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New Legislation Would Crack Down On Online Criminal Havens

Hugh Pickens writes "The Hill reports that Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) have introduced a bill that would penalize foreign countries that fail to crack down on cyber criminals operating within their borders. Under the bill the White House would have the responsibility of identifying countries that pose cyber threats and the president would have to present to Congress in an annual report. Countries identified as 'hacker havens' would then have to develop plans of action to combat cybercrimes or risk cuts to their US export dollars, foreign-direct investment funds and trade assistance grants. Numerous American employers, including Cisco, HP, Microsoft, Symantec, PayPal, eBay, McAfee, American Express, Mastercard and Visa, as well as Facebook, are supporting the Senators' legislation."

208 comments

  1. What could possibly go wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This legislation is just going to blow up in our face as soon as other countries start demanding that we rat out our citizens for "criminal" activity (e.g. dissent, political freedom, etc.)

    1. Re:What could possibly go wrong by singlevalley · · Score: 0

      I, for one, welcome our internet lords...

    2. Re:What could possibly go wrong by russ1337 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      This legislation is just going to blow up in our face as soon as other countries start demanding that we rat out our citizens for "criminal" activity (e.g. dissent, political freedom, etc.)

      i'd guess it's more targeted at illegal activity such as 'piracy' and 'copyright infringement'. This smacks of RIAA/MPAA and leverage against countries such as Sweden for their lack of ability to close down The Pirate Bay.

    3. Re:What could possibly go wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Orrin Hatch is famous for sucking up to the RIAA/MPAA

    4. Re:What could possibly go wrong by plover · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Orrin Hatch is famous for sucking

      FTFY.

      --
      John
    5. Re:What could possibly go wrong by masshuu · · Score: 1

      I, for one, don't welcome our inter%^a*,[=NO CARRIER

      --
      O.o
    6. Re:What could possibly go wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah,

      It's another excuse for the global elite to attempt wrest our freedoms from us. Americans, it's in the spirit of America that we must never let "international law" or otherwise unconstitutional law (HealthCare Bill that just got "signed" into "law") take our God-given freedoms away. Regardless if you believe in the God of the Bible or not, you were born with a free will in a free country that has a Bill of Rights and a Constitution. The power rests in the bosom of America's citizens. Not in central powers that are corrupt beyond imagination.

      The Internet must remain a free and open channel.

    7. Re:What could possibly go wrong by DarkOx · · Score: 1

      Why do you think that they want something other than that to happen?

      --
      Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
    8. Re:What could possibly go wrong by flyneye · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I dunno about that, I can see penalties against Nigeria happening. It would be interesting to see how tough they get with China and Russia which seem to be the biggest cybercrime havens. I'm sooooo f*ckin sure man.

      --
      *Repent!Quit Your Job!Slack Off!The World Ends Tomorrow and You May Die!
    9. Re:What could possibly go wrong by Dachannien · · Score: 2, Informative

      And how is that supposed to happen? The US is by far the biggest exporter of money in the world. The reason this legislation would work is because the US can withhold that money to coerce other countries to comply. It doesn't work the other way around, because the other countries don't have leverage against the US.

      One could argue that China (and Japan, actually) has leverage in the form of all the US debt they hold. But if China leveraging that debt against the US was a good thing for them, they'd have done it already. Truth is, China would hurt themselves as much as the US in the process.

    10. Re:What could possibly go wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, his son Brent is famous for helping SCO demand *SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS* from all those 'criminal Linux-using pirates' in the world that don't kneel for the SCOsource extortion scheme^H^H licensing product.

    11. Re:What could possibly go wrong by OldHawk777 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yep, looks like, it could be another corporate-welfare fuckUS bill that protects bigbiz and ignores threats to the US Nation and People.

      The fiat sales pitch is usually flag, god, fear, homeland defense, evil, security... and indicates more [BigBrother] fuckUS bigbiz by biggov laws.

      Biggov (law) is all about bigbiz (economics), never about freedom from threat and welfare (QoL) for US People.

      GodBless the biggies from US buggies, and keep the biggies from controlling/oppressing our life any more.

      --
      Unaccountable leaders are masters, and unrepresented people are slaves. How do US and EU fare?
    12. Re:What could possibly go wrong by HungryHobo · · Score: 1

      I dunno.
      The US owns a really massive portion of the webs criminals.

    13. Re:What could possibly go wrong by frank_adrian314159 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I'd guess it's more targeted at illegal activity such as 'piracy' and 'copyright infringement'.

      And you'd probably be right, given that it's Orrin Hatch that's sponsoring the bill. Orrin has very strong RIAA ties and is a very strong supporter of them.

      --
      That is all.
    14. Re:What could possibly go wrong by CodeBuster · · Score: 1

      This smacks of RIAA/MPAA and leverage against countries such as Sweden for their lack of ability to close down The Pirate Bay.

      I doubt that the Scandinavian countries, which are self sufficient and reasonably wealthy by themselves, receive much foreign direct investment funds or trade assistance grants. I suppose that sanctions against their exports are possible (i.e. more expensive Ikea furniture or some such), but that would be counter-productive given the realities of the European Union and cross border European commerce and trade.

    15. Re:What could possibly go wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's ridiculous. The US government is enacting legislation that they want to enforce in other countries?

      Are they the world police now?

    16. Re:What could possibly go wrong by BillMike · · Score: 0
    17. Re:What could possibly go wrong by c79106428 · · Score: 0
  2. Welcome to the Empire by tpstigers · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Wow. "Obey our laws or else!" Imperialist America strikes again!

    1. Re:Welcome to the Empire by tpstigers · · Score: 0, Troll

      I'm intrigued. Let's see if you can actually put some intellectual weight behind your statements. Explain.

    2. Re:Welcome to the Empire by pushing-robot · · Score: 1, Informative

      TFA summarized: "If people from your country attack us, and you won't do anything about it, we won't trade with you so much."

      How horribly fascist.

      --
      How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
    3. Re:Welcome to the Empire by gandhi_2 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Nations routinely "attack" each-other economically over trade-related issues in the form of tariffs, duties, quotas, et al. Has nothing to do imperialism or your hatred for America.

    4. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Jenming · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Um, how about: Don't let criminals strike at the US from within your borders if you want us to give you free money.

      I guess there are a multiple ways to think of the same actions.

      --
      Morpheus, God of Dreams.
    5. Re:Welcome to the Empire by tpstigers · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think you're confused about who the criminals are and who has the money.

    6. Re:Welcome to the Empire by davester666 · · Score: 1

      First up, Canada, for viciously attacking America's IP. In the form of a 12 year old in Montreal who videotaped a movie off the screen at a cinema.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    7. Re:Welcome to the Empire by TubeSteak · · Score: 0

      Wow. "Obey our laws or else!" Imperialist America strikes again!

      How else do you expect these things to work?
      The money and business opportunities we send there way is soft power.
      And the threat of removing that money is hard power.

      If [Country] doesn't like our policies, they can always align themselves with Russia or China.

      P.S. Sorry Canada

      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
    8. Re:Welcome to the Empire by DeadRat4life · · Score: 3, Insightful

      i dont really think you understand how American foreign policy really works. We are not the cops of the world despite what the people in power seem to think. If you want a good understanding on what US foreign policy really is, read/listen to some Noam Chomsky.

    9. Re:Welcome to the Empire by tpstigers · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I started this thread and I'm tired of one assumption you all keep making: You all keep talking about my hatred of America. Well, let me spell this out for you - I LOVE AMERICA. I have done so my entire life. The fact that I disagree with you does not mean I don't love my country, neither does it mean I love my country less than you. Th truth is that I just hold my country to a higher standard than you do.

    10. Re:Welcome to the Empire by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

      Imperialist America strikes again!

      Aw, someone's mad because -their- empire's evil plans aren't making it onto slashdot...

    11. Re:Welcome to the Empire by copponex · · Score: 4, Informative

      Oh goody! Let me guess, we get to define who the criminals are, right? Let's see, we need to exclude:

      1) wars of aggression (Vietnam, Lebanon, Phillippines, Iraq, etc)
      2) trade wars (Iraq, Cuba, pretty much all of central and south america)
      3) covert coup d'etat (Iran, Iraq, pretty much all of central and south america)
      4) aiding and abetting known terrorists (the CIA in Iraq, Iran, and pretty much all of central and south america)

      And remember, if you so much as allow a single credit card to be stolen from an IP address from within your country, we reserve the right to use any of the above methods to exact justice.

    12. Re:Welcome to the Empire by wizardforce · · Score: 4, Informative

      No. Take a look at the two pushing this bill: Hatch in particular has a history of supporting idiotic things like allowing copyright holders to destroy property of suspected infringers and Gillibrand has a hostory of taking large campaign contributions from parties directly related to legislation she was involved in. It therefore shouldn't be terribly surprising that these two were involved.

      --
      Sigs are too short to say anything truly profound so read the above post instead.
    13. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Jenming · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Limiting trading with a country that commits crimes against you isn't an abuse of foreign policy. This isn't being "cops of the world" this is being cops of the US and interacting less with countries that won't play nice.

      And yes, it is the US definition of nice, but so what? Each country is free to choose who they want to trade with and it is usually based upon the countries following each other's laws when dealing with each other.

      --
      Morpheus, God of Dreams.
    14. Re:Welcome to the Empire by copponex · · Score: 5, Insightful

      http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imperialism

      Main Entry: imperialism
      Function: noun
      Date: 1800

      1 : imperial government, authority, or system
      2 : the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas; broadly : the extension or imposition of power, authority, or influence

      If you don't think forcing another country to obey our laws by violating their national sovereignty through political and military influence isn't imperialism, you're fucking stupid.

    15. Re:Welcome to the Empire by WidgetGuy · · Score: 1

      Puts me in mind of a corollary flowing directly from the "Everything in moderation" rule: "Everything in moderation. Including moderation."

      Works for me!

      --
      One "Aw, Shit!" is worth 100 "Ata boys!"
    16. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      extending the power and dominion of a nation

      Not quite the same as wanting a country to stop harboring and protecting people who use cyber-attacks (vague term I know) against the US.

      If you kept breaking my windows, and running into my neighbor's house every time I came out to yell at you, and my neighbor did nothing about it, yeah, I'd stop letting him borrow my power tools.

    17. Re:Welcome to the Empire by james.mcarthur · · Score: 1

      "Um, how about: Don't let criminals strike at the US from within your borders if you want us to give you free money." Free money? Since when does the US Government (or any Government ..) give anybody "free" money. There are always strings attached.

