Senate Passes CISA, The Surveillance Bill Masquerading As A Cybersecurity Bill; Here's Who Sold Out Your Privacy

from the it's-not-over-yet dept

After rejecting all the good privacy amendments to CISA, the Senate has now officially passed the legislation by a 74 to 21 vote. About the only "good" news is that the vote is lower than the 83 Senators who voted for cloture on it last week. Either way, the Senate basically just passed a bill that will almost certainly be used mainly for warrantless domestic surveillance, rather than any actual cybersecurity concern.

If you'd like to know which Senators voted for greater domestic surveillance, here's your list:
  • Alexander (R-TN)
  • Ayotte (R-NH)
  • Barrasso (R-WY)
  • Bennet (D-CO)
  • Blumenthal (D-CT)
  • Blunt (R-MO)
  • Boozman (R-AR)
  • Boxer (D-CA)
  • Burr (R-NC)
  • Cantwell (D-WA)
  • Capito (R-WV)
  • Carper (D-DE)
  • Casey (D-PA)
  • Cassidy (R-LA)
  • Coats (R-IN)
  • Cochran (R-MS)
  • Collins (R-ME)
  • Corker (R-TN)
  • Cornyn (R-TX)
  • Cotton (R-AR)
  • Donnelly (D-IN)
  • Durbin (D-IL)
  • Enzi (R-WY)
  • Ernst (R-IA)
  • Feinstein (D-CA)
  • Fischer (R-NE)
  • Flake (R-AZ)
  • Gardner (R-CO)
  • Gillibrand (D-NY)
  • Grassley (R-IA)
  • Hatch (R-UT)
  • Heinrich (D-NM)
  • Heitkamp (D-ND)
  • Hirono (D-HI)
  • Hoeven (R-ND)
  • Inhofe (R-OK)
  • Isakson (R-GA)
  • Johnson (R-WI)
  • Kaine (D-VA)
  • King (I-ME)
  • Kirk (R-IL)
  • Klobuchar (D-MN)
  • Lankford (R-OK)
  • Manchin (D-WV)
  • McCain (R-AZ)
  • McCaskill (D-MO)
  • McConnell (R-KY)
  • Mikulski (D-MD)
  • Moran (R-KS)
  • Murkowski (R-AK)
  • Murphy (D-CT)
  • Murray (D-WA)
  • Nelson (D-FL)
  • Perdue (R-GA)
  • Peters (D-MI)
  • Portman (R-OH)
  • Reed (D-RI)
  • Reid (D-NV)
  • Roberts (R-KS)
  • Rounds (R-SD)
  • Sasse (R-NE)
  • Schatz (D-HI)
  • Schumer (D-NY)
  • Scott (R-SC)
  • Sessions (R-AL)
  • Shaheen (D-NH)
  • Shelby (R-AL)
  • Stabenow (D-MI)
  • Thune (R-SD)
  • Tillis (R-NC)
  • Toomey (R-PA)
  • Warner (D-VA)
  • Whitehouse (D-RI)
  • Wicker (R-MS)
And here's the tragically short list of the 21 who voted against this.
  • Baldwin (D-WI)
  • Booker (D-NJ)
  • Brown (D-OH)
  • Cardin (D-MD)
  • Coons (D-DE)
  • Crapo (R-ID)
  • Daines (R-MT)
  • Franken (D-MN)
  • Heller (R-NV)
  • Leahy (D-VT)
  • Lee (R-UT)
  • Markey (D-MA)
  • Menendez (D-NJ)
  • Merkley (D-OR)
  • Risch (R-ID)
  • Sanders (I-VT)
  • Sullivan (R-AK)
  • Tester (D-MT)
  • Udall (D-NM)
  • Warren (D-MA)
  • Wyden (D-OR)
If you're wondering what happens now: the Senate version and the House version are different, so the differences need to be resolved in conference. There's a chance that could lead to the bill being made better, but it's more likely that the bill will actually be made worse. And then, of course, assuming no substantial changes, it would go to the President's desk for signature. So the bill is pretty far along, but it can still be stopped. Senator Ron Wyden, who has led the fight against it says he's not giving up yet.
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Filed Under: cisa, congress, cybersecurity, senate, surveillance


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  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 3:42pm

    I guess the internet whiners couldn't stop this one. Oh well. I anxiously await your proof of all the harm this will cause. I assume you'll hold yourself to the same level of rigor you expect others, like copyright owners, to demonstrate. LOL! Of course you won't. You never do.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike Masnick (profile), 27 Oct 2015 @ 3:54pm

      Re:

      I anxiously await your proof of all the harm this will cause.

