JohnJac's Favorite Posts Of The Weeks

from the bad-gov't,-bad dept

Last week JohnJac totally dominated the favorite comments, so we figured we might as well let him do the favorite posts of the week this week.

I really, really, wanted this post to be funny and�optimistic.�However as I read Techdirt, it became clear this week had a theme: governments over-reacting to�technology. �This point was driven home when Egypt shut their people off from the Internet:

• Egypt Trying To Shut Off All Internet Access, SMS��

I've�snickered in the past at other governments'�attempts to block skype or to block all of YouTube over a single video. �If you had asked me last week, would a government go so far as to shut all internet access down, I would have told you no way.

While we're on the subject, check out this post over at Marginal Revolution, talking about how this move is likely to backfire for the�Egyptian government.

Other�governments are not�immune�from over-reaction, but thankfully not to the extent Egypt has gone.

• Government Putting Quite A Lot Of Effort Into Tracking Down 'Anonymous'
• Nanny State: More Politicians Against Pedestrians Listening To Headphones Or Texting
• Spanish Gov't Simply Reinstates US-Driven Copyright Bill, Despite It Being Voted Down
• US Government Pushing Pro And Anti-Privacy Internet Rules At The Same Time
• How Facebook Dealt With The Tunisian Government Trying To Steal Every User's Passwords
• Massachussetts Legislature Bans Twitter From Office Computers
• Artist Facing 15 Years In Jail For The Crime Of Videotaping His Own Arrest

I love to hear some comments below on how 'we the people' can help our governments understand and not fear technology. �Half my�professional career was spent working for a state government in a�technical roll, and I'm still at a loss as to how this can change.

But all hope isn't lost:

• Senator Wyden Proposing Legislation Requiring Warrants For Law Enforcement To Get Device Location Info

On the lighter side, there is hope that people are using all the tools�available to them to create something new. �The standout story here is�Pomplamoose. �I just love what they are doing.

• Pomplamoose On Making A Career While Making Music They Like��

My�Favorite�Comment of the week goes to John B. �On Mike's story about Lee Harvey Oswald's coffin,�John B. said this: �"This post isn't about tech, but it's about dirt, so there's that."

Many thanks to Mike and the Techdirt�Community for letting me share my thoughts.

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