Slashdot Mirror
EU Privacy Directive — Coming To the US?
An anonymous reader writes "An article over at ComputerWorld implies that the EU Privacy Directive, or something like it, will soon be signed into law here in the USA. The author seems to think this is a good thing, but I'm not so sure. From the article: 'We've finally come to realize that self-regulation by industry hasn't worked. The states have stepped in, creating the same situation of conflicting regulation that led to the creation of the EU privacy directive. The only question now is if the law that comes out of Congress will be a small step strictly focused on breaches, such as S.239, or whether we take the bigger step of forming a permanent committee under the FTC to monitor privacy as outlined by S.1178. Either way, the U.S. is finally moving away from the fractured environment of the past and toward a comprehensive privacy strategy.' Is it time for a national privacy law or 'Privacy Czar', or are we better off letting things be?"
Just let those big, overpaid, greedy top-managers screem a while. Then, publicly, pick out the loudest screamer and sack him. Something for public television and a president wanting to be popular again. (You can sack him roman style which is a bit too bloody for modern times. Oh wait you are Americans right? You still do that. Well That's ok then.) Anyways, his salary alone will compensate for those costs no problemo. With the added merit of the rest of those greedy bastards now wanting to scream too loud...
It's a good idea to have a privacy czar, assuming the other half of his job description isn't to implement EU-style data retention policies. This Orwellian definition of privacy I wouldn't put past the government to invent.
reminds me of the famous pledge of allegiance:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United Corporations of America and to the profits for which they stand, one nation under lobbyists with liberty and justice for a few."
Most of the EU elite, and also pretty much the entire UN governing body.