Senator Feinstein Trying To Sneak ISP Copyright Filtering Into Broadband Stimulus Bill
from the just-what-we-didn't-need dept
One of our big fears with the stimulus bill was that with such a huge deal, there would be plenty of small opportunities for lobbyists to slip in absolutely awful language. Well, it's happening. Sen. Feinstein has inserted language into the stimulus bill that would officially "allow network management" for "deterring unlawful activity" including "copyright infringement." Of course, right before "copyright infringement" it also lists "child pornography" because no politician wants to be seen as voting against something that stops child pornography. As Public Knowledge points out, the whole thing doesn't make much sense. Network management tools are different than content filtering tools -- so saying that the use of network management tools is necessary for the sake of content filtering is a red herring. And, if this does involve deep-packet inspection, as is implied by the amendment, it seems like a huge privacy violation, allowing an ISP to spy on everything you do online. Public Knowledge is trying to get out the word that this should not be allowed in the stimulus bill.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: broadband, copyright, feinstein, filtering, stimulus
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Thank goodness!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Especially considering that some from the porn industry have also been lobbying for a stimulus package for the pron industry, what with porn DVD sales being down due to the economy. Maybe the taxpayer will get to finance both sides, as usual.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Watching Obama's press conference last night I was stuck by his statement that in these economic times spending was necessary to boost "demand", and that the stimulus package was a way to do so via targeted government spending. Of course, those doing the targeted spending are located with the "Beltway".
Looking at the numbers for all stimulus packages (this and the recent bailout packages), they are rapidly closing in on a figure of about $2,000,000,000,000, or about $6,667 for every man, woman and child residing in the US. My question: Who is best situated to stimulate the economy, a federal bureaucracy picking and choosing where to send money, or individuals with an extra $6,667 sitting in their wallets?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
The feds, of course. Individuals might not spend it on the "right" things. That's why we have government.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Feds or People
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Thank goodness!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Scamgate
Independent voters (a growing disenchanted group) will turn on the Dems if they continue their "let's get ours now" campaign.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Feinstein doesn't understand tech...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I hate her...
Jello Biafra once referred to her as "the dragon lady with no ****ing heart".
For years now she has been a blight on the face of American politics.
She has always trolled out the "protecting the children" line when all she seems to be protecting, as far as I can see it, are her own interests.
It comes as no suprise to me that she's behind anything like this.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I hate her...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
They won't. The content companies always make sure they aren't stepping on the wrong toes before they call out the dogs. Reminds me of the song "Fortunate Son".
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I HATE HER MORE
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Catch-22
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
This is just an "SBDC" error
Need I say more.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Not just a privacy violation
This is insanity. This is about as unAmerican as it gets!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
She is the devil incarnate
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
n. pl. de·moc·ra·cies
1. Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.
2. A political or social unit that has such a government.
3. The common people, considered as the primary source of political power.
4. Majority rule.
5. The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@Kir k: I agree with your sentiments, but you clearly need some correction. You're confusing communism with democracy.
America is a DEMOCRATIC (Majority rule, elected representatives) Republic:
A political order whose head of state is not a monarch and in modern times is usually a president.
Source: thefreedictionary.com
Just because our leaders (the Senate primarily not the President) are full of nice socialistic ideals, doesn't change the definition of democracy. I can't believe the ignorance on some of these basic issues.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Democracy
It is sad that you agree with me on the other points, at least in the implication that I might be correct. I am looking forward to some contradictory posts, so I can get my appetite back before lunch.
Cheers.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
While you don't disagree with dictionary definitions, you still believe your definitions to be more true? Also LOL "a more widely held understanding". You mean lots of people are uneducated, or believe a popular understanding over reality? No $hit sherlock. You are correct on the other points. MY point is, any time you go around incorrectly defining things, you risk undermining any valid points you have. I could have made this point on a thousand posts. Yours seemed the most easily accessable. I hope you ate well. Cheers.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Email Feinstein!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]