House Passes Another Spyware Bill

SkippyTPE writes "The AP reports that the US House of Representatives has unanimously passed a law criminalizing Spyware. This is the second such bill in two days (the first imposing civil penalties, whereas this bill imposes criminal penalties). Information on the bills (HR2929 and HR4661) can be found here and here respectively."

Comments

been there

[GerbilSocks]

Spyware will just move offshore. More governmental bullshit.

Loophole City

[American AC in Paris]

From the Yahoo! blurb:

It would add penalties of up to five years in prison for people convicted of installing such programs without a computer user's permission.

If this is really the case, this law isn't going to do a damn thing--all it means is that spyware developers will need to put a sufficiently dense bunch of legalease on page eight of the EULA. (It was noted somewhere--NPR, I think--that the typical EULA is measurably longer than the Constitution of the United States...)

"From time to time, Awesomeness2004!!! Pro may gather usage statistics and other information and transmit this information to the ShadyCorp central server."

"By clicking 'I Agree', you grant ShadyCorp permission to install Awesomeness2004!!! Pro. To take advantage of certain advanced features, Awesomeness 2004!!! Pro requires SnifferExeDllBuddy. SnifferExeDllBuddy may track and report usage statistics and other information."

"ShadyCorps is concerned about your privacy. Your personal information will only be made available to ShadyCorp and approved ShadyCorp partners."

Forget teeth--this law'll be lucky if it can manage to gum hungrily at the bastards' ankles. How about a law that renders post-POS EULAs null and void?

Neilsen pays you cash money.

[glrotate]

Spyware installs surreptitiously and degrades you performance.

What spyware outfit do you work for?

Re:Maybe another Law isn't necessary

[dewke]

You do realize that to be a "Nielson" household you have to volunteer. It's one thing to volunteer to have your browsing habits monitored, and something else to have crap like gator shoved onto your pc because you don't know any better.