Once Again, Congress Wants To Blame Limewire For Stupid Staffers, As Arts+Labs Propaganda Campaign Works

from the limewire-ain't-the-problem dept

Thu, Jul 30th 2009 9:33am — Mike Masnick

This started a few years ago, when suddenly grandstanding Congress-folk started blaming Limewire for "leaking" a confidential terrorist threat assessment. Of course, that was misguided. The problem wasn't Limewire (or any file sharing software), but idiotic gov't employees who (a) put file sharing software on gov't computers (b) didn't properly wall off the software and (c) put confidential info where it could be shared. Earlier this year, suddenly, the issue came up again (again targeting Limewire). It was instigated by some aggressive entertainment industry lobbyists, who have concocted this huge story about how Limewire is to blame. And politicians always seem willing to buy it.

The latest is that some in Congress are planning legislation after claiming that "Secret Service safehouse locations, military rosters, and IRS tax returns" were available via Limewire (funny... those are the same things mentioned in the PR email I got from the entertainment industry lobbyist's PR person...).

Our Congressional critters tried to one up each other in stupid proposals, with one, Rep. Bill Foster, even tossing out the idea of passing a law to block the Gnutella protocol (though, he admitted it wasn't likely to work). Others just planned to pass laws that would ban the use of file sharing software on gov't computers (you need a law for that?!?) and to have the FTC investigate Limewire. And, of course, the real goal in all of this, politicians want to pass a law demanding that the gov't "undertake a national campaign to educate consumers about the dangers of file sharing software."

That last one, of course, is actually the end-goal here. The entertainment industry and their shills such as the group Arts+Labs (who was behind much of this campaign) have been demonizing file sharing software completely, and now want the gov't to help. So the best way to do that was to find some folks who misused the software, get some headlines about how P2P software "exposed" Obama's safehouse locations and then get the gov't to put in place some entertainment industry propaganda. Arts+Labs wins completely. It's backers include the various entertainment firms (bonus! gov't pitching their propaganda story) and a few tech companies who sell filtering/blocking technology (bonus! gov't increasing demand for their technology).

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Filed Under: blame, file sharing, government, p2p, polticians, propaganda
Companies: arts+labs, limewire

39 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:01am

I say let them "educate". They will become laughing stock for everyone. "If you put files in shared folders, they will be shared!". Well, duh!
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Dark Helmet (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:14am

New Rule #1
Ok, I'm going to try to start keeping track of how many new rules I, Lord Helmet, have to enact in order to keep people from shitting all over themselves trying to get through American life. This is #1:

"The latest is that some in Congress are planning legislation after claiming that "Secret Service safehouse locations, military rosters, and IRS tax returns" were available via Limewire (funny... those are the same things mentioned in the PR email I got from the entertainment industry lobbyist's PR person...)."

Ok, this new rule is for members of Congress. If you're making any claim of a nature that ought to have statistics or empirical data associated with it, you must AT THE VERY LEAST cite the source of that data that you're basing your legislation upon, or the support/dissent of others legislation. No more quoting lobbyist's papers, no more reading straight from press releases, no more speaking as if you are an informed authority when you aren't.

If you violate Rule #1, you are not allowed to propose ANY legislation in your house of Congress for a period of one month, which will piss off your consituents. 2nd offense is a 3 month penalty. 3rd offense is beheading.

So Lord Helmet has written it, so it shall become...
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- :Lobo Santo (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:36am
  
  Re: New Rule #1
  Second!
  
  All in favor?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Sean T Henry (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:37am
  
  Re: New Rule #1
  Hear, hear!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Hephaestus (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:46am
  
  Re: New Rule #1
  Motion carried!!!
  