      Considering the point of the bill is to authorize secret surveillance programs that even Congress is not allowed to investigate, it may be tough to prove much. Well, until the next Snowden comes along.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Rapnel (profile), 27 Oct 2015 @ 6:55pm

        Re: Re:

        "tough" is an understatement. Even with the likes of Snowden, or another, standing will continue to elude. When one trillion inquiries is considered .. I don't know, barely relevant, the bar has been proven prohibitively high. National security *will* prevail, almost(crosses fingers) every, single time. And, I believe, only the mob can reign that in once it has tasted its own version of freedom. The Internet gave them a HUGE taste.. Like the entire pork chop, and shit.

        .. The "protective perimeter" has developed itself a genuine god complex.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
      identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 4:06pm

      Re:

      Boy, Masnick censored that one fast!

      Here it is again:

      "I guess the internet whiners couldn't stop this one. Oh well. I anxiously await your proof of all the harm this will cause. I assume you'll hold yourself to the same level of rigor you expect others, like copyright owners, to demonstrate. LOL! Of course you won't. You never do."

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 4:15pm

        Re: Re:

        You need help.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 4:27pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          I second that. Your inflammatory comments only serve your purpose instead of bringing a comment in disagreement to Mike's article. Here's a hint and intelligent conversation: dont use terms such as whiners or teenager lingo as with "LOL" to make a point. Stay in school lest your bad grammar rub off on others

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Just Another Anonymous Troll, 27 Oct 2015 @ 7:25pm

        Re: Re:

        Truly only a master censorer would draw attention to something he wanted disappeared by responding to it.
        Oh wait, that just makes people read it. I guess you must be an idiot.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 5:26am

        Re: Re:

        ...First they came for the pedophiles, and I did not speak up...

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Uriel-238 (profile), 28 Oct 2015 @ 11:29am

          First they came for...

          The pedophiles and terrorists are going to be the ones that teach us how to stay under the radar.

          But that's the way it's always been: the refuge of the oppressed comes from organized crime.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 4:10am

      Re:

      Yes we will continue to hold everyone accountable to the law. Even copyright holders. I'm not sure why you think that should be any different. I anxiously await you guys to stop acting like condescending entitled pricks. Lol of course you won't. You never do.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
      identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 6:52am

      Re:

      It's Techdirt. Their job is to be as ignorant and melodramatic as possible so that the tinfoil hat crowd clicks on the links and gives them money.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 3:55pm

    And that's that. Representative democratic republic indeed.

    A plague upon their houses.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Zonker, 28 Oct 2015 @ 4:22pm

      Re: A plague upon their houses.

      A plague on both their House and their Senate.

      (I'm sure that's what Shakespeare would have said today.)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 4:04pm

    There's a reason the people complaining about this bill are all techies: it's bad for the tech business.

    Remember kids: It's always, ALWAYS about the almighty dollar. Nothing else.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 4:08pm

      Re:

      So what you're really saying is that we have to increase the value of our privacy to the elected representatives, such that it is worth more in $$ to them than the lobbying $$ (and the fact that they've replaced their staffers with lobbyists due to staffer budget cuts).

      Anyone have any ideas?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
        identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 4:13pm

        Re: Re:

        Lobbying? Virtually every industry and business sector wanted this bill to pass.

        The FUD the tech industry is spreading is comical considering they collect more info about your life every single day than this bill ever would.

        Don't be a stooge. It looks bad.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 4:17pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Yawn.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 5:55pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Seems you are the stooge.
          In case you hadn't noticed, there is a difference between business and government. When a business treats customers poorly, said customers usually have an option. When government treats citizens poorly, what ya goin to do, move?

          ... and FUD? really? FUD is used to influence public opinion, which the "law makerz" clearly do not care about.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          T, 27 Oct 2015 @ 6:25pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Oh don't give me that bullshit.