    18. Re:Welcome to the Empire by girlintraining · · Score: 1

      Imperialist America strikes again!

      We outsourced imperialism awhile ago. We're mostly consultants now for other countries. Didn't you get the memo? /not joking

      --
      #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    19. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At least Norway will not be invaded to destroy Pirate Bay. Only penalized.

    20. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Canada: No oil for you...

      Canada is top Oil import for the U.S.
      http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html

      As a Canadian, I would rather not be in the WIPO and trade with U.S. China would be quite happy to buy our natural resources.

    21. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How do you love that which has no form? Is it the idea? What is the idea? Who defines it?

    22. Re:Welcome to the Empire by vikingpower · · Score: 1

      ...if you want us to give you free money.

      It is general and public knowledge that the US are out of real money to give. The US has only increasingly wobbly IOUs printed in green and black on rectangular slips of paper.

      --
      Religous speak to God. Insane are spoken to by God. When all shut up, one can finally hear Shostakovich in peace
    23. Re:Welcome to the Empire by zondag · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Limiting trading with a country that commits crimes against you isn't an abuse of foreign policy. This isn't being "cops of the world" this is being cops of the US and interacting less with countries that won't play nice.

      And yes, it is the US definition of nice, but so what? Each country is free to choose who they want to trade with and it is usually based upon the countries following each other's laws when dealing with each other.

      A bit rich coming from the country that, at least until recently, was only sabotaging international law. Being Dutch I particularly remember the Hague Invasion Act.

      But hey, you have a different president now. So if we were to accept that a country that is an origin of cybercrime is, as a country, committing a crime: Who specifically do you advocate starting a trade war with? Europe, China, Brazil, India, Russia? All of them?

    24. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You forgot weapons of mass destruction: the US remains the only nation in the world ever to have dropped a nuclear weapon on a civilian-populated area.

      I do wonder how much further the US can push its luck before the rest of the world just starts telling them to shove it, though. As I have noted before, they are no longer the world's "superpower" by any meaningful standard, though plenty of people in the US government don't seem to have realised that yet. These repeated attempts to promote US business interests abroad might carry some weight in the US where they recently officially legalised buying the government, but it's not really in anyone else's interests. For the rest of the world, sucking up to a major foreign government is only worth it if the rewards are commensurate, and no-one really believes that about the US any more, and there is a lot of political competition today in many states with traditionally close ties to the US making it harder to do things quietly behind closed doors than it used to be (see: SWIFT, ACTA).

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
    25. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      s/et al./etc./
      Don't use expressions and abbreviations you don't understand.

    26. Re:Welcome to the Empire by kronosopher · · Score: 1

      It's not even our definition of nice. Our government may as well be a wholly owned subsidiary of international banking corporations and our domestic/foreign policy dictated directly by profiteering corporate agendas completely irrespective of majority consensus.

      This legislation is another example of an agenda using emerging technology to proliferate the already monstrous establishment. Nor are many countries able to make a choice about who they trade with; instead their leaders and people are assassinated, economically infiltrated, or militarily invaded.

    27. Re:Welcome to the Empire by tsotha · · Score: 1

      If making decisions about whether or not to trade with different countries is imperialism, then all countries are empires. I'm not thrilled about this legislation, but you're just crying wolf here.

    28. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gillibrand has a history already? She just got there last year, appointed by Governor Paterson, after Hillary Clinton stepped down to be Secretary of State.

      Do you have some facts to back that up or are you just trying to be fair and balanced with criticism of both parties?

    29. Re:Welcome to the Empire by polle404 · · Score: 1

      ...penalize foreign countries that fail to crack down on cyber criminals operating within their borders.

      And by whose laws are these persons criminals?
      This would be a job for UN, not US, if I'm not mistaken?

      --

      ~men are from earth. women are from earth. deal with it.~
    30. Re:Welcome to the Empire by OverlordQ · · Score: 1

      Wow. "Obey our laws or else!" Imperialist America strikes again!

      You mean "Crack down on people ripping us off or we'll stop sending you shit"

      --
      Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
    31. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Z34107 · · Score: 1

      So, even moderation in moderation... That's meta-moderation.

      --
      DATABASE WOW WOW
    32. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Rogerborg · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I'm tired of the assumption that your sort keeps making that you can bash America and love it at the same time. How many times do you think America will keep crawling back to you, hoping that you'll change?

      --
      If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
    33. Re:Welcome to the Empire by gandhi_2 · · Score: 1

      So then every nation to ever raise a trade dispute is an empire. If you believe that, you're a fucking douchebag.

    34. Re:Welcome to the Empire by copponex · · Score: 2, Insightful

      No, but every nation with a record like this which has also covertly overthrown dozens of governments and also has a history of ignoring international law and suppressing international opinion absolutely qualifies as an imperial power. Forcing sovereign nations to capitulate to giving up sovereignty through financial pressure falls well within the bounds of imperial behavior.

      Embracing ignorance, or in less polite terms, being fucking stupid, cannot change reality.

    35. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If some countries had the political and military leverage, the US would be in deep shit if that catches on...

      See it in whatever way you want, the US are (ab)using its dominant position in global politics to cram their laws down the throats of other nations. Imagine Iran having the upper military and economic hand and being able to force their views on decency on the rest of the globe and you see what the rest of the world thinks of this.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    36. Re:Welcome to the Empire by tbannist · · Score: 1

      Frankly, I think this would be used as a stick to threaten U.S. Allies to try and force the adoption of draconian U.S. style copyright laws. It would most certainly combine in an unpleasant way with ACTA. I have strong doubts that it will have much, if any, legitimate use.

      That wouldn't be so bad if the U.S. wasn't already using so many other sticks to bludgeon it's allies. The U.S. needs to consider the consequences of making it less profitable and less palatable for other countries to trade with it.

      --
      Fanatically anti-fanatical
    37. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      It's still imperialism. We just noticed that it's cheaper and more profitable to install a local government instead of sending our troops and our bureaucracy there, which costs money and manpower. That has been outsourced. We allow countries now to govern themselves, but by virtue of WTO and other organisations that ensure these countries cannot act against our interests we keep them at the leash.

      Imperialism didn't end last century. It's still going on, we are just more subtle about it now. Instead of directly controlling the country, we control it by proxy. Instead of holding them as slaves, we keep them so deep in debt that they can't really make any decisions for themselves without first asking us if it's ok.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    38. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Yeah, 'cause ripping off is something that's only allowed if we profit from it. Like, say, when we dictate the terms you may trade with us and you can't complain or we'll simply destroy that figment of imagination you call your economy.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    39. Re:Welcome to the Empire by lxs · · Score: 1

      Good thing too, because The Pirate Bay is from Sweden.

      And you wonder why the rest of the world sees you as ignorant fools. Unless I just have benn trolled successfully. Damn you internet!

    40. Re:Welcome to the Empire by arthurpaliden · · Score: 1

      So how will this work within the borders of the US? Will states be able to with hold federal taxes if the federal govenment does not go after other states? Will the federal government withhold taxes to itself if it does not successfully clamp down on US cyber crime?

    41. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are nothing more than a America hating piece of turd. /shoo.

    42. Re:Welcome to the Empire by tophermeyer · · Score: 1

      I can't decide which part of that is funnier: The thought that the US Federal Government will hold itself to the same standard it sets for everybody else, or that the Federal Government will show respect for States Sovereignty in tax matters.

    43. Re:Welcome to the Empire by rubycodez · · Score: 1

      How about waging war against countries that aren't on board with our petrodollar cartel? Or waging war to line the pockets of the military industrial complex? Is that an abuse of foreign policy? Is that being "cops of the world"?

      I think you're very confused on who the very worst offenders on the planet in that regard is.

    44. Re:Welcome to the Empire by tophermeyer · · Score: 1

      Instead of holding them as slaves, we keep them so deep in debt that they can't really make any decisions for themselves without first asking us if it's ok.

      And so far this has worked out really really well for us, if only we didn't have to borrow Trillions from the Chinese to make it happen. Say what you will about real old world British style Imperialism, but at least its more profitable than what we're doing now.

    45. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Lord+Ender · · Score: 1

      So all trade sanctions, even those related to human rights violations, are "imperialism" in your opinion?

      --
      A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
    46. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      No, that's due to us consuming and consuming without producing.

      What made the British imperialism superior was that they robbed the resources, produced at home and exported it back to the occupied territories, making them dependent on the imperial country.

      Hmm... looking at it that way, we became a Chinese colony.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    47. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Informative

      It's not like Europe or Canada told the US that they have to adopt that model. We offer an example. Follow or do your own thing, not like we treat you any different if you don't.

      Did anyone tell the US "Get your health care act together or we'll stop trading with you"? Did I miss something?

      Yes, I think it's a good idea that the US get a health care system that I deem superior. But it's not like I, or any country I know of, makes that a requirement to consider the US a "good" country. There are other qualities in a country that are more important than how they handle their health care.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    48. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm glad you love your country so much. I'm also glad you love it so much that you won't criticise it publicly.

      Should you decide to change your mind on any of this, you would become a counter-revolutionary, and as such can be round up and 'disappeared'. If you don't understand the comment, refer to the USSR for reference.

      It's perfectly okay not to love one's country. Where's the problem?

    49. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "...you're fucking stupid"

      Says the person that hasn't yet mastered double-negatives.

    50. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You forgot weapons of mass destruction: the US remains the only nation in the world ever to have dropped a nuclear weapon on a civilian-populated area.

      Yeah, but that was before there were rules against it.

    51. Re:Welcome to the Empire by copponex · · Score: 1

      Nice! I can never proof read enough.

    52. Re:Welcome to the Empire by copponex · · Score: 2, Insightful

      So all trade sanctions, even those related to human rights violations, are "imperialism" in your opinion?

      In a pretend world, there could be sanctions related to human rights violations that were based on moral values. You're welcome to provide me with a real world example from the United States.

      Keep in mind we have supported governments of Iraq, Indonesia, Iran, Columbia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Chile, Argentina, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, China, and others while they violated human rights. We even supported apartheid South Africa and we still support apartheid in Israel/Palestine. Some support was financial aid, or trade deals, or even with direct military support. In places like Guatemala we were directly involved in torture, murder, and violence, like the raping of an American nun, who was also burned with cigarettes and lowered into a pit full of rats and dead bodies.