  Let the beheadings begin
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  - Dark Helmet (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:50am
    
    Re: Re: New Rule #1
    Hephaestus, where've you been on getting us your contact info (Me and that guy who needs 10 bucks) for the website venture? If you're in a metropolitan area, in the word's of our creepy Uncle Sam: We Want YOU!
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Hephaestus (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:54am
      
      Re: Re: Re: New Rule #1
      how do I get my contact info to you? I dont see anyway on this site to send you an invite, e-mail,etc?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Dark Helmet (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:56am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: New Rule #1
        send it to mike, linking to this comment, have him forward me your email and we'll reach out.
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        Hephaestus (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 11:12am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Rule #1
        From the profile it would be nice to have an anon e-mail link here
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        Dark Helmet (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 11:16am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Rule #1
        Unfortunately, since Mike does not reside on Planet Spaceball, he is just outside of my jurisdiction...
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        Hephaestus (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 11:16am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Rule #1
        From the profile it would be nice to have an anon e-mail link to contact people here
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:22am

Anti-whistleblower?
I'm wondering if the gov't suits don't see this as an opportunity to prevent whistleblowers from putting stuff out there. It doesn't really make much sense otherwise to make it an actual law, rather than a departmental rule.
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IshmaelDS, 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:33am

I don't see the problem
Obviously it's limewire's fault that people are able to share secret documents. I mean come on. They should have a built-in security that doesn't let you share files you shouldn't be sharing. Just like it's the auto manufacture's fault when you get in an accident. They should have a built-in security that doesn't let you get in accidents.
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Brian (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:35am

Yeah good idea
When are these guys going to learn? If you start a national campaign against file sharing, guess what's going to happen... you're going to draw even MORE attention to file sharing! Let them start a national "education" campaign... heck, let the RIAA run it for all I care.

"File Sharing is WRONG! It's illegal and we'll come down on you hard if you do it! And we all know how easy it is... I mean how hard is it to go to lime wire's website, follow the easy installer, create an account, search for your favorite music and download it at no cost?"
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Dark Helmet (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:37am

Sigh
"And, of course, the real goal in all of this, politicians want to pass a law demanding that the gov't "undertake a national campaign to educate consumers about the dangers of file sharing software.""

Oh, wonderful. Why didn't anyone tell me that file sharing was the government's marijuana of the new millenium?
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- aguywhoneedstenbucks (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:46am
  
  Re: Sigh
  Every time you share a file terrorists beat a puppy to death. Don't share files.
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  - Hephaestus (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:50am
    
    Re: Re: Sigh
    Would have been better if you had said .....
    
    Every time you share a file terrorists beat a politician to death. Don't share files....
    
    unless you want to ... big Ole GRIN
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  - Dark Helmet (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:52am
    
    Re: Re: Sigh
    "Every time you share a file terrorists beat a puppy to death. Don't share files."
    
    Nah, it'd be more like: "Lime-Wire is a gateway application to harder file-use. You may think, hey, I'll just take one toke on from this file, just a byte here, a KB, there. Soon your so strung out from lack of "sharing" that you're throwing yourself out of windows just to get the high back".
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    - Hephaestus (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 10:56am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Sigh
      LOL ... sounds like you promoting the old refer madness movie
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  - Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2009 @ 11:51am
    
    Re: Re: Sigh
    If beating puppies is wrong, I don't want to be right.
    
    Oh crap... did I just infringe on someone?
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Hephaestus (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 11:23am

Now for the fun part .....
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Hephaestus (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 11:23am

Now for the fun part .....
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Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased) (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 11:59am

get some headlines about how P2P software "exposed" Obama's safehouse locations

I thought Biden did that in an interview with the press!?
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Hephaestus (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 12:21pm

Now for the fun part .....
"You promised us two years ago you were going to fix LimeWire."

--- "I cant fix stupid people"

"The idea that you can look at the first lady's information, where she's going, how she's getting there."

--- The first lady uses P2P software? also refer to the stupid people comment above...
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2009 @ 12:35pm

Um, yeah, on that website idea...
Right. Good luck with that. Hah. A few months ago, I talked with several industry lawyers in Los Angeles which led me to a desire to meet with Howard. Your efforts are not going anywhere. The best advice I can provide is to get out of your parents house and into a job that will pay you.

I love popcorn. But this is a special occasion, and I'm going to order a 30-Lb Carmel Popcorn kits.

