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Aussie Gov't Decides ISPs Aren't Responsible For Infected Computers

Posted by Soulskill on from the how-magnanimous-of-you dept.

c0lo writes "In a sudden outburst of common sense, the Australian senate decided that it is not the government's responsibility to force ISPs to disconnect infected computers from the Internet. Peter Coroneos, chief of the Internet Industry Association, used a car analogy that actually makes sense: 'It would be like forcing car manufacturers to take responsibility for bad drivers.'"

9 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. Not that great of a car analogy... by grimdawg · · Score: 4, Informative

    It would be more like the government requiring car manufacturers to do something about car theft, since an 'infected computer' is essentially out of the user's control. And yes, the Australian government DOES require all cars to have an immobiliser.

    --
    There are 10 kinds of people in this world: those who understand binary, and nine other kinds of people.
    1. Re:Not that great of a car analogy... by Gaygirlie · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It would be more like the government requiring car manufacturers to do something about car theft, since an 'infected computer' is essentially out of the user's control.

      No, it's not. It's out of control only when the user doesn't know about the virus, but once they know about it they have multiple ways of fixing the situation and then they are indeed fully in control. In a car theft being aware of your car being stolen doesn't change the situation, you're still not in control of it.

      IMHO the original car analogy is close enough. Of course there's holes in it, but that's why it's an analogy. Its only purpose is to lay out the situation to laymen in a really basic way so that they mostly understand it. There is no such thing as a perfect analogy.

    2. Re:Not that great of a car analogy... by Merls+the+Sneaky · · Score: 3, Informative

      And yes, the Australian government DOES require all cars to have an immobiliser.

      My 1982 VH Holden commodore would beg to differ. Maybe you meant all new cars?

  2. Backing off inappropriately by mysidia · · Score: 5, Insightful

    'It would be like forcing car manufacturers to take responsibility for bad drivers.'"

    No. it would be like making the DMV take responsibility for bad drivers on the highway, because the DMV issues the papers required for drivers to use the road.

    The thing comparable "forcing car manufacturers to take responsibility", would be trying to force Dell, HP to take responsibility.

    It should probably be noted that car manufacturers can be responsible for drivers going around in defective cars that have a high tendency to malfunction causing an accident unless the driver is an expert professional driver.

    So it could make sense to hold Microsoft responsible for an OS with a horrible security record

    1. Re:Backing off inappropriately by wisty · · Score: 4, Insightful

      More correctly, it would be more like forcing toll road operators to take responsibility for preventing the use of a car in a crime.

      No, it's like forcing hookers to refuse service to customers with visible signs of infection.

      Sorry, but the car analogies were getting on my nerves.

  3. another better analogy by phayes · · Score: 4, Funny
    'It would be like forcing car manufacturers to take responsibility for bad drivers.'"

    No. It would be like forcing toll road operators to refuse access to cars that are actively spraying oil all over the road surface that have been causing accidents.

    --
    Democracy is a sheep and two wolves deciding what to have for lunch. Freedom is a well armed sheep contesting the issue
  4. Metaphor by LordCrank · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It would be like forcing an ISP to take responsibility for a copyright infringer.

  5. Gentlemen, start your analogies! by noidentity · · Score: 4, Funny

    It would be more like a robot enter your vehicle through its wide-open windows, jacking into the electric system, manufacturing more robots out of the car material, then sending more robots out to enter other cars with open windows.

  6. Safety and Emissions Check by akedia43 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Actually, if you're going to stick with cars, it's like a safety and emissions check in realtime. If your car is spewing excessive pollution or presents a hazard to other drivers (critical safety features like turn signals, head lights, tire treads, etc., missing or malfunctioning) they don't let you go around being a hazard on public roads. It makes sense for ISPs, in a uniquely capable position to detect it, to disconnect systems that are spewing malware and presenting a hazard to other computers on the network.