Tech Legislation: The Digital Dirty Dozen

vwalke writes: "The libertarian think tank, Cato Institute, recently released a summary of the worst Tech Legislative Measures of the 107th congress. A few of the bills receiving honors: another breakup of the telecommunications system (S. 1364), regulation on electronic advertising and marketing activities (S.792 and H.R. 2246), authorization of a multi-state Internet tax cartel (S.512 and H.R. 1410), regulation of unsolicited e-mail (H.R. 718), requiring non-discriminatory licensing of online content like movies and music while also mandating copy protection schemes (H.R. 2724), prohibition of online gambling (H.R. 556 and H.R. 3215), and creation of a broadband tax credit (S. 88 and H.R. 267). A very detailed, informative analysis. Keep in mind it's coming with a libertarian slant."

Comments

A tad overreaching

[PurpleBob]

Regulating spam is one of the "dirty dozen" of tech legislation? Spam is an obvious undesired drain on the Internet, which is usually based on trespass and fraud (abusing open relays and forging headers). Spam is not protected speech.

Granted, the measures to attempt to control spam that the government has passed have been watered-down, useless pieces of tripe, like the law saying that every spam must provide a "remove" address. How helpful. But I'd hardly consider these bills the most "destructive pieces of technology legislation". Save that for the DMCA.

This article is what has made me certain that I am not a Libertarian.