      So, what I don't think should count is sanctions against Iraq, for instance, since our political goals changed our policy. Not even the facade of something I would call a moral value system had anything to do with it. You are still welcome to provide evidence to the contrary.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gscKnNAxBpE

    53. Re:Welcome to the Empire by gandhi_2 · · Score: 1

      s/et\sal\./etc\./
      Don't use regular expressions with special characters you don't escape.

    54. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Rakarra · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think that is part of the reason why Libertarians are so misunderstood; both here on Slashdot and elsewhere.

      I don't think Libertarians are misunderstood; it's just that most people have little faith in capitalist/individualist systems to address every issue.

      Libertarians think they are misunderstood, the reality is that others do understand the philosophy but reject it as cold and heartless.

    55. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      I'm tired of the assumption that your sort keeps making that you can bash America and love it at the same time. How many times do you think America will keep crawling back to you, hoping that you'll change?

      Haha, America as a battered wife; I love it.

    56. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Lord+Ender · · Score: 1

      So, again, all trade sanctions are "imperialism" in your opinion?

      --
      A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
    57. Re:Welcome to the Empire by skarphace · · Score: 1

      I'm tired of the assumption that your sort keeps making that you can bash America and love it at the same time. How many times do you think America will keep crawling back to you, hoping that you'll change?

      How does one crawl back to himself?

      --
      Bullish Machine Tzar
    58. Re:Welcome to the Empire by copponex · · Score: 1

      Perhaps I should be more clear. I don't think there have been trade sanctions in the last sixty years by the United States based on moral grounds. You are welcome to provide me with a real world example, but it seems like you don't have any that you're willing to present. North Korea is probably the best case you could make. So, make a case, or you can reply with vague implications of begging the question in imaginary scenarios that do little to prove any point.

      All trade sanctions are out of self-interest, as one would expect. Whether they cross the line to imperialism depends on the intention of the sanctions, and I already addressed what you thought was your best case, which was humanitarian intervention. As illustrated by the Rwandan and Darfur genocides, when there are no geopolitical or monetary rewards, we do not interfere, and in cases like Iraq where the stated goals are known to be failing, we continue to interfere even if the sanctions are known to exacerbate human rights violations.

      This is why you would need to provide some evidence, if you indeed ever present an argument, instead of grasping at imaginary straws.

    59. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      s/et al/etc/

      Don't include characters that don't actually need to be replaced.

      Don't use a character type to stand in for a character when it's not needed.

    60. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you've got the relationship backwards. How many times should he allow the United States to attack him before he realizes it's just co-dependence and not love?

    61. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Before there were rules against intentionally attacking the civilian population instead of military targets in warfare? I'm pretty sure there were rules about that sort of thing before that. Many weren't following them, but there were rules.

    62. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Lord+Ender · · Score: 1

      I don't have to provide shit. I asked a question, you made the claim. That's how it works. Understand?

      Here's something for you to read:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa_under_apartheid

      You cheapen the word "imperialism" by using it in the way you do.

      Internet blowhard.

      --
      A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
    63. Re:Welcome to the Empire by copponex · · Score: 1

      In the 1980s, both the Reagan and Thatcher administrations, in the USA and UK respectively, followed a 'constructive engagement' policy with the apartheid government, vetoing the imposition of UN economic sanctions on South Africa, justified by a belief in free trade and a vision of South Africa as a bastion against Marxist forces in Southern Africa. Thatcher declared the ANC a terrorist organisation, and in 1987 her spokesman, Bernard Ingham, famously said that anyone who believed that the ANC would ever form the government of South Africa was "living in cloud cuckoo land".

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa_under_apartheid

      Strike three. You're out.

    64. Re:Welcome to the Empire by Lord+Ender · · Score: 1

      Yes, it is a long story. Eventually, the US employed trade sanctions against South Africa because of apartheid.

      Thanks for trolling by, though.

      You have a fantastically fucked up view of the world.

      --
      A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
    65. Re:Welcome to the Empire by copponex · · Score: 1

      You have a fantastically fucked up view of the world.

      The US military is what has keeps all of North America safe. The US military is the defensive force for all of NA and many other parts of the world. I don't see why Canada doesn't pay us taxes to fund our military. It's not like they could fight off an invasion. -Lord Ender
      http://bsd.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=61192&cid=5756853

      You could have just told me that you are an apparatchik. It would have made it easier to understand why reality is so confusing for you.

    66. Re:Welcome to the Empire by BillMike · · Score: 0
    67. Re:Welcome to the Empire by CodeBuster · · Score: 1

      I don't think Libertarians are misunderstood;

      How else do you explain why we are always lumped in with the Republicans or the right? The personal freedom which Libertarians seek to maximize is neither right nor left, but rather the universal desire of every person who has a head on their shoulders and thinks for themselves.

      it's just that most people have little faith in capitalist/individualist systems to address every issue.

      The world has lots of problems. It is an imperfect place. It has always been so and it always will be. The great hubris and mistake of the left is to believe that all of the world's problems can be solved, that we should always try to solve them AND that the government should use force, through laws, taxes or police power, to do it. The right often makes the mistake that morality or "the right way of living" ought to be enforced by the government. Libertarians reject these attempts to "fix" the world through coercion, which is most often delivered by a government but could also come from other sources, and are willing to accept that the world is imperfect and live with that in exchange for remaining free to decide our own lives. The Libertarians view the inability of capitalism, or indeed any other system, to solve the world's problems as irrelevant. If you want to try then by all means try (you are likely to be disappointed), but why should I be forced to contribute your misguided pursuit of utopia if I don't want to?

      the reality is that others do understand the philosophy but reject it as cold and heartless.

      The world is a cold an heartless place. Why go through life with an illusion that it is otherwise? Such wishful thinking can only result in frustration and disappointment. IMHO, it is better to know the truth and make your peace with it than continue to live in a fantasy world.

  3. Well by CSFFlame · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And by Cyber-Threats, they mean that they fail to encforce the DMCA.

    1. Re:Well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Not just the DMCA, but ACTA, which makes the DMCA look tame, especially the fact that ISPs have to record *every* packet you send out for data mining reasons for 7 years.

    2. Re:Well by Jenming · · Score: 1

      Oh? Are you sure they don't mean botnet command centers?

      --
      Morpheus, God of Dreams.
    3. Re:Well by vrmlguy · · Score: 1

      Not just the DMCA, but ACTA, which makes the DMCA look tame, especially the fact that ISPs have to record *every* packet you send out for data mining reasons for 7 years.

      Every packet?

      nmap -n -iR 0 -sL | cut -d" " -f 2 | while read IP
      do
          dd if=/dev/random count=512 | netcat -u -r $IP
      done

      I'm trying to figure out a way to use xargs instead of the while loop, but I can't quite get it done. Any ideas?

      --
      Nothing for 6-digit uids?
    4. Re:Well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      This could be dicey.

      So what is an online criminal?

      What situations would involve reduced trade with, say, Canada...

      1) Botnet initiated in Canada, with participants all over the world
      2) Botnet initiated in another country or the US, with Canadian participants
      3) Someone who downloaded the latest Metallica song in Canada
      4) Someone who posted a copyrighted Fox News report on their Canadian blog
      5) Hackers! from Canada
      6) A website that is infected with malware, with the company or server residing in Canada

      A few are legitimate, and the rest are going to be interesting. My guess is all of the above will be part of the definition of an "online criminal"

      I used Canada, because I'm Canadian.

    5. Re:Well by Jenming · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I doubt any of those things would result in less trade with Canada. I am sure NAFTA would over rule it for one.

      How about Botnet command centers that have been located, the IPs they are using have been found, the ISPs providing the internet connection have been found and asked to take them offline. However the ISPs and the country will not take them offline.

      --
      Morpheus, God of Dreams.
    6. Re:Well by IBBoard · · Score: 1

      Well, I'm sure the UK will be on the right side of that law once our politicians completely ignore the Digital Economy Bill and end up accepting ACTA...

    7. Re:Well by tbannist · · Score: 1

      The U.S. doesn't obey NAFTA rulings or WTC rulings. I think it's been almost a decade now that since the U.S. decided to unilaterally disobey the terms of trade treaties it's signed whenever it was more convenient to not follow them.

      The treaties haven't been scrapped because it's worth more to keep it and to ignore the U.S. transgressions, for now.

      But we often get U.S. politicians up here threatening us over completely false and made up allegations that the Repbulican party seems to invent. In the waning years of Bush's presidency we were repeatedly told that Canada was the world's biggest having for copyright infringers and that trade with our country would be cut off if we didn't crack down on... phones with cameras in theaters. That's more than a little bit stupid because we're pretty sure China's actually #1, we're pretty sure less 5% of the "infringing" versions of movies were taking by recording a movie in the theater, the vast majority are pre-production copies that are actually sold by people who actually work for MPAA member companies. I could go on an on.

      So, yes, this would be used against the U.S.'s closest allies to try and bludgeon us in doing your government's bidding.

      --
      Fanatically anti-fanatical
    8. Re:Well by Toze · · Score: 1

      7) America includes Canada on a list of "pirate nations" because our laws permit private, non-commercial copying.

      --
      No OS on the planet can protect itself from a user with the admin password. - Yvan256
    9. Re:Well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      this sounds like another "Federal Assault Weapons Ban" wanna be to me where they punish random people for things that "look scary" but other than that don't really do any appreciable damage. for those of you not in the "know" the Federal Assault Weapons Ban banned guns based far more on their "scary looks" than anything else... guns with barrel shrouds were banned... tell me how does a barrel shroud make a gun any more dangerous? i fear more of the same with this bill things like downloading copyrighted material, gaining access to private computers/servers, having credit card numbers(remember the netcom fiasco anyone?), etc. its the same old shit, the politicians, in an effort to make it look like they are doing something productive are in fact wasting massive quantities of time and money on laws that will cost individuals and businesses even more money once there passed, all the while really doing nothing to solve the "Problem". and to the people who are shit talking America you're right, i hate to fucking say it but you're right, at some point the pointless figure heads and lazy ass politicians are going to push other countries one step to far and something is going to have to give. we were at the top for a very long time the free market was spewing out goods and technology at a blinding pace that not a single country in the world could even come close to matching, and then some dick headed politicians saw a way to line their pockets by instating regulations and laws and all sorts of bullshit procedures, so that everyone was just a puppet jumping through a flaming hoop to get anywhere. and the people of America keep voting for these dickheads... i just don't get it... and this health care thing is just going to add more logs to the fire at our feet, yeah the health care system was all fucked up, but not because of the insurance it was because of the doctors. but nobody seemed to look at that. so i, and many others have just given up hope, i just hope the smart ones are preparing for the inevitable collapse of this once great nation, because it's coming and there's not a god damned thing anyone can do about it now.

