I'd like the FCC to relieve ME of the onerous burden of paying unnecessary fees, and needing to take a lot of time to find all the hidden gotchas that will now be even easier to hide in ISP service contracts.
Let's make them really cry. They don't want right to repair legislation? OK, instead let's revise DMCA 1201 so that it only applies to activities done for the explicit purpose of copyright infringement.
Bloomberg is wrong about what true patriotism is. It is supporting the values that make our nation what it is (supposed to be). Those values come with risks, but they're worth it. This is understood by those who really believe in our way of life.
Since they want to revise the NSL rules, maybe they should be revised to forbid their use for this purpose. Anyone want to bet that Congress will act in support of the people they're supposed to represent? I'll offer very good odds...
We need to start electing judges based on what people would do in situations like these if we want to see these situations stop. I may not have the traditional legal background to be a judge, but if a case like this came before me, it would be: no immunity for you, go directly to jail and stay there for a very long time. Maybe I'd be a better judge than some of those that are currently on the bench, even without the traditional, legal background.
I love the idea behind this amendment, but the text seems to have massive loopholes.
First we have this: ... none of the funds made available by this Act may be used by an officer or employee of the United States to query a collection of foreign intelligence information acquired under section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1881a) using a United States person identifier.
Ok, so an officer or an employee of the United States can't do it, but what about a contractor?
Now this part: none of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the National Security Agency or the Central Intelligence Agency to mandate or request that a person (as defined in section 101(m) of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801(m))) alter its product or service to permit the electronic surveillance (as defined in section 101(f) of such Act (50 U.S.C. 1801(f))) of any user of such product or service for such agencies.
It only mentions the NSA and the CIA. What about the FBI, DEA, ATF, etc?
I think it's critical to place strong limits on these powerful agencies. The spirit of the amendment seems to be good, but letter seems like it needs some improvement.
When I read about threats like these, it makes me wonder how they can fail to violate the professional ethics rules and standards that I'm sure lawyers must be accountable for complying with. Specifically, how can they possibly be allowed to threaten legal actions that they know stand no chance of going anywhere, using the fact that the other party can't afford to respond to their advantage. Seems like the kind of unethical behavior that should result in some disbarments.
First point, TPP contains some poison pills that are so bad they cannot be offset by any amount of good. It is broken to the point where it cannot be fixed.
Second point, IP protections are so broken that we should scrap them and maybe not start over. A world with no copyright/patent/trademark would certainly be different, but not necessarily bad.
The amendments to the constitution are intended specifically to be restrictive to the government. Just look at the preamble to the bill of rights for clear proof of that.
"The Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution."
These additional restrictions were added to prevent misconstruction or abuse of power by the government, and to increase the public's confidence in the government. Maybe our elected officials and a majority of judges forgot that.
When our government decides it doesn't have to play by the rules we go from good guys vs. bad guys, to bad guys vs. bad guys.
I suppose being forced to learn ethics would constitute irreparable harm for DOJ lawyers. I don't think they could do their jobs for the Department of Prosecutions and Convictions, I mean Department of Justice, if they developed ethics (and, God forbid, morals or a conscience).
We do need a law completely repudiating the third party doctrine. It's un-American and one of the great Supreme Court mistakes, up there with Citizens United.
To get that accomplished, we will need to elect senators and representatives who are regular people from within our communities, not the candidates of the Democrats or the Republicans. It won't happen overnight, but I'm hoping that American dissatisfaction with our government will make that possible.
On the post: FCC Partially Kills Rules Requiring ISPs Be Clear About Usage Caps, Hidden Fees
On the post: Sony, Microsoft Lobby Against Right To Repair Bills (Yet Refuse To Talk About It)
On the post: Comcast Dramatically Expands Unnecessary Broadband Caps -- For 'Fairness'
So where exactly are the lower prices for those who use less data?
On the post: Kickass Torrents Asks Justice Department To Drop Case
On the post: Drug Dealer's Lawyers Want To Know How Yahoo Is Recovering Communications It Previously Said Were Unrecoverable
Re: Re: Re:
On the post: FBI Vacuums Up Local Law Enforcement Documents To Block Open Records Requests About Orlando Shooting
On the post: Michael Bloomberg Comes Down On The Wrong Side Of The Crypto Wars: Supports Backdooring Encryption
On the post: Leak Reveals Secret FBI Guidelines That Basically Give Them Free Rein To Spy On Journalists And Sources
On the post: Russia's Problem (According To Russian Politicians): Not Enough Mass Surveillance
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On the post: Customs Agents, Local Doctor Subject 18-Year-Old To Vaginal, Rectal Probing In Search Of Nonexistent Drugs
On the post: House Intel Boss, Rep. Devin Nunes, Lying To Congress About Attempt To Stop Encryption Backdoors
Re: Re:
On the post: House Intel Boss, Rep. Devin Nunes, Lying To Congress About Attempt To Stop Encryption Backdoors
First we have this:
... none of the funds made available by this Act may be used by an officer or employee of the United States to query a collection of foreign intelligence information acquired under section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1881a) using a United States person identifier.
Ok, so an officer or an employee of the United States can't do it, but what about a contractor?
Now this part:
none of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the National Security Agency or the Central Intelligence Agency to mandate or request that a person (as defined in section 101(m) of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801(m))) alter its product or service to permit the electronic surveillance (as defined in section 101(f) of such Act (50 U.S.C. 1801(f))) of any user of such product or service for such agencies.
It only mentions the NSA and the CIA. What about the FBI, DEA, ATF, etc?
I think it's critical to place strong limits on these powerful agencies. The spirit of the amendment seems to be good, but letter seems like it needs some improvement.
On the post: Pure Bullshit: AMC Threatens Huge Fan Community With Copyright Claim Over 'Spoiler' Predictions
On the post: Google Comes Down On The Wrong Side Of The TPP
Second point, IP protections are so broken that we should scrap them and maybe not start over. A world with no copyright/patent/trademark would certainly be different, but not necessarily bad.
On the post: Appeals Court: As Long As The Government Has 'Good Faith,' It Can Root Around In Your Digital Files As Much As It Wants
"The Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution."
These additional restrictions were added to prevent misconstruction or abuse of power by the government, and to increase the public's confidence in the government. Maybe our elected officials and a majority of judges forgot that.
When our government decides it doesn't have to play by the rules we go from good guys vs. bad guys, to bad guys vs. bad guys.
On the post: The Perversion Of Trademarks: Jose Mourinho Can't Coach Man-U Yet Because Former Club Trademarked His Name
On the post: DOJ Says Judge Can't Order Its Lying Lawyers To Attend Ethics Classes
So is their point that the Attorney General needs to attend ethics classes?
On the post: DOJ Says Judge Can't Order Its Lying Lawyers To Attend Ethics Classes
On the post: 4th Circuit Appeals Court Rolls Back Its Warrant Requirement For Cell Site Location Info
To get that accomplished, we will need to elect senators and representatives who are regular people from within our communities, not the candidates of the Democrats or the Republicans. It won't happen overnight, but I'm hoping that American dissatisfaction with our government will make that possible.
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