Microsoft Helps Write Oklahoma's Anti-Spyware Law

groovy.ambuj writes "The Inquirer reports that Microsoft has developed Oklahoma's 'Computer Spyware protection Act'. The law will supposedly protect people from unwarranted hackers or virus attacks and can fine individuals up to $1M who are found guilty of breaking into a computer without the owners knowledge. At the same time, it also allows some of the better known capable companies to 'look' into your computer for possible virus/spyware and fix the problem without informing you. And, while these friends are doing their job, they can also take the moment to do other things. "

Comments

Be afraid...

[IamGarageGuy 2]

be very afraid

Re:Big Brother, nothing we can do?

[TomTraynor]

Unless it is written into the law that you cannot prevent them from going in then it is allowed. Hopefully someone will get the lawmakers a clue bat and let them know that a third party has complete access to all of the lawmakers private and confidential information on their computers. The third party won't even need to be security cleared, that third party can grab anything and do anything without letting the person know.

clause for defective OS liability?

[potus98]

Perhaps the Act should be expanded to include liability for companies that offer operating systems with poorly designed security that permit (some of) such problems in the first place. Sure, users are responsable when they flip their car off the road, but auto-makers are still liable when they manufacture a vehicle with inherintly weak suspension arms.

=oO=

[qeveren]

Section 6 of the act says such a prohibition "shall not apply" to "telecommunications carrier, cable operator, computer hardware or software provider or provider of information service."

So... the law doesn't even apply to spyware, since companies that produce spyware are technically "software providers or providers of information service", no?

Intent of a law != Content of the law

[Kadin2048]

What you just said is exactly true, however it's not the complete extent of what's allowed. There's nothing in the bill that limits what Microsoft (or Norton, or whomever) can detect and delete from your computer, provided that it's illegal. The excuse is to allow them to delete spyware, but it just as easily allows them to do you the "service" of removing any unlicensed software you have on your computer.

The intent of a law and what it actually allows are often totally separate things.