they think they own and control.

[Lifebringer]

Well, we all know that their heads would spin, if a worldwide "boycott the net for 4 wks" would collapse their pockets because all the ads would yield nothing and people wouldn't move their plastic online. They need to know their actions will be followed with "non-compliance" if they continue to spy, track or sell our information. Before the public/private post-offices bill, the only thing we had to worry about when mail carriers needed a raise, was the price of a stamp. Now we have to worry about a for profit postal service and pay or lose what was once ours before they got their grubby greedy hands on the contract.
If we remove the ticks, off our behinds, they can't suck the life out of what works and siphon bonuses into the mix. I liked our 3% overhead raise for staff, much more than the 475% increase. Remember when stamps were 32 cents?

The cost keep going up, as they keep our loot going down to them. That is the "trickle down." If they do it with a smile, it's called: "Tickle Down." Distractions/shiny objects are their specialty, but Non-participation will drop their stocks and make them take notice, as well as respect our choices, to participate or not.

If it's gets any worse, then a full uniting around the world of "freeze them out" will commence. You gotta realize they've been dying to get into our heads, minds, property, plans for a long time to take advantage of those who don't know the game. They can knock, but like a salesman, you don't have to answer.

Godspeed everyone. Let's ask for more phychic ability and really "freeze them out." Can you imagine the twitter confusion."
LOL.

[risveglio]

CISPA is up for a vote today. If your in the US, try contacting your congressperson and insist they vote no.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130417/09330122741/cispa-renders-online-privacy-agreements-meaningless-sponsor-sees-no-reason-to-fix-that.shtml

[math330]

It passed.

http://rt.com/usa/congress-house-bill-cispa-031/

It still has to pass the senate, and then the president has to sign it for the bill to become law. White House advisors have already said they'd advise Obama not to sign.

It's worrying that the bill got even this far.

[ThePythonicCow]

It passed.

http://rt.com/usa/congress-house-bill-cispa-031/

It still has to pass the senate, and then the president has to sign it for the bill to become law. White House advisors have already said they'd advise Obama not to sign.

It's worrying that the bill got even this far.

Yeah - no need for us freedom loving web hackers to worry our nerdy little heads over this - the President won't sign or perhaps even the Senate won't pass it.

</sarcasm>

[Nanoo Nanoo]

It would be a great thing if they shut it down all together.

Then we would be doing instead of reading.

Any which way they try to plug a hole 10 more will pop up.. its just the way it works.

N

[Limor Wolf]

Thanks math330, Rt is a well aware media news station. Here is another reaction from a less informed source, some suspicions are evoked and hopefully the reactions will match, before the senate will put it's stamp on it (and most chances it will)

"Few would dispute that cybersecurity is not a concern. A rapid flurry of recent cyberattacks of government and corporate websites has highlighted the issue. But as Internet security experts argue, [I]CISPA approaches the problem in a wrongheaded manner, allowing companies to share information to make their networks more secure but at a cost to users’ rights"

http://www.care2.com/causes/cispa-passes-no-one-is-too-happy.html