Let me warm up the machine, so it's ready when UPS drops it off...
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- Dark Helmet (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 1:14pm
  
  Re: Um, yeah, on that website idea...
  Hey Sparky, what in the world could music industry lawyers POSSIBLY have to say against a website aggregating information on independent, non-label affiliated music?
  
  Did you miss the part where we're going outside the industry?
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  - Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2009 @ 1:48pm
    
    Re: Re: Um, yeah, on that website idea...
    That's fresh. Our solution included independent music. It didn't fly. In fact, I've decided to order a second case of caramel popcorn and am considering a third case made with real cheddar cheese, made from Happy California Cows.
    
    Dark Helmet, be sure to get Hephaestus and you to post a URL to your new site here.
    
    I'm totally looking forward to this. Baw hahahaha!
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    - Dark Helmet (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 1:58pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Um, yeah, on that website idea...
      How about instead you use your experience WITH us and offer us some constructive criticism on our efforts so that we can all bring this to fruition.
      
      You'll excuse me if "your idea isn't going anywhere" just isn't acceptable to me. If the idea is good in principle, I'll MAKE it go somewhere. If not, then it'll be a lesson learned for the next opportunity.
      
      Open arms, my friend. Learn me some of your experience.
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      - Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2009 @ 2:46pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Um, yeah, on that website idea...
        Good luck.
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        Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2009 @ 4:50pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Um, yeah, on that website idea...
        Damn I leave for 2 hours and a name calling match occurs ... stop or I will send you to your respective rooms...
        
        AC - I will ban you to the land of Direct current appliances
        
        Dark Helmet - I will sick Yogurt on your sorry ass ... Big Ole Grin
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        Anonymous Coward, 1 Aug 2009 @ 3:14am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Um, yeah, on that website idea...
        Tell me more.
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2009 @ 1:21pm

I really, really wish we had a function like CTRL-ALT-DEL for Government :)
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jhoff, 30 Jul 2009 @ 1:22pm

The Dangers of Streets
Remember back in April when Bob Quick in London was photographed holding Top Secret documents in plain view in the street? Well we NEED to have a Public Service Announcement or something to let everyone know the dangers of streets...evil secret revealing streets.
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Chris-Mouse (profile), 30 Jul 2009 @ 1:48pm

Of course Congress wants to pass a law.
After all, the leaking of sensitive information is a problem, and the congresscritters have to be seen to be doing something about the problem.
Of course, they could simply hire competent managers to make sure the employees are working rather than downloading music during working hours. Oh wait, that would mean they wouldn't be able to reward their friends with government positions. Never mind.
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Protector, 30 Jul 2009 @ 2:01pm

But Think of the Children!
But if someone jailbreaks their iPhone, then they can install applications that aren't Apple approved, and who knows where that could lead? Predators could use unapproved apps to prey on children or obtain child pornography!
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- Protector, 30 Jul 2009 @ 2:03pm
  
  Re: But Think of the Children!
  oops, sorry, wrong story.
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pɹɐʍoɔ snoɯʎuouɐ, 30 Jul 2009 @ 2:03pm

Stuck in LA-la land?
Well, here you go. Anon delivers.

You'll find it.

http://vimeo.com/5344832
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Eirik Iverson, 30 Jul 2009 @ 2:13pm

p2p software law
We don't need another law that makes legislators 'feel good' for codifying something in writing but not necessarily solving the problem, which is fundamentally a lack of operational awareness and control over computers:

http://www.blueridgenetworks.com/securitynowblog/endpoint_security/endpoint-control-au dit-failure-p2p-software-data-loss-security-breach

As for educating individuals about the dangers of P2P, well, okay but don't expect major impact.

As nature has provided for millions of years, there are always foolish individuals, such as those dinosauers that walked into tar pits, and the even more foolish ones that went into them to feed one ones already trapped.

Organizations need to have some individuals not in jeopardy from Darwin's law that can keep and eye on federal agency computers and remotely do what is necessary to mitigate the risks. Nothing new need be invented. No great mysteries need be solved. The answers are here and have been. Just do it!
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yozoo, 31 Jul 2009 @ 1:34pm

Well
They cant blame the staffers . . . they're all the children of large contributors!
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