  4. Quoting a James Cameron flick... by Lead+Butthead · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "Gee, I feel safer already" A lot of huff and puff, and not much else.

    --
    ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI!?
  5. This is a bad legislation by Kitkoan · · Score: 4, Informative

    As shown with the Special 301 list which stated the Canada was needing to update copyright laws (which could label Canada a criminal haven since it doesn't have a DMCA). After it was issued about Canada being in the wrong, many companies publicly stated otherwise.

    --
    Attention... all grammer nazi"s! Is they're anything; wrong with: my post,
    1. Re:This is a bad legislation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bad for Spain, too (P2P haven).

    2. Re:This is a bad legislation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good! I hope they do put us on the list.

      We'll just stop selling our oil to the US and sell it to the Chicoms. You know, people who actually have money to pay us.

  6. Pointless by Skarecrow77 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is pointless legislation because they very country it's targeting (*coughpeople'srepubliccough*), we refuse to recognize for their already existing undeclared "warfare" against the US, such as their currency manipulation.

    "Cyber warfare" will just be one more thing we ignore for economic/political reasons.

  7. Re:Criminal Havens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    News flash, long time copy/pasta troll accidentally
    posts logged in and reveals his uid.

    Given that it is ethanol, no-one was surprised, he's known as atroll anyway.

    AC to not undo richly deserved downmod.

  8. Here we go again... by whitespiral · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Just like child porn, cybercrime is another excuse to go after their real goal: Dictate who does what on the web. Soon after, they'll say file sharing is cybercrime, and they will twist another country's arm to impose their ACTA crap.

  9. Not want to be bitching... by santax · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But as a non-american I really really really DO NOT want US laws. If I would, I would move to the US. The arrogance is striking. Btw, ca

    1. Re:Not want to be bitching... by Jenming · · Score: 1

      I agree that you should not have to follow US laws.
      However it also seems fair that we (the US) should cut back on foreign aid to a country that say won't shut down the Botnet command centers operating in their borders.

      --
      Morpheus, God of Dreams.
    2. Re:Not want to be bitching... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As an american, this strikes me as a terrible idea. I really really DO NOT want the US to rule the world, and I find the arrogance in this act apalling.

    3. Re:Not want to be bitching... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're not being forced to follow US laws. This is the US deciding to whom it will give money. I think that's a perfectly appropriate thing for the US to do.

    4. Re:Not want to be bitching... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Considering the companies supporting the bill, I imagine they'll regret it once they realize the people they wish to reduce trade with are going to be their biggest customers.

      Paypal? I bet at least a bit of their cashflow is generated by fraudulent companies...
      Cisco? I wonder if a couple of those co-lo companies use Cisco gear for their multi-homed connections.
      HP? I wonder if they also use HP servers...they are among the cheapest.

    5. Re:Not want to be bitching... by XeroSine · · Score: 0

      Well look at who's in office......mr arrogance himself.

    6. Re:Not want to be bitching... by TheLink · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'm fine if the legislation is only about shutting down botnet command centers, spammers and malware.

      Not fine if it includes stuff like "if you don't have DMCA laws, you're a criminal haven - since criminals (from the US POV) can reverse engineer and break DRM, even if your country says that is not a criminal act". Same if those countries just happen to have different copyright laws (e.g. Canada).

      A lot of legislation has very nice titles, e.g. "No Child Left Behind Act", but the details are what count.

      You pick a good name and enough people might believe what they want about it and thus support it without looking too closely at the details.

      Same like those "investment" funds - "High-Grade Structured Credit Fund" or "High-Grade Structured Credit Enhanced Leveraged Fund" ;).

      --
    7. Re:Not want to be bitching... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And yet, in an (un)ideal society, two types of laws would be upheld, foreign and domestic. I agree Canada should not adopt DMCA, but neither should Canadian citizens receive immunity when facing international copyright charges - and neither should U.S. citizens when violating Canadian laws. Responsibility falls on the individual to educate themselves when dealing with nonnative works.

      (I can already see the rebuttal: 12 y/o gets extradited to China for illegally downloading Mahjong, to be squashed by tank.)

    8. Re:Not want to be bitching... by TheLink · · Score: 1

      > neither should Canadian citizens receive immunity when facing international copyright charges

      Depends on what those "international copyright" charges are, and what laws they are based on.

      If they are not actually international copyright laws, but just some stuff that the USA is trying to push to Canada, but Canada hasn't accepted it, then I don't see why Canadian citizens should have to follow those. Especially laws like the DMCA.

      The Canadian citizens already pay a levy. And strangely enough the Media Companies in Canada are the ones not paying the artists.

      http://www.thestar.com/business/article/735096--geist-record-industry-faces-liability-over-infringement

      quote:
      "After years of claiming Canadian consumers disrespect copyright, the irony of having the recording industry face a massive lawsuit will not be lost on anyone, least of all the artists still waiting to be paid. Indeed, they are also seeking punitive damages, arguing "the conduct of the defendant record companies is aggravated by their strict and unremitting approach to the enforcement of their copyright interests against consumers."

      Given the track record for such legislation and the way the recording companies and their friends behave, I doubt this legislation is really going to be used mainly for shutting down botnets.

      I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

      --
    9. Re:Not want to be bitching... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not American arrogance but an influencing drive for global domination, not by Americans, but by the global elite who run and influence the largest banks of the world.

    10. Re:Not want to be bitching... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm fine if the legislation is only about shutting down botnet command centers, spammers and malware.

      Not fine if it includes stuff like "if you don't have DMCA laws, you're a criminal haven - since criminals (from the US POV) can reverse engineer and break DRM, even if your country says that is not a criminal act". Same if those countries just happen to have different copyright laws (e.g. Canada).

      i agree with you. and my initial assumption was that it is intended to shutdown botnets, spammers, and malware.

      however you know that its a slippery slope and ip protection under this is inevitable.

    11. Re:Not want to be bitching... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you think it is fair for Iranians to pirate U.S. property?
      Do you think it is fair for Americans to pirate Iranian property?

      I don't. And if the American must pay $5M to the Iranian copyright holder for downloading one song, so be it. It is not the U.S. government's duty to protect that citizen for an action he willfully undertook. If this must result in a segregated internet, then that is what it takes.

    12. Re:Not want to be bitching... by TheLink · · Score: 1

      > Do you think it is fair for Iranians to pirate U.S. property?

      It's not fair if they are pirating it according to "pirating" as defined by Iranian laws and laws applicable to the whole world.

      "International" laws that the USA comes up with and tries to push to the whole world don't count till the countries agree to them.

      Other than that, if a country's law says what a citizen does is "fair use" and the USA disagrees and uses this legislation to label that country a criminal haven, this is a bad thing and _unfair_.

      Just because other countries have freedoms the USA doesn't have should not make them criminal havens.

      --
    13. Re:Not want to be bitching... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It should not matter how a country defines its copyright laws: this is an exclusive right.

      It is also the right of other sovereign nations to ignore these laws, but the chaos in this approach means that stealing will continue for the next century.

      A solution then, as I mentioned above, is not to push for a global consensus on copyrights as the U.S. is doing, but to recognize the copyright claims of every world nation. This preserves the native laws of a country, while still pushing for protection of IP.

      To use the earlier example, ideally, the Iranian and the American, of their own accord, would only download what is protected under their own law, and no other. If the Iranian downloads a song copyrighted by an American record label, the RIAA would prosecute without interference. If the American downloads a song copyrighted by an Iranian record label, the [record label distributor] would prosecute under their own terms.

      Your train of thought seems to be, "Country A is more free than Country B, giving Country A the right to illegally obtain Country B's works." This is flawed in that it promotes equal reciprocation by the other party. It is also morally unsound. What gives you the right to steal what is made and issued under the protection of a differing set of laws? Without those very laws, it would not exist; consequently, you would be unable to steal it. And if you value the laws of your own country, then to maintain them you must respect the laws of other nations, despite personal objections.

    14. Re:Not want to be bitching... by TheLink · · Score: 1

      > A solution then, as I mentioned above, is not to push for a global consensus on copyrights as the U.S. is doing, but to recognize the copyright claims of every world nation. This preserves the native laws of a country, while still pushing for protection of IP.

      What you are suggesting is ridiculous and contradictory.

      Contradictory because to do what you suggest would also require a global consensus.

      > And if you value the laws of your own country, then to maintain them you must respect the laws of other nations, despite personal objections.

      Why should I be required to respect the laws of some other country that I'm not staying in, nor have any voice in?

      > What gives you the right to steal what is made and issued under the protection of a differing set of laws?

      Copying is NOT stealing. Even the lawyers and Courts know the difference - that's why there are copyright laws in the first place.

      And this is how ridiculous your ideas are:

      Assuming copying is stealing, and the punishment for repeated theft in Saudi Arabia is having your hand chopped off, then I'm sure you should have no objections if in the future citizens in your country would have to have their hands chopped off if they are ever guilty of illegally copying stuff from Saudi Arabia (by Saudi laws).

      --
    15. Re:Not want to be bitching... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What you are suggesting is ridiculous and contradictory.

      Recognition of foreign laws is not the same as pushing the agenda of a singular nation. Citizens abroad are not protected by the laws of their government. I see no reason why the Internet should be the same.

      Why should I be required to respect the laws of some other country that I'm not staying in, nor have any voice in?

      Diplomatic ties? Is diplomacy limited to national stage actors in your view? How do you think citizens from the country you are exploiting feel? Do you think they are endeared by your actions? You're harming relations between nations, yet are incapable of seeing it because of greed.

      I don't pirate Chinese property for the same reason I don't pirate native property: I uphold myself in both cases to the same set of principles. Many Chinese citizens could not care less and will continue pirating U.S. property. There are some, however - exchange students I met in my case - who respect foreign property rights. If they noticed equal theft of their own IP, this stance could easily evaporate one day.

      Copying is NOT stealing. Even the lawyers and Courts know the difference - that's why there are copyright laws in the first place.

      If I mentioned theft, it is because there is no adequate English word to describe unsanctioned profiteering of IP. Like it or not, "steal" has adopted a second informal and commonly understood meaning when describing IP.

      Assuming copying is stealing, and the punishment for repeated theft in Saudi Arabia is having your hand chopped off, then I'm sure you should have no objections if in the future citizens in your country would have to have their hands chopped off if they are ever guilty of illegally copying stuff from Saudi Arabia (by Saudi laws).

