Somewhere Everywhere, Big Brother Is Smiling: Congress Sells Your Privacy For A Cool $84 Million
from the $84M-isn't-money;-it's-a-motive-with-a-universal-adapter dept
In case you were wondering why so many Democrats switched sides during the most recent CISPA vote, the answer is exactly what you think it is: $$$. And lots of it. Last year's CISPA vote only managed to secure 40 Democrat supporters. This time around, the number leapt to 92.[A] new coalition of special interests, which include America's two largest cellular service providers AT&T, Inc. and Verizon Wireless -- jointly owned by Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group Plc. -- as well as two of the nation's largest software firms Microsoft Corp. and Intel Corp., came together to create a similar data grab bill (Microsoft has since renounced its support). Security firms like Symantec Corp. also backed the bill.$84 million is change-of-heart money, although one imagines those contributing checked and double-checked their "sponsored" representatives to make sure they were all on the same page. As DailyTech points out, nearly $86 million went into the SOPA push and most of that turned out to be wasted money.
Pushing the bill through was $84M USD in funding from special interest backers.
Last Monday, two hundred IBM executives visited the White House to make a last minute push for CISPA. Whatever they said or did must have been very persuasive. By the end of the day, 36 new sponsors had signed on to the bill, up from a very lonely two previous to IBM's visit. Unsurprisingly, financial motivation was involved, according to numbers gathered by Maplight.
New co-sponsors have received 38 times as much money ($7,626,081) from interests supporting CISPA than from interests opposing ($200,362).Now, it's up to Senate to come up with some sort of cyber-security bill that has a chance to get passed and dodge a Presidential veto. Fortunately, there's no clear favorite at the moment (although Lieberman's bill seems to have the President's blessing) and with the limited number of voters, the Senate is much more prone to be gridlocked by partisan politics. Of course, a daylong visit by a few lobbyists could win over just enough hearts and minds to be dangerous. In the meantime, it would probably do these senators a world of good to hear from their constituents, if only to remind them that there are plenty of actual people out there who have to live with the consequences of bad legislation.
Members of the House in total have received 16 times as much money ($67,665,694) from interests supporting CISPA than from interests opposing ($4,164,596).
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Filed Under: cispa, congress, cybersecurity
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To remit payment, please contact any local Senator in the US Government. Upon receipt of payment, anything you want shall be granted, regardless of the rights of the people.
Three simple words: "We The People", completely ignored by the government.
I will probably live long enough to see this country enter another revolution, if this keeps up.
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The Continental Army was never more than a tiny fraction of the population of the Thirteen Colonies, yet they won against a fairly committed superpower of the age which controlled vast resources just North of them in Canada. I've always thought it amazing that the Brits managed to lose that fight.
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I'm afraid that most people ARE interested, but are apathetic because they believe they are surrounded by fools. I'm worried this is the greater lie being delivered.
If you're awake to what's going on, DO SOMETHING. We all need to stop being so passive and start taking action to affect our futures.
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I've done all the calling and signing I'm supposed to do.
Talk about a Cassandra complex.
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I stay involved. But my priorities may not be yours. Here's what I care about most.
Pictures Of Environmental Destruction - Business Insider
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At this point, what's another $84 million?
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China does not Own us
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Re: China does not Own us
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Congress currently has an approval rating somewhere below 10% - which, I would guess, is the ratio of corporations (whose voices do count) to people (whose voices don't count).
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Taxation without representation.
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Response to: Jeff on Apr 22nd, 2013 @ 7:34am
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Response to: Jeff on Apr 22nd, 2013 @ 7:34am
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To put a tech slant on things, the system is BSODing and needs an urgent restore.
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Use Google for some news you may have missed:
http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1cqwe3/reddit_cofounder_calls_on_googles_larry_p age_to/
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http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/04/reddit-opposes-cispa/
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Google, Apple Lead Massive List of Companies Supporting CISPA
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/04/12/1759237/google-apple-lead-massive-list-of-companies- supporting-cispa
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BUT YET AGAIN, no mention of Google's support for CISPA here at Techdirt. Why is that?
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Re: Use Google for some news you may have missed:
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Re: Re: Re: Use Google for some news you may have missed:
1. Google is not "Masnick's paymasters." Other than AdSense (which Techdirt doesn't use anymore AFAIK), Google has never paid Techdirt or Mike one dime.
2. Mike wrote about tech companies' support of CISPA, calling it "shameful:"
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130411/15571022683/shameful-tech-companies-fighting- against-necessary-cfaa-reform-cispa-fixes.shtml
But you're right, "rant" is the wrong word. I would call it a "smear campaign," but that implies that being associated with Google is a "smear," which in itself is ludicrous. So, what it is, in reality, is a wingnut conspiracy theory.
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Re: Use Google for some news you may have missed:
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Re: Use Google for some news you may have missed:
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130411/15571022683/shameful-tech-companies-fighting-agai nst-necessary-cfaa-reform-cispa-fixes.shtml
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Re: Re: Use Google for some news you may have missed:
Take a loopy tour of my post history:
out_OF_the_BLUE: where bold ALL CAPS assertions prove everything!
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How much?
Thanks so much for selling the freedoms of the world down the river, literally this time.
