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Bill Would Bar US Companies From Net Censorship

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the accountability-may-make-a-comeback-after-all dept.

Meredith writes "A bill that would penalize companies for assisting repressive regimes in censoring the Internet may finally be headed to a vote. The Global Online Freedom Act 'would not only prevent companies like Yahoo from giving up the goods to totalitarian regimes, but would also prohibit US-based Internet companies from blocking online content from US government or government-financed web sites in other countries.' Unfortunately, there's also a giant loophole: the president would be allowed to waive the provisions of the Act for national security purposes."

6 of 309 comments (clear)

  1. But what would they do for Hans? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    This post is brought to you by Hans Reiser's shredded anus, which is by now no doubt being passed around the jail house like a pack of smokes. His poor anus probably now resembles a pastrami sandwich that fell apart. I wonder if he'll describe that experience in the passive voice...

  2. Don't forget ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    ... to pay your $699 cock-smoking fee you licensing tea-baggers.

  3. Re:So.... by ArcherB · · Score: 0, Troll

    Well, national security can be important, believe it or not. If somebody posted the floor plan and guard rotations for a large water processing plant, would you really want a law that said nobody could tell them to take down the information? Actually, I would. What you're defending is the real-world version of security through obscurity. If knowing the floor plan and guard rotations of a water plant is sufficient for a person with ill intent to gain access, then the security situation at this water plant is insufficient. Physical security must be designed just like computer security: it works even against someone who knows exactly HOW the system works. Great, then you won't mind giving me your IP address and root/Admin password. I would also like the hours you work and when the wife and kiddies are home alone.

    Thank you for your cooperation.
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  4. Re:Bad idea by plague3106 · · Score: 0, Troll

    Our making a buck is more important than some yellow person half a world away, right?

  5. Re:Bad idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Our making a buck is more important than some yellow person half a world away, right?

    Well, yeah. That's why companies have been pushing for more globalization.

    They get emerging markets, cheap labour, one sided trade deals, and the ability to export copyright laws.

    What you think your running shoes are made by some white guy in an air conditioned room who works in an a well regulated environment where he gets benefits and good pay?

    American companies have been exploiting cheap labor and lax employment laws for quite a while now. The US government has never worried about the rights of people in other countries before, why the hell should they start?
  6. good but a lot more is necessary by rastoboy29 · · Score: 1, Troll

    U.S. companies should not help any government censor anything, period.  Anything else is a slippery slope--real fast.

    This is why Google is evil.

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