      Assuming extradition is not enforced, that person would only be labeled criminal when in Saudi Arabia's borders.

      However, I would not (personally) care how that citizen is treated (or fined). He crossed (virtual) boundaries and with intent unlawfully (according to Saudi law) obtained property expressly under the protection of Saudi law. For the same reason a tourist yields domestic protection when travelling abroad, I feel it does not need to be upheld here.

      Inappropriate would not be enough to describe this measure if adopted during this decade. Education and a clearly defined Internet separation between (foreign) states would be needed. For the U.S., this would take little effort. Americans pirate something like 98-99% domestic material, 1-2% foreign. For European countries where 50% or more is American, this would be a more controversial and resisted task.

    16. Re:Not want to be bitching... by TheLink · · Score: 1

      > Assuming extradition is not enforced, that person would only be labeled criminal when in Saudi Arabia's borders.

      That already happens now - it's how the laws already work. If that's all you want, it's already done, so what your point? See Dmitry Sklyarov.

      As for "diplomatic ties", that's also already done and being done. There are many countries that have "harmonized" their laws with the USA for the sake of diplomatic ties (often whether their citizens like it or not).

      > How do you think citizens from the country you are exploiting feel?
      > Do you think they are endeared by your actions?

      Far fewer citizens have really been exploited by copyright infringement by P2P etc, than the number of artists and stars that have been exploited by the labels[1] and the programmers that have been exploited by their companies (e.g. EA etc). And how about the people were who rooted by Sony's rootkit (which is technically considered hacking in many countries)? Who went to prison for that hacking?

      If the artists and creators are already getting ZERO $$$$ from the labels they can't lose any more to P2P. In fact the smarter ones have realized they might as well encourage distribution of their stuff and then make money via tours - otherwise they're not going to get anything (it's all taken up by the "middle man").

      If you feel so strongly about exploitation, go bark up that tree instead.

      And if you're actually from one of those Big Media Companies and trying to promote their agenda, take this message to your handlers: "FUCK YOU".

      The ordinary citizen in the USA has little to worry about from "piracy", it does practically nothing to them.

      The media companies actually make money, they just use hollywood accounting to pretend they don't, when it suits them.

      [1] directly:
      http://www.thestar.com/business/article/735096--geist-record-industry-faces-liability-over-infringement
      Or via Hollywood accounting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_accounting
      See also: http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2002-11-13-stan-lee-sues-marvel_x.htm
      http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1578440/JRR-Tolkiens-estate-to-sue-New-Line-Cinema-over-Lord-of-the-Rings-trilogy-profits.html

      Aside from the critical acclaim and the plethora of Oscars and other awards, the complaint claims that they have grossed over $6 billion (£3.07 billion) worldwide through box office receipts and DVD and merchandising sales.

      However, the suit filed by the Trust claims that, apart from $62,500 (£32,000) paid upfront before production began, "not one penny" has changed hands.

      p.s. Not related but assuming you are a US citizen, just for some perspective go divide the trillions your Government has spent bailing out ill-deserving companies by the number of US citizens. Google for Federal Reserve trillions.

      --
    17. Re:Not want to be bitching... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't work for a record label. I develop software for a living. And it is very frustrating to see a 90% piracy rate among your users - even for the few small $5 services. It is even more frustrating to see that many of them are from overseas, where the realm of law does not stretch, and where your software was never marketed to. It's as if you had placed up a flag on your front lawn, only to see some asshole from down the street pick it up and carry it away; for all intents, that flag (software) was never placed (made) for them to use. In fact, if I had my way, only citizens from the U.S. would be able to use the software. It's enough to have made me consider switching careers on many occasions.

      Yes, there are some existing acts which recognize international copyrights. But this does not include many countries. And AFAIK, under each one of these acts, copyright claims are treated according to the local laws of the defendant, not under the laws of the author's country. This makes international copyrights a joke - the stricter country (U.S.) will always be screwed in either case. As a consequence the U.S. pushes for a cohesive ratification of digital copyright law recognition throughout the western world.

      I don't agree with the U.S. approach. American copyright law is by no means perfect. More importantly, soverance of other nations is to be respected, and just because the U.S. can coerce other nations into adopting its copyright stance, does not mean it should. But the U.S. has little option if the other countries are to continue disrespecting its IP - either it will continue lobbying to press its U.S.-founded copyright protection agenda, or it can (I hope - but know it will not) establish a "fair" international copyright agreement that recognizes the claims and interpretations of copyright law by all concording countries.

      It's an idea prone to considerable failure and disagreement and would potentially radicalize the nature of the Web... but I feel it is to be less feared than the entire world adopting the DMCA and its related ilk (a wetdream for RIAA/MPAA executives).

      Anyway... we haven't agreed one bit so far, and I very much doubt we will now, so I'd just like to say, cheers and respect for the discussion! Its meanderance was felt across a long 3 days. ;)

    18. Re:Not want to be bitching... by TheLink · · Score: 1

      > In fact, if I had my way, only citizens from the U.S. would be able to use the software.

      If the piracy rates of your software are high outside the US, just look at it as your real customers are already and effectively only the ones in the USA.

      But see also Bill Gate's opinion:

      http://articles.latimes.com/2006/apr/09/business/fi-micropiracy9

      "Although about 3 million computers get sold every year in China, people don't pay for the software. Someday they will, though," Gates told an audience at the University of Washington. "And as long as they're going to steal it, we want them to steal ours. They'll get sort of addicted, and then we'll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade."

      It's a famous/infamous quote. The Chinese people and government took note of it especially the "addicted" part - they still remember when the Brits did the gunboats+opium stuff on them. The Chinese government then tried to push for Linux and open source (not sure how well that's worked ;) ).

      Do also see the "World of Goo" example ( http://2dboy.com/2009/10/19/birthday-sale-results/ ) - they sold a lot in their "pay whatever you want" anniversary celebration - they got a fair bit of publicity. I paid USD5 or USD10 (can't remember) and I only played it for a few minutes - haven't played it since last October. Yes I'm a cheap bastard who didn't pay the full original price (USD20?), but they got $$$ from me that they would not have otherwise. I'd never have paid their full original price for it. You may wish to read some of the comments by others on the world of goo thing too.

      Then there was also Doom as shareware... Which was a big success.

      FWIW: In my previous job I wrote software for a living too, but I wrote it for a company - and the company provides the stuff as part of their service to hotels etc. So piracy was not an issue. I've also put one of my programs on sourceforge for free.

      I'm not sure what sort of market you are targeting, so far I do know of people who spend quite a lot on iphone games. Sure many pirate it, but as long as enough buy it you're OK.

      Radio stations play music to listeners who don't pay a single cent for it, as a result many (not all) listeners buy the music. They don't buy some indie musician's stuff - because there are thousands out there, many are crap or not to their tastes - so how would listeners know what they like? So they just buy what they or their friends have heard and liked.

      So depending on your software, you might need to market it differently. Nowadays many market their products (jewelry, cakes, etc) via facebook or blogs, if you're lucky it can work quite well. Make it easy to find and buy...

      --
    19. Re:Not want to be bitching... by TheLink · · Score: 1

      Another thing:

      > And it is very frustrating to see a 90% piracy rate among your users

      If you have a million users, and only 10% pay USD5 and 90% pay nothing, I think you'd do OK especially if you're not living in an expensive place.

      If your software is only interesting to about 10000 possible users in the world, sorry but you cannot use that business model of selling your stuff at USD5, unless you're doing it as a hobby or side business.

      If your software is in the former category you need more publicity and marketing (lots of free ways of doing it). If it's in the latter category, you need a different approach - more upmarket, more expensive.

      And it's not going to work if you're trying to sell software for USD5 that has lots of competing free or open source software.

      --
    20. Re:Not want to be bitching... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (Sorry for the tl;dr version - this came out way longer than expected.)

      We do pretty well, actually. I mentioned the $5 services/programs to illustrate how little piracy is influenced by cost. It mostly depends on the target demographic. For our most expensive ($$$) software we generate a unique but incomplete binary image per client. Our update servers compile (JIT-like) the missing libraries based on information about the client computer: OS, filesystem, hardware, CPU type/architecture, native APIs, drivers (SATA/PATA interface etc.), plus more I forgot. We do a background check before we issue offline builds (for corporates). It has its problems, but the effort seems to have paid off; we were able to pull uploaded binaries in the past, and revoke the identified licenses - regardless if anyone was actually able to use the software - and restrict access to the update servers (critical). It would still be cracked by a very skilled individual. Our only defense here is that the general public has no interest in these products, unlike say, Photoshop for example.

      We don't do this for our other software because, quite honestly, it's major overkill and a nightmare to support. And I wasn't exaggerating about the 90% piracy rates here. Sales aren't limited to the U.S. (60-70% last I checked) but the piracy most definitely is from overseas/abroad. And not from China - Asia AFAIK doesn't even register in the update logs - it's mostly Europe and Canada (followed by U.S. in third). But, I would gladly sacrifice these foreign customers if only we had a way to limit availability to the United States. We can deal with takedowns and court showings... until we stop dealing with our own government; then it's no longer worth the legal battle, in either case.

      .

      Bill has an interesting (and objective) opinion, but I think he realized Microsoft would be forever powerless to prevent piracy. The thing about designing a general purpose, default operating system is that both of those goals run contrary to IP protection schemes. If it's meant to run on all preexisting hardware it will never be secure, and if it's available worldwide then laws will fail to protect the software implemented DRM fallback.

      Goo would make for an interesting research paper but it does little to help niche, specialist, or professional markets. Few customers mean they all must pay up for your continued survival. I can't really see this sales model working on anything but short-lived creations in areas of high consumer interest: games, writing, music, art - hell, basically anything contemporary.

      I have something of a love/hate relationship with the software industry. It's a broken field IMO, and one of three things needs to change for it to become coequal: 1) hardware 2) the Internet, or 3) copyright law. I was going to add a fourth option, people, but... that world is probably called heaven, or Pandora. Blue-skinned freaks creep me out, anyway.

      Thanks for the helpful attitude and fitting examples. I had heard of World of Goo before, but did not look into it until now.

    21. Re:Not want to be bitching... by TheLink · · Score: 1

      Photoshop provides extremely big discounts for students. So students get familiar and used to the photoshop way of doing things, and alternatives become "out of the question", especially when the company is paying for it and not the ex-students...

      As for Europe and Canada, I don't see why you should have such big problems. AFAIK they typically have copyright laws that make it illegal for companies to copy your software without your permission.

