So the Internet censorship bills SOPA and PIPA, which we discussed last week have been shelved indefinitely by Congress. This is excellent news, after the Internet (yes, the collective) came together in opposition of the bills which sought to limit the freedom of the open Internet with laws that gave the power to effectively blacklist websites to the Government and media companies –- all without going through the legal system, I might add.
Unfortunately for fans of freedom in its various forms, we’ve got more trouble to contend with. Namely, the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act (OPEN). Here’s essentially what our Government has done; they’ve used the old-school sales tactic of bringing to the table something completely unreasonable and asinine expecting us to push back. They then concede and offer us something that’s slightly less unreasonable so it looks acceptable by comparison. Pretty sad, eh? And they even throw in child porn as a bonus. I mean, come on, if you vote against a bill that’s supposed to be against child porn, you’ve got to be for child porn, isn’t that right? Think of the children, won’t you?
(On a side note, here’s an idea: Let’s get parents to actually raise their kids properly and have an active role in their daily activities, and then we might not have underage kids posting nude photos of themselves online for the whole world to see. Perhaps we won’t need to save the children – again, after all. Then again, the median IQ is 100, which means we’re always going to have some candidates for the Jerry Springer show ruining the party for everyone else.)
Back on topic, we’ve got two new bills to defeat if we want to continue to have the kind of control the Internet needs –- no control. Otherwise, you’re not going to like the Internet we’re left with. It’s going to be sterile and stupid, just like Tom Cruise.
Actually… scratch that. Didn’t the U.S. Government just recently shut down a popular, celebrity-endorsed file-sharing website that was operated from New Zealand whose founder and key personnel are facing extradition to the United States? Yeah, they did! It was Megaupload! Wait, didn’t Megaupload recently sue Universal Music Group over a false YouTube takedown? Hmm… This situation stinks, doesn’t it? It’s not as though Kim Dotcom isn’t as slimy as the record execs he ticked off, but this certainly raises a good question…
If the U.S. Government can not only 86 a website and nab the people involved, along with their possessions this easily, then why do they need SOPA, PIPA, CIPA, and OPEN? Think back to the PATRIOT ACT and the whirlwind of idiocy that followed. Think about the War on Drugs, the War on Terror and all the good they have done for actually reducing drug use and terrorism. This is all posturing and scare tactics to get the people to bend to the will of corporations and government.
Let’s be clear – there is no hard evidence that the “intellectual property” industry is adversely affected by piracy. None. However, an open and free Internet poses a great threat to both the media cartel and the Government, who wish to control the flow of information. Why do you think we don’t have reporters and journalists like Vincent Browne in the United States who aren’t afraid to put the screws to members of the aristocracy when they dodge questions? And while we’re on the subject of the Irish, isn’t it curious how the record companies think it’s appropriate to actually sue a country over their laws?
Lastly, it might interest you to hear about the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) that’s currently being rallied against fiercely in Poland, both by Anonymous, and by Polish citizens. Just something I thought was interesting and of note. In addition, it’s pretty intriguing how both the Bush and the Obama administrations denied requests for the public to see the full text of the agreement, stating that it would cause ”damage to the national security“.
Anyone else smell a steaming pile of BS?
