Congress: P2P Promotes Identity Theft! We Need New Laws!
from the maybe-one-of-these-will-stick dept
It would appear that the entertainment industry's friends in Congress are now trying to blame just about anything evil online on P2P technology. A few months ago, a group of representatives started saying that P2P technology had to be regulated because it was a national security threat. The reasoning behind this? Because some idiot gov't employees ignored policies forbidding the use of unauthorized 3rd party apps (or putting sensitive data on home computers) and misconfigured P2P apps... ending up in secure documents being available for download. In other words, even though the real fault was stupid gov't employees ignoring policies and misusing the technology... it was the technology's fault.Apparently, that argument didn't generate enough support for a new law against P2P technology. So now the exact same group of Congressional Representatives is claiming that P2P technology is evil and must be stopped... because it promotes identity theft. The politicians (many of whom just so happen to come from places where large entertainment firms are based... though, we're sure that's a coincidence) are clearly trying to come up with an excuse (any excuse) to come up with new laws against P2P systems. Today's action involved asking the FTC to investigate this perceived threat from P2P systems and also asked whether the FTC felt it had enough enforcement powers to address this problem, or if it needed help from Congress. In other words, the well-choreographed dance has begun. We'll soon see legislation introduced to crack down on file sharing systems, officially in the name of stopping identity theft, but really thanks to campaign contributions from the entertainment industry who still hasn't realized that it's harming itself. The more they do this, the more real innovation will move elsewhere.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: congress, identity theft, national security, p2p
Companies: congress, riaa
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Not P2P
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Power and Money
[ link to this | view in thread ]
They hate progress....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
We've seen it happen before, when Napster was outlawed.
If they think a new law will change that, they are mistaken.
I don't condone blatant copyright violations (though I have to admit, that the current copyright laws not exactly consumer-friendly are), but I also don't want to see this new technology (that can easily be used for good as well), be destroyed by pure greed from the media companies and ignorance from the lawmakers' side.
For a lawmaker, ignorance is not an excuse. If he or she should get knowledgeable on the subject he or she wants to make laws for, preferably from independent people and not from lobbyists.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ban
OR... Congress could pass a law reducing the number of things I need to give away my SS number for.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
this was going to happen eventually
Now I just download whatever media I want from other countries. That's P2P to me.
Hollywood doesn't just want us to eat shit -- it wants us to enjoy the flavor.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
WTF?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Congress is combining two of the greatest motivational policies ever. A revival mixed with a witch hunt. I guess it was inevitable. I mean, when has the american people been satisfied with only one subject for witch hunting (read sex offenders, drug addicts, or any other "Popular" crime)? I've said it before in conjuction with other laws, and I'll say it again. When the majority of a people are labeled criminals, then there is something wrong with the laws, not the people. Maybe it's time we excercised our constitutional right to find a new government. Scrap congress and half the laws of the last couple decades and start over from the '40's or maybe even the '30's. Couldn't be any worse than it is now.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
What the heck are they thinking?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
re: Barrenwaste
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
try
[ link to this | view in thread ]
paris
sweden? you like 50% taxation? hot girls but costs a fortune to get them drunk...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: re: Barrenwaste
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Ban
[ link to this | view in thread ]
I'd rather have over priced media drivel delivered quickly to my always-on TV, then to have open ideas from all over the world at my choice with only a few clicks.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
It's really a matter of lack of education
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ban Microsoft, Dell, Apple, and Sony
Before the days of computers, people had to physically go into an office and steal files and folders.
These companies have made it too easy to share information over the internet! Pass a law banning computers!
Plus, without computers, nobody could share movies or music, nor could they post critical blogs! A bonus win for the MPAA and RIAA!
(sarcasm off)
[ link to this | view in thread ]