Spy Act of 2007 = "Vendors Can Spy Act"

strick1226 writes "Ed Foster over at InfoWorld describes the Spy Act bill (H.R. 964) as having the same relation to the prevention of spyware that the CAN SPAM Act had to the prevention of spam. It allows exceptions for companies to utilize spyware for any number of reasons; if this bill had been law when Sony distributed their rootkit, they would have had perfect cover. Most troubling is that the bill would preempt all state laws, including those more focused on the privacy of people's data, and disallow individuals from bringing suit. It is expected to pass soon with 'strong bipartisan support.'"

Comments

Since no one here uses windows

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't see who this will be a problem.

Re:Since no one here uses windows

[Anonymous Coward]

I use Windows Vista you insensitive cl

Re:Since no one here uses windows

[tgcid]

this surely has NO benefit to We, The People ;( How quickly you forget that corporations are people too.

Re:Since no one here uses windows

[ozmanjusri]

There is no such thing as an totally invulnerable operating system.

Ok. Rootkit my Knoppix CD then.

Re:Since no one here uses windows

[Crayon Kid]

You're not being paranoid enough, at Slashdot accepted levels. Your Knoppix CD is already rootkit'ed. Hell, {insert IT megacorporation here} would argue that Linux itself is a rootkit.

Re:Just have "bad stuff" described in EULAs

[Anonymous Coward]

Modified English EULA:
1. This software does nothing so give us money for it.
2. Only you may use this software in only ways we choose but won't tell you so give us money for it.
3. Anytime you want to do anything with this software give us money for it.
4. We may, at any time, stop you from using this software and have you give us money for it.
5. Give us money.

Re:This will legalize the NSA Spying and more

[PitaBred]

You mean, bomb the kill president New York?

Re:Legal, not moral

[Blakey Rat]

We're seeing a coming depression that is unique in that it will only affect the middle class. I reflect on the anger and aggression with which my credit card company deals with me and my wife just because we pay our bill in full every month. Our banker is shocked because we have paid our mortgage and aren't interested in refinancing our home "to pay bills, take a vacation. Living within our means, not participating in the orgy of consumerism makes us the enemy of those that would see us become indentured.

Paranoid much?