          Tech companies don't have the ability to incarcerate me. To take away my freedom or impose crippling financial penalties. The government does.

          The only person spreading FUD here is you.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 6:54am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            LOL. Because people are really being "incarcerated" or having their "freedom taken away"... get over yourself and join the reality based community instead of spewing tinfoil hat nonsense.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Moonkey, 28 Oct 2015 @ 9:06am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              The reality is we are being screwed by business and government alike.

              Inhouse corruption is not a secret. If you even bothered to take a look into U.S. history, Government abuse and corporate sabotage are not myth. Our own government has confessed time and time again of wrongdoing.

              Nobody is innocent unless proven otherwise.

              If you don't believe this, buckle-up. You're in for a ride.
              Or better yet, go read more about industry.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Uriel-238 (profile), 27 Oct 2015 @ 7:47pm

        Guillotines.

        I doubt anything short of that will make a difference to our wholly-bought officials, elected or otherwise.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      technologist, 27 Oct 2015 @ 4:16pm

      Re:

      If by "techies" you mean Google etc then, yes.

      If you mean people that understand technology then, no, that is a cynical, boring perspective.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        jim, 28 Oct 2015 @ 6:33am

        Re: Re:

        You forgot a few other groups of techies. Ford,gm, all the way down to the smallest donut shop.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Rapnel (profile), 27 Oct 2015 @ 6:31pm

      Re:

      "Remember kids: It's always, ALWAYS about the almighty dollar. Nothing else."

      No fucking shit, my anonymous big brained friend. I'd call you cap'n obvious but that's a far too generous rank.. even for that observation. And here I thought it was all about coke and hookers.. . wait.

      .. encrypt and decentralize. At this juncture, it seems like that is the only way to even begin to resist. That and buy local as much as possible.. or use bitcoin .. or cash. Hm. Yeah, it's not looking good. .. But on the bright side you do look good in that volunteer seaman garb. "Me decks are ripe from the dung of yer like! arrr. And I've a brush for yee, mate. Tip to stern or I'll see yee churn, beneath my rudders deep."

      Tally your hoes!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 7:37pm

        Re: Re:

        This bill is about collecting the data directly from the service. Time to use foreign alternatives for all Internet services such as Google, Facebook, etc.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Mike Masnick (profile), 27 Oct 2015 @ 9:58pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          This bill is about collecting the data directly from the service. Time to use foreign alternatives for all Internet services such as Google, Facebook, etc.

          Um, actually that will (somewhat ridiculously) make you less safe. At least with this there are *some* limitations on what can be collected. Under EO 12333, the NSA has a free hand to collect data outside the US...

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          John Fenderson (profile), 28 Oct 2015 @ 7:45am

          Re: Re: Re:

          "Time to use foreign alternatives for all Internet services such as Google, Facebook, etc."

          No. It's time to stop using those sorts of services entirely. It's long past time, actually.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Moonkey, 28 Oct 2015 @ 8:56am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            That would be rather easy. I hardly use google anymore unless I need to search something completely specific. Otherwise, It's easy to remember and type in a specific website address.

            I've never once used Facebook.

            But I use gmail, and youtube. hmm...

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              John Fenderson (profile), 28 Oct 2015 @ 9:13am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              In my opinion, gmail is the more problematic of Google's services. It's easy to use Google's search while minimizing your exposure. It's impossible to use gmail the same way.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 4:10am

      Re:

      Old man yells an Internet. Film at 11.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 4:13pm

    They voted exactly the way I knew they'd vote in my state. Klobuchar is bought and paid for and is all for expanding spying and doesn't care what the people of MN want, she never has, a typical corrupt politician. Franken is actually intelligent and listens to the people and has been against expanding surveillance.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Mark Wing, 27 Oct 2015 @ 4:46pm

    IMHO, this vote was proof of two things:

    1. Virtually the entire Legislative branch exists to serve nothing more than itself. The response to the public's anger over the Snowden revelations was to ratchet up surveillance? Totally a dick move.

    2. How fucking awesome is Oregon?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 5:07pm

      Re:

      Yeah I saw Oregon stood up to this. Congrats on that and my thanks to them.

