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Broad Bills to Protect 'Communications Services'

Posted by michael on from the overreaching dept.

mttlg writes "According to Freedom to Tinker, MA, TX, SC, FL, GA, AK, TN, and CO have introduced similar bills that would make it illegal to possess, use, etc. "any communication device to receive ... any communication service without the express consent or express authorization of the communication service provider" or "to conceal ... from any communication service provider ... the existence or place of origin or destination of any communication." (Additional legalese removed for the sake of brevity.) This would seem to outlaw NAT, VPNs, and many other security measures. In other words, don't secure your communications, just sue if you don't like who receives them." The bills define 'communication service' as just about any sort of telecom service that is provided for a charge or fee. In effect, they would extend the already-extant laws relating to theft of cable TV services to any telecom service. For example, if your ISP charges per computer connected, using a router/NAT device would be illegal if these became law.

6 of 524 comments (clear)

  1. in other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Rep. congressmen will renameCommunications Services as Freedom Services

  2. Relax, John Ashcroft will help you.. by grub · · Score: 4, Funny


    Just wait for John Ashcroft to announce the only legal services after these laws take effect:

    http://www.nsa.gov/patriot-proxy/
    http://www.fbi. gov/freedom-remailer/

    --
    Trolling is a art,
  3. amputation to ensue? by FatAlb3rt · · Score: 1, Funny

    I hope eyes, ears, and mouths don't count as commuication devices or services...

    But then again, the next time I get dragged into HR for "inappropriate discussion", I'll sue whoever was offended, as the conversation was not meant to be stolen (ooh, how about pirated?) by the offendee.

  4. Coming soon... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...a law requiring our brains to be modified to reduce memory retention to, say, 3 hours, which will prevent the storage of any significant data. This will benefit the industry by causing the population to repeatedly consume material for a nominal fee, and the government will benefit as they will be able to revise history on a daily basis.

    /sarcasm, or cynicism?

  5. Re:Where is your Freedom going? by Musashi+Miyamoto · · Score: 4, Funny

    I believe it was Patrick Henry that said:

    "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or at least give me a false sense of security"

  6. New laws just in... by pubjames · · Score: 2, Funny


    1) No whispering
    2) No wearing dark glasses and big hats
    3) No hiding