      If your market in Europe or Canada is big, then it should be big enough for you to deal with the legal and court stuff there (e.g. friendly email to the bosses, friendly letters, not so friendly lawyer letter, etc). It's all part of the cost of doing business in a different country. That's how countries work.

      If it's not big, then ignore them till later.

      If the problem is you can't or don't want to go to court in Europe or Canada, then there is nothing that's going to help you, and it's not going to change till you have some World Government (which to me is a scarier and worse prospect - at least now citizens have the option of seeking asylum in a more acceptable country). So until then, even if the copyright laws are "harmonized", if the infringer refuses to settle out of court, you will still have to go to court in the country where the infringer is (or will be).

      Note: you could actually go to court in some other country (e.g. USA), but you're not likely to collect anything - unless the infringer ever goes to that country or wants to directly do business in that country.

      If you do not care that much about business in Europe or Canada then there is no problem, other than it bothering you that your stuff is being used by them for free (but remember Bill Gates's point). Heck, your sales people could use it in their informal sales talk - "there are X thousand users of our software".

      If your software is complex enough you might still be able to make money from that market by having certification and training... Look at Cisco - CCIE, CCNA etc. Even though Huawei and Juniper are squeezing them, there are lots of people who'd still buy Cisco because they know how to hire people who know Cisco stuff- just look for "Cisco Certified". Whereas if Mr Boss buys Huawei, and wants someone to configure them, how does he figure out who actually knows and who doesn't?

      The number of people who are "Huawei Datacom Certified" can't be that many- I think they only just started in June 2008 (sure took them a while to realize that weakness ;) ).

      Lastly, over in my country apparently one of the local Microsoft bosses apparently scolded his employees for taking companies straight to court for using infringing copies of Microsoft products.

      Seems he said something to the effect of: these people are already happily using our products, so all you have to do is get them to pay for it.

      And the sales talk is quite easy, after all the bosses know it's either go to court and pay 20000 per copy (and perhaps go to jail), or pay Microsoft the retail price (which is much cheaper).

      You don't even have to teach them how to install the software, or even ship them any CDs/DVDs. Just collect the money, send them the keys and some paperwork.

      Some companies unknowingly infringe - they install a copy here, a copy there, forget to uninstall somewhere and soon they lose track of how many they should have.

      --
  10. Good. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Let's see how serious they are. How about starting with China?

    1. Re:Good. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about starting with America?

      Clean your own house before you complain about the mess elsewhere.

  11. so will the WTO give Antigua even more free IP ove by Joe+The+Dragon · · Score: 2, Interesting

    so will the WTO give Antigua even more free IP over this as the US may try to push the Online gambling ban?

  12. Single serving friend! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    'All hail the empire'... 25 more years(maybe) of the current over fifty illiterate electronic generation!
    I'm with the US gov... We're here to help! (Right)

  13. First up... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ..Canada and all those other countries that decline to enact DMCA-style laws.

  14. The last gasp attempts by future+assassin · · Score: 0, Troll

    from a dying empire. Threaten anyone and every one to fall in line like the tyrants citizen citizens and encroach on others sovereignty.

    --
    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
    1. Re:The last gasp attempts by interkin3tic · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Threaten anyone and every one to fall in line like the tyrants citizen citizens and encroach on others sovereignty.

      Sounds an awful lot like you're talking about China there except for the last gasp and dying empire parts.

    2. Re:The last gasp attempts by polle404 · · Score: 1

      Sounds an awful lot like you're talking about China there except for the last gasp and dying empire parts.

      Sounds more like someone has taken lessons from *AA?

      --

      ~men are from earth. women are from earth. deal with it.~
    3. Re:The last gasp attempts by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

      I was talking about the buying of our debt.

  15. More like the Pot calling the kettle black by Burz · · Score: 1

    Scads of cyber criminals and spies here in the good ole USA? Say it ain't so!

    1. Re:More like the Pot calling the kettle black by paganizer · · Score: 1

      there are scads of cybercriminals right here on slashdot.

      How many posters in this thread are posting using a neighbors WiFi without permission?
      how many of us posted the illegal DeCSS code in posts?
      how many people here have downloaded a MP3?
      how many people here have discussed baseball without the express written consent....
      well, you get the point. We're all criminals.

      --
      Why, yes, I AM a Pagan Libertarian.
    2. Re:More like the Pot calling the kettle black by jabuzz · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Screw that for years the USA harbored Irish terrorists. That is people convicted of blowing things up and murder. They did the same with north African terrorists that blew things up and murdered in France. Of course as soon as USA suffered a major foreign terrorist attack on it's own soil their tune changed.

      This double standard is why the USA has such a bad perception in most of the rest of the World.

    3. Re:More like the Pot calling the kettle black by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      What? I need written consent now from someone to post that Baseball is about the most boring sport in existance? Gee, talk 'bout free speech... or is that banned now too?

      Ok, snideness aside. When you look at laws, not only in the US, it's a general trend, you'll see a damn lot of laws that are essentially unenforcable and only detectable if something else already allows the feds to raid you. It's almost like they're trying to construct something that allows them to tack any crazy, arbitrary fine or punishment onto someone who is "uncomfortable" and slips up somewhere...

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    4. Re:More like the Pot calling the kettle black by Em+Emalb · · Score: 0, Troll

      This double standard is why the USA has such a bad perception in most of the rest of the World.

      Actually, the US is in a position where they can't win on the world stage at all. Seriously. Suppose the US removed those NA Terrorists or deported them back to Africa. Then what? Why the US is a bunch of hypocrites, because now we're "limiting the freedoms" of others who are trying to "peacefully" come into this country.

      Note to the rest of the world: You can't have it both ways, you can't sit on the fence and tell the US all the things we're "doing wrong" when the country you live in is either just as bad or worse as the US.

      I feel for American politicians on the world stage. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

      --
      Sent from your iPad.
    5. Re:More like the Pot calling the kettle black by Em+Emalb · · Score: 1

      Nice. Typical slashdot response. Don't let the fucking truth get in the way of modding me down. Disagree with what I say, suddenly it's a troll post?

      --
      Sent from your iPad.
  16. For given definitions of cyber crime... by LuNa7ic · · Score: 1

    What's the bet the most immediate target is Spain, for the cyber-crime of not enforcing US copyright law?

    --
    *runs*
    1. Re:For given definitions of cyber crime... by Zironic · · Score: 1

      They'd consider it, then they'd realize that Spain is part of the EU and making trade sanctions against the EU is like shooting yourself in the foot with a shotgun, so instead they'll probably rattle their sabers meaninglessly at countries like Serbia and Ukraine.

  17. Re:Criminal Havens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Or, in the style of The Onion, "Area man accidentally outs himself as copy/pasta troll".

  18. ...and what about Tax Havens? by Col+Bat+Guano · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Are we likely to see legislation against tax havens that allow people to secrete money away from legitimate taxation and policing enquiries?

    Oh silly me - that's where the politicians and their rich friends put their money...

  19. Hypocracy at its finest by allcaps · · Score: 1

    So, would America end up penalizing itself?

    1. Re:Hypocracy at its finest by IBBoard · · Score: 1

      You'd think so - it contains huge botnets, lots of spammers, and I'm sure there are more crimes committed online from within its borders than it generally admits. It'll be interesting to see how it trades less with itself or imposes sanctions on itself to make it behave better towards itself!

  20. Top 20 Countries Found to Have the Most Cybercrime by zondag · · Score: 5, Informative
    Top 20 Countries Found to Have the Most Cybercrime

    So apparently, if you add up all of Europe we'd match the US as the largest source of cybercrime. But the hypocrisy aside, Europe won't be the target of US sanctions.

  21. Re:Criminal Havens by mister_playboy · · Score: 0

    Your downmod is undone without any notification if you post as AC. You'd need to post from a different IP.

    --
    Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law ::: Love is the law, love under will
  22. Hey by NetNed · · Score: 1

    It's a roll call of supporters that stand to lose the most from foreign "hackers" that don't conform to their EULA doctrine. Great idea, lets police other countries even more and spread real law enforcement dollars even more thin while enforcing patient right of companies so they can make their bottom lines a little more appealing. This is what happens when you have analysis's that do the "we are potentially losing X amount of dollars because of pirating and hacking".

    1. Re:Hey by Zironic · · Score: 1

      I don't think American Express, Paypall, Visa and Mastercard are worried about people ignoring their EULA and pirating their IP. I suspect they rather hope to catch all the people stealing credit card details.

    2. Re:Hey by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      I don't think American Express, Paypall, Visa and Mastercard are worried about people ignoring their EULA and pirating their IP. I suspect they rather hope to catch all the people stealing credit card details.

      If Visa, Mastercard, et al were -really- serious about cutting down credit fraud, they would push for higher security within credit transactions and cards. But lower security results in more transactions which results in more revenue for them, so they focus instead on punishing people who abuse an insecure service while ignoring the security holes that allow such fiascoes to occur in the first place.

  23. This is not about hacker havens by mysidia · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is a future backdoor for enforcing upcoming ACTA, and for cracking down on file sharing/other perceived piracy/copyright infringements. And ultimately for imposing global internet censorship (controls on perceived indecent or perceived dangerous content).

    This isn't about hacker havens or real bad guys. Lobbyists aren't handling billions of bucks wanting representatives to shut down 'hacker havens'.

    The big bucks are coming down from the **AA

    Not that stopping crime is a bad thing. But this sort of thing is going to be abused going forward.

    It's contrary to free trade. And while the current intent may be great, the future consequences could be dire, if some agreement can't be reached early to limit its scope.

    1. Re:This is not about hacker havens by Jenming · · Score: 1

      If we (the earth) ever end up with global internet censorship its not going to be coming from the US and its not going to come until after someone pries our (Americans) First Amendment from our cold dead hands.

      --
      Morpheus, God of Dreams.
    2. Re:This is not about hacker havens by santax · · Score: 1

      I hope you are right, but as far as I can see the US has did a lot for censorship lately. Or do you know what the ACTA is about? Seen what is happening with viacom vs youtube? It's the DMCA that has shut down free speech in the USA and the usage of the most smallest part of a book is no longer considered fair use.... Buddy really, I hope you are right, but I am afraid you will be wrong.

    3. Re:This is not about hacker havens by NetNed · · Score: 1

      It's the next racket reminiscent of "The War on Drugs" that never ends and sucks money like vacuum cleaner.

