Slashdot Mirror
Australian Gov't To Consider Spyware Laws
bernie writes "It seems the US is not the only country with spyware legislation in the works. According to this Computerworld article, a bill outlawing the 'harvesting without consent corporate or personal information via a Web site or with software applications for marketing purposes will be classified as 'spyware'' and is set to go before parliament later this year. In addition to making all 'spyware' opt-in the bill will cover 'malware' such as viruses, trojans, and worms. Interestingly, the article cites lack of 'international cooperation' as a barrier to effective enforcement of cyberlaws. Also included is a statement from the EFF that it 'would like to see a more serious effort made to use existing laws against unfair trade practices, misrepresentation, computer fraud and abuse, before new technology-specific laws are passed'."
Users will be required to install the Australian government's spyware to make sure other spyware isn't installed.
Interestingly, the article cites lack of 'international cooperation' as a barrier to effective enforcement of cyberlaws.
An idea to get international cooperation would be to make it an act of war to get a mail bomb or any other kind of attack. We (in the US) get a couple of these... go knock on that countries door a few times and we'll get the cooperation from everyone we are hoping for.
Evolution or ID?
Let's pass a law. That always stops people.
?Not all spyware is bad but most is sinister"
I don't get this, can someone suggest a good spyware?
Or is ntpd also nowadays considered spyware??
screen capture utilities used to capture passwords,..
Damn, now I know why all those passwords in our web site's user db are showing up as long "*"s upon decryption
(Karma be damned; I am no better than an AC anyway)
Futilty detector is sounding... So it would be only illegal to collect this information for *marketing* purposes?!!!
That's a law that'll be useful.