SSSCA Hearing October 25th: Free Software Threatened

A story at NewsForge details the latest on the state of Senator Fritz Hollings' proposed SSSCA, which may be the most radical attempt at legislative oversight over electronic goods ever attempted in the U.S. Opposition from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Free Software Foundation, the Association of Computing Machinery and others notwithstanding, Hollings' efforts to impede a free market in computer hardware and software through legislative fiat has been little commented on, in part because Hollings refuses to release much information about it. Eben Moglen is quoted to good effect on the risk a bill officializing and regulating all digital devices would pose to Free software. Under the SSSCA, it would be "unlawful to manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide or otherwise traffic in any interactive digital device that does not include and utilize certified security technologies." And that rules out most Free software, right from the start. (Read on for some more information.)

Besides writing your own representatives (email and faxes are probably better than phone calls), note that according to Hollings' contact page, "South Carolina residents may call, toll free, 1-800-922-8503" to reach him. In addition, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and the Privacy Center will be holding a meeting on "Security or Surveillance? Technology's Impact After September 11" on October 22 at Washington, DC's National Press Club; you can email for details on this meeting.

Comments

Conflict of what?

[hoggoth]

Why would I not be surprised if Senator Hollings ends up with a fat cushy position in the RIAA or MPAA after he's done raping our free markets?

Its about time.

[Lord Hugh Toppingham]

For too long the safety critical aspects of software development have been neglected by the government. There appears to be no law holding software developers to the same standards as say, builders, or electricians, or gas workers.

Software can be dangerous. You only have to look at the amount of safety critical systems out there to realize this.

I for one am not happy with the idea of a nuclear power station being controlled by software developed by a loose coalition of left wing students. (I am referring to Linux here).

Lets get real. Software can kill, if not developed correctly. All software developers should be licensed by the government, and any safety critical systems should be formally specified (in Z for example) to prove there are no bugs before being tested on the general populace at large.

I realise the open source zealots will disagree with me, but their unregulated sloppy work has been accepted for too long. It is time we introduced rigourous quality standards backed up by legislation with teeth.

Why should some unqualified fourteen year old 'hacker' be allowd to develop software that could put lives at risk ?

Re:only in the US

[John_Booty]

as usual, this is very USA-centric

Yeah, funny that, huh? All the stories posted with a little U.S. flag as their icon seem to be that way.

He's a Democrat! Say so!

[BLBishop]

Yet again, the fact that Hollings is a Democrat escapes any mention, but a recent /. article about a Republican senator features HIS party affiliation right up front.

What's wrong, guys, does it hurt that badly to admit it isn't just Republicans that push to limit freedoms?

Re:He's a Democrat! Say so!

[SecurityGuy]

Some source I read described him as "(D-Disney)" which I though both appropriate and really funny. :)

If it makes you feel better, I think Republicans are bad, but Democrats worse. Last election I started calling them Republicrats because I couldn't figure out how their positions differed in any significant way. Both for prescription drug "gimme" programs, both for a tax cut, etc.

BTW, Flamebait? Somebody's warm, fuzzy, democrat feelings get hurt?