      Too bad the state above you screwed the pooch.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Uriel-238 (profile), 27 Oct 2015 @ 7:51pm

        And below.

        But Hollywood is deeply lodged in California's colon. Our's have to obey even when it is cancerous.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 12:36am

      Re:

      they have a plan they are following. The fact most are willing to sell out their constituents shows they are idiots that expect the promises they will be exempt despite all evidence to the contrary they will not be exempted

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 5:08pm

    As an Idahoan I'd like to note that while senator Risch is among those who voted against the bill, he is also among those who are responsible for it having been brought to the full senate in the first place, as with his support on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence the bill was able to get through committee.

    Hopefully his down vote represents a change of heart, but the cynic in me tends to think otherwise.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    madasahatter (profile), 27 Oct 2015 @ 5:26pm

    Bloody Traitors

    I wonder if any the traitors can read or write. It's obvious they never read the US Constitution and Amendments.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Whatever (profile), 27 Oct 2015 @ 5:31pm

    Hmm

    I can't say that I entirely agree with the conclusions reached here, or those reached by Wyden (oh wait, they are the same). I do think there is some truth in it, but not quite to the paranoid levels it seems to be reaching.

    This for me falls into the category of "Obama is coming for your guns!". 7 years after being elected, he hasn't come for the guns, but it doesn't stop pundits and some politicians from claiming it will happen any day now, so you better donate to the cause. The number of stories on this on Techdirt in the last 48 hours really shows that sort of twist on this one.

    There are days when I think Techdirt is just hauling water for Wyden, or vice-versa. I can't help but think that 74 to 21 is a pretty clear indication of democracy in action, a large majority vote across party lines. If you don't agree with them, work to replace them. But publicly trying to shame them for their votes is a pretty low way to go. It sort of comes out of the Karl Rove playbook, don't discussion the issue, instead make it personal and make it nasty.

    The great thing about democracy is that you can vote the bums out if you don't like them. If you want a fight to fight, then take that one up.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Rapnel (profile), 27 Oct 2015 @ 6:01pm

      Re: Hmm

      fuck, sorry, but, I'm sick of tripe like this - "Just vote them out". How does one go about that when it's the same "them" manipulating the entire selection & election process?

      "coming for your guns".. whatever, Whatever.

      The simple matter is if there exists a liberty then someone, somewhere wants it corralled and if there exists a bit of identifiable information then, apparently, your governments *need* every last bit. To say *nothing* of the fact that sufficient information existed to prevent or drastically alter the events of 9/11 already only "not my fault" turns into fucktastik incursions into the very premise of freedom and liberty.

      It's shameful that we seem to now be led by those that would prefer the use fear over facts to govern. Public shaming of representatives offends you? Consider your vote counted.. and all of the good that it will do. Shame on. My senators suck, absolutely.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Hans, 28 Oct 2015 @ 3:23pm

        Re: Re: Hmm

        "I'm sick of tripe like this - "Just vote them out". How does one go about that when it's the same "them" manipulating the entire selection & election process?"

        By voting for Lessig. Voting for either of the "chosen" candidates is a wasted vote.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 6:04pm

      Re: Hmm

      It's a moot point because Senators extremely rarely ever get kicked out of office. Most of the populace aren't even aware of what they do for a living.

      Also, are you really saying it's okay for the huge spying to be legalized even after Snowden revealed that they were abusing it all along?

      This bill is like a governor enacting a law which states that police cannot investigate how much money he stole from a bank. Even though there are bankers claiming that they saw the governor walking out of the bank with huge sacks of cash.

      Would you believe that governor? Would you seriously say "Well that old chap is just trying to protect himself. Those terrorist bankers are just trying to hurt muh freedumbs."?

      Because that's what you're doing in not suspecting the big three letter agencies in this scenario. Especially after numerous reports citing them doing this exact thing, and especially after they work to make the thing they were caught doing 'legal' for the purpose of not being investigated for doing it.

      Furthermore, Representatives ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY MUST be shamed for the things they vote for. If they vote for something backwards-ass completely braindead stupid, they DESERVE to be shamed for voting like a collection of corrupt bootlickers/boneheaded stone polishers. Where did you even imagine this idea that it's not okay to shame the people whose job is making informed decisions when they make poor choices regarding shoddy legislation?

