Senate Hearing Webcast Today On DMCA Subpoena Powers

An anonymous reader sends this clipping from the Senate Commerce committee website about today's hearing into "consumer privacy implications of the use of subpoena powers by copyright holders to obtain the identities of Internet subscribers allegedly infringing on their copyrights. Members also will examine whether the government can mandate content protection technologies without limiting consumers' legal uses of digital media products. Senator Brownback will preside. Tentative witness list will be available at a later time." Here's a link to both the schedule and the webcast itself; it starts at 10:00 a.m., EST.

Comments

Re:Subpoenas are a basic human right

[Mattcelt]

I really don't think the 200-year-old subpoena process will be in jeopardy here. This has to do specifically with what may be overbroad capabilities given to companies who want to use FUD to keep the masses "in line". Because of the poorly constructed nature of the DMCA, the system it enables is rife with abuse, and it is finally coming to the attention of the ones who made the mistake in the first place.

Does anyone know who is sponsoring this event?

"consumer privacy implications"

[LazyBoy]

Uh. Shouldn't they be safeguarding the privacy of citizens, not consumers.

When did these words become interchangeable?

There's a subtle bias involved. Ask yourself this:
Is it more important to protect consumers or producers?
Is it more important to protect citizens or corporations?