    4. Re:This is not about hacker havens by Fireshadow · · Score: 1

      Lobbyists aren't handling billions of bucks wanting representatives to shut down 'hacker havens'.

      Close. From 2006 to 2010, Kirsten Gillibrand received $424,434 in campaign donations from individuals at "Boies, Schiller & Flexner". This is a law firm that specializes in Intellectual Property and International Arbitration among other things. From 2009 to 2010, Hatch received $25,050 from HP's PAC and individuals in campaign donations.

      I have my opinion as to the bills true authors. Conduct your own research though. Form your own opinion.

      References: Open secrets dot org. (www.opensecrets.org). Always entertaining to look up a representatives name to see who the donors are.

      Boies, Schiller & Flexnerhttp://www.bsfllp.com/practices/100

      --
      "It's one thing to talk about the poetry of machines. Quite another to listen to it for yourself."
    5. Re:This is not about hacker havens by oDDmON+oUT · · Score: 1

      You have more faith in the sheeple than I do.

      --
      Some days it's just not worth
      chewing through my restraints.
    6. Re:This is not about hacker havens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's already coming from the US!

      The DMCA was enforced in US first, UK second, other countries are being compelled to follow. Just because YOU have decided that copyright should be extended WAY beyond recovering investment and reasonable profit, does not mean that "the world" thinks this is reasonable.

      Music channels in most European countries could air video clips with certain curse words without any problems. That is, until MTV and other big US based corporations took over and made us listen to the same beeps you are probably hearing. I'm not even sure if this is a law in the US, but it's another great example of the US enforcing their standards on us.

      When I was kid I could watch Inspector Gadget (and tons of other stuff), in English with Dutch subtitles. It's what makes many Dutch now in their late twenties, early thirties speak reasonable English. That is, until Warner Bros stepped in and said: "impossible, kids can't be [allowed to be] that smart! we must dub everything to Dutch".

      The US forces a lot of stuff down the throats of others. Some using it's government, some using it's corporate power (which seems to co-own your government anyway).

      The US has done a great job at dividing the ruling of people between government and corporations allowing them to play good cop/bad cop. Wake up my US friends, you are being conned all around. Don't stare yourself blind on your laws being nicers than others. Look at the ACTUAL and USEFUL freedoms you have left. And don't compare that to friggin China - compare it to the US 100 years ago and decide if you've improved or lost big time.

    7. Re:This is not about hacker havens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Aww, that's cute. You act like the constitution has any meaning nowadays.

  24. If You Knew Orrin by JackSpratts · · Score: 1

    like i knew orrin, you'd wonder if this is really his way of setting up draconian ip enforcement for his hollywood pals' he's never been able to do otherwise. is it a secret hatch to hollywood?

  25. exactly by DeadRat4life · · Score: 5, Insightful

    i bet all the people defending this, and the general foreign policy of acting like the cops of the world, would be outraged at the thought of having to follow canadian, french, russian, ect. law. They would probably call for a military strike of London if the shoe was on the other foot. Fucking hypocrites.

    1. Re:exactly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, I think most simply would not care.

      I'm trying to remember the last Canadian/French/Russian content I obtained online. Uh... nope, sorry, couldn't come up with anything.

      Not to say it doesn't happen mind you, but I think you strongly underestimate U.S. ethnocentrism.

  26. Attack the foreign hackers! by symbolset · · Score: 1

    You see, we have several technology darlings here in the US that like to make software that's hopelessly insecure. Sure, more secure software like Unix and its derivatives were invented here too, but we don't like them because they have command lines, and command lines are icky.

    So because we can't be bothered to run software that's reasonably able to do e-commerce in an e-commerce era, we need a goat. It's best if that's a foreign goat. We're going to point our fingers at the foreign hackers and say that they are the ones hampering our eBay and our Amazon and our banking websites.

    Because requiring secure clients to do e-commerce would be too hard. Nobody here would go for it.

    --
    Help stamp out iliturcy.
    1. Re:Attack the foreign hackers! by Superdarion · · Score: 1

      If your neighbour's children keep throwing rocks at your windows, what do you do? Do you install bullet-proof windows or do you go talk to the neighbour?

    2. Re:Attack the foreign hackers! by symbolset · · Score: 1

      If you use it for ecommerce, your computer contains your most precious asset - your reputation, and it's valuable to others too. These "windows" you speak of look out over every slum and back alley in the world. They should be made of some sturdy stuff if you want to keep your stuff inside and the weather outside, because the rules are different in some of those places.

      --
      Help stamp out iliturcy.
  27. Bullshit by tvz · · Score: 1

    This is nothing but a attempt to limit free speech on the internet. We figured out that cyberwar bullshit is a good enough reason to make developing countries filter, monitor, and log web access, basically set up their own little great firewall or lose US funding i.e. starve to death. This bill has little to do with hackers it's mainly to suppress the oppressed and enforce globalism. Free speech in developing countries is dangerous to the corporations exploiting them such as the ones backing this serious human rights abuse.

  28. No Disney? by fyoder · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Numerous American employers, including Cisco, HP, Microsoft, Symantec, PayPal, eBay, McAfee, American Express, Mastercard and Visa, as well as Facebook, are supporting the Senators' legislation."

    What, no Disney? No Sony? No RIAA and MPAA members? Did the others tell them to hide in the back and not to come out until the law is passed?

    I'm all for going after the spammers and shit, but I sure as hell don't trust the US Gov't to use a very narrow definition of "cyber criminal" when big media pull out their cheque books.

    --
    Loose lips lose spit.
    1. Re:No Disney? by phantomfive · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I sure as hell don't trust the US Gov't to use a very narrow definition of "cyber criminal"

      And this is exactly the problem, no one trusts the US government (more specifically, 76% of Americans only trust the government to do the right thing only some of the time, or never). Not just with defining cyber criminal, with anything.

      Unfortunately it is with good reason. After a decade of Bush (and not just Bush, the incompetent congress that was with him), followed up with bailouts for incompetent banks and Obama pushing a lousy healthcare bill, there isn't a lot to trust.

      There isn't a good solution that I know, but one thing is certain: everyone, left, right, and center, is distrustful of government right now. Because honestly there's nothing wrong with asking other countries to take care of their cyber criminals, the problem only comes with the ulterior motives.

      --
      Qxe4
    2. Re:No Disney? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, it's like the term "terrorist". It's been abused so much it should not be a word anymore. The citizens of American are being targeted as terrorists simply because they love the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Simply because they buy up guns, go to church, speak out against federal wickedness, question 9-11-01, Ruby Ridge, Waco, etc.

      I think the real issue is big government. The power rests in We The People, not in Washington DC.

  29. Re:Top 20 Countries Found to Have the Most Cybercr by Superdarion · · Score: 1

    According to that site you gave, 23% of cybercrimes are from within the US. That means that 87% comes from outside of the US.

    So, by doing this, the US is trying to attack that 87% which is, by far, the majority. It only makes sense, don't you think?

  30. You know... by Superdarion · · Score: 1

    Just 'cause something has the potential to be abused you can't assume it will.

    It seems to me that any measure the US takes in order to fix this or that is seen by slashdoters as evil incarnated trying to destroy our god-given free speech.

    Just for a second get the free-speech crap out of your head and don't assume this measure will be abused. Then ask yourselves: will this work? If you come up with an answer while in that state of mind, fine, but until then keep all your "evil US is censoring me!" crap to yourselves or at least accept the fact that you're just ranting because it comes from the makers of the RIAA.

    1. Re:You know... by Zironic · · Score: 1

      the RIAA are not part of the list of supporters and traditionally everything that can be abused has been abused, see every law in the history of mankind.

      Anyhow there's nothing wrong with the concept behind this bill, just questionable if it'll be effective or not. Usually in the case of countries with very high crime the government will keep saying "Yes, yes, we're working as hard as we can to crack down on it!" but in the end they're powerless and trying to sanction the country just leads to even more crime as poverty increases.

    2. Re:You know... by 0123456 · · Score: 1

      Just 'cause something has the potential to be abused you can't assume it will.

      If a government has passed a law which can be abused and hasn't abused it, that just means they haven't got around to it yet.

      For example, I remember when British anti-terrorist laws were only going to be used against, like, terrorists, and not Icelandic banks and people who over-fill their garbage bins. Or when speed cameras were only going to be installed at accident blackspots. And the 1920 Firearms Act was not going to be used to ban gun ownership, merely ensure that they would only be in the hands of decent law-abiding people.

      In fact, it's hard to think of a British law which can be abused which hasn't been; I doubt that America is very different.

    3. Re:You know... by polle404 · · Score: 1

      Just 'cause something has the potential to be abused you can't assume it will.

      Just because something has the potential to be abused you can't assume it won't be.

      It seems to me that any measure the US takes in order to fix this or that is seen by slashdoters as evil incarnated trying to destroy our god-given free speech.

      well, to be fair, a lot of it is, and if not, then it's just aimed at lining the pockets of shareholders, over the rights of the people.

      Just for a second get the free-speech crap out of your head

      Let's not... It's pretty important to most of us in here...

      Then ask yourselves: will this work?

      No. Do you honestly believe f.eks. China gives a s... about this?

      until then keep all your "evil US is censoring me!" crap to yourselves or at least accept the fact that you're just ranting because it comes from the makers of the RIAA.

      ...because *AA has such a good trackrecord of respecting peoples rights, sure...

      --

      ~men are from earth. women are from earth. deal with it.~
    4. Re:You know... by Lithdren · · Score: 1

      I will support this legistation, as soon as we can agree to stop any and all trade with China on Human Rights Violations full-stop, because human rights violations are vastly more important then cyber crime. Untill that happends, shut your yap.

    5. Re:You know... by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      Just 'cause something has the potential to be abused you can't assume it will.

      Sure you do. It's the Law of Unintended Consequences. Several large media-related bills (and non-media related bills for that matter) have been abused in ways the original authors didn't necessarily intend, or at least that many supporters didn't think would happen. Overreaching sections of the DMCA making it impossible to sample works for critique or personal use. The PATRIOT Act being used to get ISP records for a Stargate SG-1 fansite webmaster suspected of copyright infringement. It's also been invoked to keep homeless away from train stations.

      If a bill contains a provision that -could- be abused, and it would benefit those who would have the ability to do so, then yes, you should assume that it will be abused.

  31. Anonymous Coward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Me thinks that with the ACTA beginning to go down in flames that the organizations are attempting to backdoor in copy protection.