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strange how there is no mention whatsoever of the trying to please those they are supposed to represent, isn't it? why oh why is there virtually no change each year to who gets voted into the position of Senator? surely there must be enough out there that can actually do what they are supposed to and not be more concerned with just increasing their bank balance? how about putting the Senators in place atm under surveillance to see how they like it?
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Get a hint
YOU PAID FOR IT..
Where do you think they GOT THE MONEY..FROM YOU.
AND you will be Paying for it every time you purchase something.
If you dont know..
Over 1/2 the price you pay from these corps, is PAID by you for adverts, and lawyers and every OTHER thing they want/do..
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Pragmatic for legal reasons for big tech companies
I would be surprised if there was even one general counsel at any tech company likely to be affected by CISPA recommending against the bill.
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Re: Pragmatic for legal reasons for big tech companies
"You mean they have to prove bad faith to successfully make any privacy violation actionable? Where do I sign!"
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Re: Pragmatic for legal reasons for big tech companies
I would be surprised if there was even one general counsel at any tech company likely to be affected by CISPA recommending against the bill.
This is my perception of what goes on between tech and DC. I don't think DC does anything related to security that isn't approved of by private enterprise. They work too closely together to separate it out. I think the "government is bad" campaign is primarily a way to divert people's attention from just how much companies are doing to eliminate personal privacy.
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CISPA BAD
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Re: CISPA BAD
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Re: CISPA BAD
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Data is being collected and sold
Between Google monitoring our email, wiring the country so it knows what we get via broadband, glasses that will allow people to match what they see with databases of info on the people around them, cross referencing how we spend our money with all the other details in its databases, tracking us and recording all the places we go, there really isn't any privacy.
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White House or Congress?
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Re: White House or Congress?
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Lieberman
Shit is hard to wipe off your shoes, I guess.
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Result...
If anything keep a folder with all your fake details in locked with a decent piece of software and never ever give the password to anyone.
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Re: Result...
If anything keep a folder with all your fake details in locked with a decent piece of software and never ever give the password to anyone.
A lot can be gleaned from your phone, even if it is turned off. And the people around you can be monitoring you, too. Even if they don't identify you, technology can do the job for them. If you want to function in modern society, you are leaving a traceable trail.
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All politicians
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I think it is worth clarifying that this bribery often comes in the form of lobbying and campaign financing. I'd like to see those issues dealt with.
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Why I think singling out government is misplaced concern
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You massively over counted
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cispa BAD
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If enough people were willing to do it, we should do searches and append random strings of NSA hot-words, so that every quotidian missive is pinged for review.
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All op
What else have they done?
9/11, US and Israel:
http://www.amazon.com/America-Deceived-II-Possession-interrogation/dp/1450257437
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Essentially they told me that they can take my money but not offer a shred of accountability when one of their employees fucks up. WOW. And then here’s the best part: when I called to speak with someone about giving a negative review of their service, they told me they would find out where I go to school and make sure I would always regret speaking poorly about them. Real professional. So, as an aspiring computer programmer, A REALLY PISSED OFF CUSTOMER, and someone who doesn’t give a flying fuck that these scam artists have my contact information, I created this website to inform students around the world that is a scam. I encourage fellow students who have been scammed by this company to give their reviews on as well. The more reviews the merrier.
As I dug a deeper review of past, I found some pretty scary things. Like for instance that their writers are almost all Pakistani (over 30% of their daily web traffic comes from the country) and use FAKE AMERICAN NAMES to pretend they are native English speakers. Isn’t it time this bullshit be investigated? I don’t care what you think about paper writing services (whether you believe they are ethical or not) but at least take down the companies that are pure scams like
Click on this link and wow yourself:
That’s right, this website is one of the top 12,000 most viewed in FUCKING PAKISTAN.
Why? Because they are the “English speaking writers” this fucked up company hires. I have also found evidence that suggests they have other writers in India and the Philippines. I know of a couple of companies that offer real English writers and I thought was one of them. Turns out they’re just a bunch of liars.
The scam is real. They are thieves who could care less about you. Maybe you’ve had a couple decent papers from them. But sleep well knowing that they will take any measure to screw you over.
That’s enough. Rant’s over. Fuck you,
Sincerely,
A VERY PISSED OFF FORMER CUSTOMER
Reviewed by Sean Evans on March 25,2013 – Rating: 1.0
Miserable experience.They ripped me off for $600 for a dissertation and refuse to give me my money back.”
2 THOUGHTS ON
Taylor on June 4, 2013 at 10:52 PM said:
You are right. I have been debating with them for at least a month now, trying to get my refunds, it’s because the writer can’t even write shit or follow the prompt. Claimed to be “professional” yeah right. They also claimed that they refunded my money already by just clearing out my balance. However, the email I received from money bookers still saying I was charged on that date. They lied & keep on saying “your refunds should be in 4-6.” i waited & after 2 weeks, still nothing. I keep on checking back even though they closed my inquiry many times. I mean, I only uploaded $55 for the balance, but I didn’t use it. The money isn’t that a big deal, it’s just the writers & their service is poorly done. I cancelled the writer because 1. Passed deadline 2. The paper was off topic, completely vague, lacks development & much more. 3. way different from U.S writing style 4. Busy schedule & I just want to try how this service work. Personally, i definitely to not recommend this service.
Reply ↓
admin on June 20, 2013 at 9:42 PM said:
Thanks for your feedback, I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one.
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