      Reminder, it isn't in contention if this is a poor choice or not. If you seriously think legislation that puts an agency beyond reproach is OK in any form of government, I would like to direct your attention to this nice "Soviet Union" place that had dozens of agencies that were equally protected and abused their power dozens of times throughout their history.

      I hope you at least realize what you said was shortsighted, even if you don't agree entirely with me.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 6:08pm

      Re: Hmm

      Rather than denigrate people with whom you disagree, why not discuss the issues? For example, why do you think this legislation is needed at this time?

      "you can vote the bums out"
      This myth is tired and has completely lost all its hot air. Perhaps you would like to address those living in heavily gerrymandered districts. Or maybe those who recently had to get new Ids at the DMV but the nearest offices had been closed. Disenfranchisement is the new favorite tool of the crazy caucus. So, please ... enough of the bullshit propaganda.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 8:34pm

        Re: Re: Hmm

        Shhhh. That's exactly what Whatever is planning - get the police to filter out the serfs and plebeians who pose any form of opposition.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 11:10pm

        Re: Re: Hmm

        "Rather than denigrate people with whom you disagree, why not discuss the issues? For example, why do you think this legislation is needed at this time? "

        We are still at the "dawn" of the electronic communication age. In the same manner as at the start of the age of the telephone and long distance, the congress sees the need to establish laws in regards to the medium, and to work to both meet the needs of the security of the people while respecting their rights under the constitution. It's a tricky business. The phone is a relatively simple concept and it took a very long time for both written law and the caselaw to back it up to be settled. There are still arguments in court all the time about the validity of a landline phone warrant.

        History is important to understand.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 5:32am

          Re: Re: Re: Hmm

          Was that an attempt to explain why this legislation is needed at this time? If so, I think you need to work on that.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 12:45am

      Re: Hmm

      You mean aside from the laws that removes the right of veterans to own guns if the government decides they are not stable enough? Which is virtually all of them when they can get away with it.

      Or how about the gun restrictions that make some guns suddenly illegal to own. Or how about the gun registration that was then used to confiscate guns that were deemed illegal under the aforementioned new laws.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      techflaws (profile), 28 Oct 2015 @ 7:35am

      Re: Hmm

      (oh wait, they are the same)

      So effing what?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 10:44am

      Re: Hmm

      > But publicly trying to shame them for their votes is a pretty low way to go.

      Yes, how dare we even consider holding our representatives accountable for their votes. Shame on us.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      nasch (profile), 28 Oct 2015 @ 11:48am

      Re: Hmm

      This for me falls into the category of "Obama is coming for your guns!". 7 years after being elected, he hasn't come for the guns, but it doesn't stop pundits and some politicians from claiming it will happen any day now, so you better donate to the cause.

      Amazing. You're a regular TD reader and you pretend that the idea the government might someday abuse its authority to inappropriately spy on Americans is paranoid nonsense.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 12:33pm

      Re: Hmm

      But publicly trying to shame them for their votes is a pretty low way to go.

      Who our representatives are is public knowledge, right?
      And how they vote is also public knowledge, right?

      See where I'm going with this?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      L, 29 Oct 2015 @ 12:39pm

      Re: Hmm

      There is nothing "nasty" about making your representatives stand behind what they are allegedly doing on our behalf.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 5:31pm

    Pro Privacy states

    Idaho, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Montana, Oregon, Vermont were all unanimous.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 6:06pm

      Re: Pro Privacy states

      Then there's my state, Florida, which constantly votes like half-wits every chance they get.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 7:38am

      Re: Pro Privacy states

      New Jersey, D Booker and D Menendez ... Thanks Guys.

      But we still have the stooge that is Chris Christie.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Simba7 (profile), 28 Oct 2015 @ 10:32am

      Re: Pro Privacy states

      Thanks Tester (D-MT) and Daines (R-MT). You rock!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Ryunosuke, 27 Oct 2015 @ 7:42pm

    do we need another internet blackout?

    Perhaps longer than for 24 hours, I'd say a full week to get the message across.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Uriel-238 (profile), 27 Oct 2015 @ 7:54pm

    Taxation without....