    As an American, I find it offensive that our bought and paid for (by industry) politicians would have the unmitigated audacity to attempt to enforce generally ignored law upon the rest of the world via trade restraints.

  32. Re:Top 20 Countries Found to Have the Most Cybercr by zondag · · Score: 1
    I think the number you're going for is 77%.

    But the point is that according to those numbers, the major non-US sources of cybercrime are also your major trading partners and close allies. I don't think the US will be rushing to attack any of them with sanctions. Instead you'll be attacking or threatening the usual suspects, which puts on a good show but has little actual effect.

    According to that site you gave, 23% of cybercrimes are from within the US. That means that 87% comes from outside of the US. So, by doing this, the US is trying to attack that 87% which is, by far, the majority. It only makes sense, don't you think?

  33. When did the rest of the world have to obey US law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Last time I checked, enacting a rule in the White House does not affect the law of any other country.

    In fact, I see this quite often with Americans. Many times, when in other countries they expect to be treated by US law and not the law of the country they're in. Sometimes I want to whack you guys with a 2x4. Your nationality has nothing to do with laws that are enforced based on geography.

  34. Re:Top 20 Countries Found to Have the Most Cybercr by Superdarion · · Score: 1

    And by 87% I mean 77%, of course.

  35. The US has the right by OrwellianLurker · · Score: 1

    The USA has the right to not give aid and to not trade with certain countries. Either way, this is going to be used to force IP laws globally. The funny thing about cyber war, is that it is called a war. We have nuclear weapons and the potential to destroy each other. Does that mean we're at nuclear war? What we are seeing is cyber espionage and preparations for cyber warfare. The only way this can be fought is if the world largely stands against the American government. The American people need to also stand against their government, which is clearly no longer representing them or acting in their best interests.

    --
    'Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.' - Mao Tse-tung
    1. Re:The US has the right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yes you are right about war and Americans...

      and people said that the next world war will take place with computers how right they were
      terminator is not going to happen any time soon i think

      the American government who do "the mans work" not the figurehead im afraid is Mr Obama while the president he does not control all and no man or country should.
      The men in power are most likely obsessive men in pinstripe suits in large ball rooms will fight behind their outdated computers while the army warms up the silos.. oh i mean the modems duh, orders are given by the vast machine, and followed to the digit, american capitalism now?

      i mean really i wish people would realize that the war will come but only the stupid and ignorant do nothing
      and while all humans can stop the "cybercriminals", everything is easy and fun but only the few or many steal, (damn russains??)
      but then again welcome to the space age people or has that passed and the age of the machines is here? so soon...

      although through history there has allways been the domination of cultures, europeans and the aborigines, and then the Aztecs, American Indians, even the Persian king Xerxes, Egyptians Ramses etc and the slave races, the bible also focuses on that point to if not a narrative about it, and many many others
      so it looks like our culture continues with another fucking group of zealous, religious dickheads and megalomaniacs, and machines of the 20th century.

  36. So we stop bribing them after we find criminals? by sounds · · Score: 1

    Considering the economic climate, why can't we find Senators who will simply eliminate US export dollars, foreign-direct investment funds and trade assistance grants categorically? Why should our government be sending our tax dollars outside the country anyway?

  37. Police ? by vikingpower · · Score: 1

    The US still acting as the world's cop ? This is a thought model of the Bush era. Aged and provenly not working, that is.

    --
    Religous speak to God. Insane are spoken to by God. When all shut up, one can finally hear Shostakovich in peace
  38. Re:Top 20 Countries Found to Have the Most Cybercr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Top 20 Countries Found to Have the Most Cybercrime

    So apparently, if you add up all of Europe we'd match the US as the largest source of cybercrime. But the hypocrisy aside, Europe won't be the target of US sanctions.

    Does that mean US should start cleaning their act first? :P

  39. s/Reactive/Proactive by Ukab+the+Great · · Score: 1

    I'd like to see "Don't click on that .exe attachment" PSA's on TV.

  40. Hmmm. Export DOllars? by WindBourne · · Score: 1

    So, does that mean that we will not IMPORT from them? If so, Canada, Russia, North Korea, South Korea and AMERICA are the biggest.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  41. Wrong solution. by miffo.swe · · Score: 1

    The solution would be more resiliant systems because there will be a time when those bugs, holes and security issues, both technical and social, will be used by foreign governments. Going after the small people like carders etc is not the answer to the real problem, complete lack of any security responsibility from the various vendors.

    Im actually grateful that "cyber criminals" exist because without them it security would be if possible even worse than today.

    --
    HTTP/1.1 400
  42. Bill not intended for **AA but cyber warfare by Veneratio · · Score: 1

    I see a lot of people going off on a tangent about this proposed Bill and how it might help the RIAA/MPAA, but it seems to be designed to get a handle on the blatant (possibly state sanctioned) cyber attacks from countries such as China.

    Right now, there isn't any actual internationally accepted law surrounding Cyber Warfare. In other words, there is no consensus about what kind of cyber attack crosses the line to such an extent that it becomes an act of war. A large problem with cyber attacks is attribution. Not knowing who really attacked you limits your options in terms of a proportional response, and this is a big issue for policymakers everywhere. Essentially it has caused most governments to (at best) apply a strictly passive defense to their critical infrastructure, instead of an immediate offensive response (ie. packetting whoever is attacking you).

    In the physical world an invading force would immediately be met with physical violence and quite possibly international outrage towards the offending party, acting (in most cases) as a deterrent. Right now, there is no such deterrent in the arena of Cyber Warfare and countries such as China seem to be actively exploiting that. They know that even IF they get caught, they can simply deny government involvement and blame it on non-state actors. Of course, those "non-state actors" are never actually brought to justice, making the whole exercise futile.

    It seems to me that this Bill is designed to counter this problem by imposing sanctions against countries who either engage in Cyber Warfare or harbor those convenient "non-state actors", and as such seems a sane step forward.

    Of course, one can only hope that such a Bill would not be abused by the **AA.

    --
    "Sarcasm is for *winners*, Alan." - Charlie Harper (Two and a Half Men)
  43. while there's still time! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  44. Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who cares? The US only gives aid to countries who are in extreme need anyway like Haiti.

    The US should be more affraid if other countries would do the same. If China would pass a bill that the US should stop telling them what to do or they would stop financing their huge military spendings (also called budget deficit), what could the US do?

    1. Re:Who cares? by Dunbal · · Score: 1

      The US only gives aid to countries who are in extreme need anyway like Haiti.

      Yes, it's nice to know that the US ONLY gives aid to countries in extreme need.

      It's also nice to know that you probably represent the average US citizen, ie. full of shit. ABS used to mean something here in Canada before "anti-lock braking system" was invented... we're used to your type.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    2. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not a US citizen but from the EU. And yes, the Israelis are the one exception I thought about after posting. Spendings on Israel can probably be counted as military spendings, and by creating your own enemies the military can continue to claim they are still needed in such vast numbers after the cold war.

  45. "Countries of Cyber Concern" by oDDmON+oUT · · Score: 1

    When you point a finger at someone else, three are pointing back at you.

    US Federal Guvmint - ACTA, DMCA, NSA wiretaps, full laundry list available online.
    Cisco - Great Firewall of China, 'nuff said.
    Visa/Mastercard/Amex - Insecure data practices while raping their customers with fees.
    Facebook - In bed with Zynga, whose CEO has admitted he's a scammer and that his games are rife with malware.
    Google - Censorship in China (until they got pwned).
    Microsoft - No comment needed (with a CEO that looks like Satan, it's not really necessary).

    The only reason the *AAs aren't jumping on the bandwagon at this point is that they'd bring to stench of their bad PR all over this legislation and alert the public to what's it's really all about.

    --
    Some days it's just not worth
    chewing through my restraints.
  46. We should clean up our own act first. by dremspider · · Score: 1

    http://maliciousnetworks.org/top20c.php Who is the number one haven for malicious machines? The US. Not that I disagree with this. I do think it is a step in the right direction. We need to start working together as a world to combat threats on the Internet. If it takes cutting off funding, then I am for it. I would like to see if go further and have the companies who are "supporting" this to agree to NOT send work to these countries. The reason cheap labor exists in a lot of these countries is due to the lack of regulations.

  47. Being as this IS Hatch by Lost+Penguin · · Score: 1

    I expect an anti-Linux section to be hidden in the bill to be exploited after passing.

    --
    I am the unwilling control for my Origin.
  48. Re:Top 20 Countries Found to Have the Most Cybercr by LordLimecat · · Score: 1

    Quoting from that chart....
    Each country lists 6 contributing factors, share of malicious computer activity, malicious code rank, spam zombies rank, phishing web site hosts rank, bot rank and attack origin, to substantiate its cybercrime ranking.
    So in otherwords being a victim-- having a hijacked computer-- gets you ranked up on that chart. Thats real clever. I thought the point of all this was C&C servers that the ISPs refused to disconnect, not mom and pop having a zombified computer that they are unaware of?

  49. Watch out Canada... by Firemouth · · Score: 1

    We're going to replace you with a giant red and blue flasher, and a pair of sirens!

  50. Oh God ! why dont America Keep to itself... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who do they think they are to check on foreign countries....
    Wat do they think , that other country people are ignorant fool or people who are not capable of managing themselves....
    The world will be a better place if everyone mind their own jobs and keep their nose out of other peoples business

  51. Like clockwork... by ivogan · · Score: 1

    Yet another boneheaded attempt at forcing our views/policies/laws/etc onto other countries. It makes me reminisce of the grade school playground antics from my youth. "If you're not with us, you're against us" comes to mind as well...

    --
    Who was that pointy-eared bastard?
  52. Re:Top 20 Countries Found to Have the Most Cybercr by zondag · · Score: 1

    Quoting from that chart.... Each country lists 6 contributing factors, share of malicious computer activity, malicious code rank, spam zombies rank, phishing web site hosts rank, bot rank and attack origin, to substantiate its cybercrime ranking. So in otherwords being a victim-- having a hijacked computer-- gets you ranked up on that chart. Thats real clever. I thought the point of all this was C&C servers that the ISPs refused to disconnect, not mom and pop having a zombified computer that they are unaware of?

    I noticed, but I think it'd be hard to separate victims and origins. Even C&C servers are hosted on legitimate sites without the owners knowing it. Last year a Google newsgroup was found to be used as a C&C implementation.

    The article doesn't elaborate on what they mean by "attack origin".

  53. This is targeted really at killing Wilikeaks. by austinhook · · Score: 1

    This legislation is primarily focused at killing Wikileaks. The rest is just a smokescreen.