Slashdot Mirror
Senator Hollings and the SSSCA
An Anonymous Coward writes: "You probably suspected some sort of "follow the money" thing was behind Sen. Fritz Hollings' support of SSSCA, the draft bill that would make using 'any interactive digital device that does not include and utilize certified security technologies' illegal in the U.S. This proposed law could effectively outlaw Linux and most Open Source software, depending on how judges interpret it. A NewsForge story details where Sen. Hollings' money comes from. Guess what? His biggest contributors are entertainment industry companies, their lawyers, and their lobbyists. The story also says Hollings and his staff refused to comment on the bill, and staffers the reporter talked to refused to even give their names." Newsforge and Slashdot are both part of VA Linux.
How can it not? Especially when the government uses many of the technologies it hopes to alienate and regulate. Before long, there will be so much crappy legislation in place that it will be impossible to move an inch without breaking some law or another. But, that will not stop people from moving. We'll definitely find that law enforcement will be spending so much effort trying to enforce dozens of laws with millions of Americans.
This is why that the best ways we can respond are A) write a litter to your representatives, telling them to NOT pass this foolishness, and if that fails, B) everyone do everything they can to break these laws to the highest extent. What better way to stop a machine than to throw objects into its gears? In this situation where such important fundamental freedoms are in jeopardy, our only choices may be to throw ourselves in between the cogs.
How long before courts are so utterly bogged down with millions of open software and encryption users (individuals and businsess alike) that they are using up all their time? Eventually, practicallity will get in the way of these old fruits. The scale of this is analagous to making blue jeans illegal. Sure, the gov. could make it a crime to wear certain pants, but what's going to happen when every court room in the nation has a mile-long line of people waiting to be arraigned (on top of the line that's already there no less!)
Why bother.
The teamsters controlled the movement of goods across the continent. We need to take control of the movement of the information. If we have to, we should all be willing to stop working and suspend all support. "Oh you want e-mail? Well we have this little problem. We don't like your proposed legislation. What, your database is offline and you can't fill your orders? This is the name of the representative you need to speak to..." You get the picture. I know it wouldn't be easy, there will be "scabs" willing to undermine our position and they would have to be dealt with. But is freedom to do whatever you want with your information without the Government interfering worth fighting for?
You're using her as bait, Master!
I don't understand why Linux would become illegal under such a law when Linux could support all the encryption technologies. Even if we would have to add "binary only" kernel modules to support the encryption stuff, why would Linux become illegal?
Could someone please elaborate on this?
I keep thinking, who wants to listen to the shit pumped out by the big media companies anyway? My own little protest is this, I don't buy any recording on the cd format, only vinyl (I know it's a preference, but it is a material good w/ collectable value, a cd is just a cd), I don't go to movies cos they all suck pretty much.. support indie directors and indie music artists, leave the sony/atlantic/etc releases to the the wee ones and the mindless masses. The DMCA/RIAA are fighting a losing battle simply because the people they represent produce shit and even Joe Public is starting to wise up.. I hope.
Someone who is so influenced by big money can only be a scum. Such a bill would be unconstitutional - and would never pass...but he is a scum even for suggesting it. Mad props to all the politicians who are trying to remove the influence of big business...McCain, Feingold, etc(and, ugh, Nader). Remember the New Hampshire state motto: ``Live free or die!'' If the bill passes(probability 1:1e99), millions would have to be jailed and fined. FUCK HIM! This bill is an abomination-and it goes against everything this country is supposed to stand for. Every researcher, etc, who uses non-certified OSS would have to leave the country or not be able to upgrade their kernel version. Entire commercial OSes would have to be re-written. FUCK HIM! Call your representatives and tell them to vote no on this bill--or you will not re-elect them. I wanted Dubya to win(lesser of two evils) but if he signs this into law...our country has been crippled. FUCK those authoritarians who want to regulate every aspect of our lives.
Excuse my swearing. I am just really ticked off.