    C'mon everyone, you know the words! Sing along!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    jmedoom (profile), 27 Oct 2015 @ 8:09pm

    Rand Paul

    Rand Paul abstained from voting. Is there a valid reason for this besides the fact he's running for president? If there isn't, nobody ever better mention Rand Paul and Civil Liberties to me again in the same sentence. But if there is a good reason, I would like to hear it.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Tristan, 27 Oct 2015 @ 9:20pm

      Re: Rand Paul

      He, Cruz, Rubio, Graham are in Colorado for the debate tomorrow. I really doubt they were actively avoiding to vote.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      That One Guy (profile), 27 Oct 2015 @ 10:18pm

      Re: Rand Paul

      Besides the fact that he's running for president? If anything, the fact that he's running should have made him all the more eager to vote against it if he really cared about the public. Unless there's some rule or something that prohibited him from voting, abstaining in this case should be treated no differently than if he'd voted for it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        nasch (profile), 28 Oct 2015 @ 11:51am

        Re: Re: Rand Paul

        If anything, the fact that he's running should have made him all the more eager to vote against it if he really cared about the public.

        When someone is running for president, he doesn't give two tiny hamster poops about the public, he cares about getting elected, and nothing else.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      bugmenot (profile), 28 Oct 2015 @ 8:06am

      Re: Rand Paul

      Rand Paul voted to stop Cloture, and tried to amend the bill, which was the most important vote. Without enough votes to stop cloture, or amend the bill, the bill was positioned to go through regardless of his presence. He was unable to prepare for the debate in CO and vote on the final bill at the same time. Even if he had been there, the bill didn't allow filibustering after that vote.
      See his cloture roll-call here:
      http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&s ession=1&vote=00281

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 8:50am

      Re: Rand Paul

      I agree, his abstention reeks... He is finished in my book. And yes, for the record I potentially would consider voting for him, but not now.

      I cannot think of a single candidate that will stand up for the Constitution now.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 8:11pm

    Did someone in Jersey find a magic monkey paw?

    The Mets going to the World Series, Chris Chistie getting his massive ass handed to him in the presidential campaign and now Jersey senators voting for their constituents better interests.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 27 Oct 2015 @ 8:26pm

    "I anxiously await your proof of all the harm this will cause."


    I anxiously await your proof of all the hacking incidents this bill stops.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      That One Guy (profile), 27 Oct 2015 @ 10:22pm

      Re:

      Well clearly all those incidents will be classified, you'll just have to trust the government that they are happening, and are being stopped, because do you really think the government would lie over something like that? /s

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Mark Wing, 27 Oct 2015 @ 9:09pm

    At least if Obama fulfilled everyone's paranoid fantasy and came for their guns, you would hear about it. The dimensions of this harm to society will probably only be known to a very few.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 6:11am

      Re:

      "You mean aside from the laws that removes the right of veterans to own guns if the government decides they are not stable enough? Which is virtually all of them when they can get away with it.

      Or how about the gun restrictions that make some guns suddenly illegal to own. Or how about the gun registration that was then used to confiscate guns that were deemed illegal under the aforementioned new laws."

      -AC

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Andrew Lee, 27 Oct 2015 @ 10:45pm

    It looks like Dick Durbin is living up to his name.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    That Other Guy, 27 Oct 2015 @ 10:45pm

    Once again Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders stand with the people from the beginning, while Hillary Clinton remains quite until her pollsters tell her what opinion she must pretend to have.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 6:57am

      Re:

      I must have missed where Hillary Clinton was able to cast a vote on this being, you know, not in Congress..... but, hey, continue with your anti-Hillary Clinton garbage.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 12:30am

    Another broad leap forward to having your door kicked in by the "police" and being dragged off into the night for saying the wrong thing about the wrong person

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Rekrul, 28 Oct 2015 @ 2:52am

    When are people going to realize that the whole political process is one big scam? Most of the politicians don't give a flying f*** what any of the little people want. Most of them would walk right up to you in public, kick you in the balls, steal your wallet, and then take a shit on your head if they thought they could get away with it.

