Senator Feinstein Trying To Sneak ISP Copyright Filtering Into Broadband Stimulus Bill

from the just-what-we-didn't-need dept

Tue, Feb 10th 2009 11:03am — Mike Masnick

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.

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Filed Under: broadband, copyright, feinstein, filtering, stimulus

22 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 10 Feb 2009 @ 11:21am

Thank goodness!
Thank goodness they are wasting their time on this. Meanwhile I'm keeping my transmissions encrypted and secure so these techniques won't work, maybe it will reduce the idiots online.
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Ima Fish, 10 Feb 2009 @ 11:38am

Does anyone else find it funny that they're trying to use the stimulus bill to hinder porn?
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Feb 2009 @ 11:41am

Please let me ask a question that is not related to Feinstein's activities, but to the stimulus package in general.

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?
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Feb 2009 @ 11:52am

Thank goodness!
Thank goodness they are wasting their time on this. Meanwhile I'm keeping my transmissions encrypted and secure so these techniques won't work, maybe it will reduce the idiots online.
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Feb 2009 @ 12:17pm

Scamgate
How does this help the economy get going again?

Independent voters (a growing disenchanted group) will turn on the Dems if they continue their "let's get ours now" campaign.
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Feb 2009 @ 12:35pm

Feinstein doesn't understand tech...
... as witnessed by her broken website http://feinstein.senate.gov/ (as of 12:35PM 2/10/09)
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sf suave, 10 Feb 2009 @ 1:48pm

I hate her...
Feinstein is, in my opinion, a horrible self serving bitch.

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.
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Matt, 10 Feb 2009 @ 2:15pm

Re: I hate her...
agreed. she is as bad as pelosi. I really hope they croak.
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Feb 2009 @ 2:17pm

I can't wait for the first time one of these senator's children/family members gets arrested for transferring "illegal content".
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Guy One, 10 Feb 2009 @ 2:18pm

I HATE HER MORE
She is the Devil!!!! supported by eco-terrorist Green Peace! Who gets direct funding from REAL TERRORIST's. She is supported by dirty oil money from the mid east! Mid East Terrorist support her and her every move to stop the public from using their own land! She is working harder to close down your favorite recreation area,
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Feb 2009 @ 2:35pm

Catch-22
Wow... that addition is horrible... using child porn to promote your own initiatives. Thats pretty much like the Mitch Hedberg "Have you ever tried sugar or LSD" bit.
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TPBer, 10 Feb 2009 @ 3:33pm

This is just an "SBDC" error
STUPID BITCH, DUMB CUNT!

Need I say more.
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Jason (profile), 10 Feb 2009 @ 3:57pm

Not just a privacy violation
She is basically asking for blanket authorization to wiretap all packets on the internet at the whim of corporate content providers.

This is insanity. This is about as unAmerican as it gets!
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sf Tony, 10 Feb 2009 @ 7:55pm

She is the devil incarnate
Diane Feinstein, even amongst the Democrats in CA, is known as the wicked witch of the west. I can't stand that woman and whenever I see her name or picture, it really ruins my day. She is almost as bad as Orin Hatch of Utah when it comes to pandering to the entertainment industry. She has no heart and I agree with the b*** label 100%.
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Feb 2009 @ 8:48pm

Re:
Does anyone else find it funny that they're trying to use the stimulus bill to hinder porn?

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.
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Feb 2009 @ 8:51pm

Re:
"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?"

The feds, of course. Individuals might not spend it on the "right" things. That's why we have government.
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Feb 2009 @ 8:55pm

Re:
I can't wait for the first time one of these senator's children/family members gets arrested for transferring "illegal content".

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".
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Kirk, 11 Feb 2009 @ 7:39am

Re: Re: Feds or People
Remember that we're talking about americans here. I love this country, but these are the same people that are so disconnected from their government that it's possible to put this, the patriot act, the DMCA, etc. through the legislature. How many playstation3's and lottery tickets will it take to heal the economy. It's not that I believe so strongly in our government; it's that I'm losing my faith in the people too. Giving directly and equally to every man, woman, and child would be the pinnacle of democracy. I for one am glad we have a republic.
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Anonymous12, 11 Feb 2009 @ 10:13am

·moc·ra·cy (d-mkr-s)
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.
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kirk, 11 Feb 2009 @ 11:45am

Democracy
I would not be so bold as to claim your definitions innacurate, but I believe my reckoning of the differences between domocracy and republic, while not very nuanced, is truer and represents a more widely held understanding.

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.
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Anonymous12, 11 Feb 2009 @ 2:18pm

@kirk: I take it that was half trying to be funny, half trying to salvage a point? It ended up making no sense.
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.
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Ty J, 12 Feb 2009 @ 2:06pm

Email Feinstein!!
http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUS.EmailMe
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