    All this running around and protesting various bills that are bad for the public is like the chickens running around the Perdue farm protesting that they don't want to be eaten, and the results will be exactly the same.

    Short of a violent revolution (which will probably never happen due to apathy), nothing is going to change for the better. The government will just keep voting to give itself more and more power, and will continue to hand more and more power to the corporations that bribe them. Any concessions they make which seem to be in favor of the people are nothing more than a distraction.

    You might as well go yell at a tornado, it will have about the same effect.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    got_runs? (profile), 28 Oct 2015 @ 4:14am

    Voting alone will not solve this anti-constitutional shit.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Draph91 (profile), 28 Oct 2015 @ 4:46am

    and yet he voted for Fast Track, wow!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 5:21am

    They love spying series of tubes.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 6:07am

    The Companies

    Some companies favour this bill many do not.Many tech companies who do business around the world are against it because it will be very bad for their business. There is a large portion of the US Congress that is willing to harm companies like Apple at the whim of are ever over active secret police.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 6:50am

    Oh, look. Techdirt with, yet another, whiny, clickbait sensationalist title about how "your privacy is so threatened" despite having no evidence to backup the claim.

    Especially ironic is the fact that Techdirt is using Google Analytics while they tinfoil hat rant about "privacy".

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 8:51am

      Re:

      Is that really the best insult you have? Cause that's fucking weak sauce.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Moonkey, 28 Oct 2015 @ 9:26am

      Re:

      Do you have evidence as to how our privacy is NOT threatened?

      I mean, of course, our government is wholly good and undeceiving. Just as our big corporate neighbors really think we should get the absolute best price value for our groceries, and internet service. Right? This is evidence enough for you, I'm sure.

      If you lived under a rock.

      Seriously. I'm waiting for facts to come out of you rather than assumptions.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Uriel-238 (profile), 28 Oct 2015 @ 11:42am

      Wow! That's really good!

      I think you've nailed the contemporary dialect. Indistinguishable!

      Now call Masnick a hidbound reactionary. Just once? For posterity?

      Please?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 7:08am

    Of course both of my reps voted in favor of the bill...

    How much more inept can these people be at their jobs?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 9:15am

    Basic game theory

    Using third party services (AKA: cloud services) increases security because the service provider has a better economy of scale for securing the service than any one customer would ever have. There are also some services that do nothing but provide security, like firewall monitoring.

    The reaction of anyone who still wants to protect their privacy is going to be to encrypt even more of their traffic and to stop using third party services wherever possible, meaning this law reduces both the governments ability to see what I'm doing and my security at the same time.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 10:19am

    Don't forget to add Facebook and Google to that list.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    kehvan (profile), 28 Oct 2015 @ 11:58am

    It's time for the blood of patriots and tyrants to water the tree of freedom.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Uriel-238 (profile), 28 Oct 2015 @ 12:17pm

      But no one wants to be THAT tyrant or patriot.

      And people are pretty reluctant to make the other bastard be that tyrant or patriot.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Michael J. Evans, 28 Oct 2015 @ 12:35pm

    Please sort by state first, then last name?

    It would be much easier to find out who to not re-elect if this were sorted by state first, then by last name.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2015 @ 7:36pm

    "All I want to say is that they don't really care about us."
    Michael Jackson

    This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing Government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it. I can not be ignorant of the fact that many worthy and patriotic citizens are desirous of having the National Constitution amended.
    Abraham Lincoln

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anon, 29 Oct 2015 @ 4:15pm

    Spying

    On the NSA/spying...

    The (mass surveillance) by the NSA and abuse by law enforcement is just more part and parcel of state suppression of dissent against corporate interests. They're worried that the more people are going to wake up and corporate centers like the US and canada may be among those who also awaken. See this vid with Zbigniew Brzezinski, former United States National Security Advisor.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ZyJw_cHJY

    Brezinski at a press conference

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWTIZBCQ79g

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Janis Wohl, 11 Feb 2016 @ 10:23am

    MSN Services Agreement

    As an unprotected veteran. unbaccalaureated college graduate a slave who appealed that decision to the Florida circuit. I admit to being conumdrummed by the MSN service agreement that says there is no recourse other than a lawsuit to get MSN to connect my Skype subscription

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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