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US Senate Passes the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act 74-21 (dailydot.com)

blottsie writes with news that the U.S. Senate voted 74-21 in favor of CISA, a controversial cybersecurity bill. All five amendments submitted in an attempt to bolster privacy failed to pass. From The Guardian's coverage: Try asking the bill’s sponsors how the bill will prevent cyberattacks or force companies and governments to improve their defenses. They can’t answer. They will use buzzwords like “info-sharing” yet will conveniently ignore the fact that companies and the government can already share information with each other as is. There were barely any actual cybersecurity experts who were for the bill. A large group of respected computer scientists and engineers were against it. So were cyberlaw professors. Civil liberties groups uniformly opposed (and were appalled by) the bill. So did consumer groups. So did the vast majority of giant tech companies. Yet it still sailed through the Senate, mostly because lawmakers - many of whom can barely operate their own email - know hardly anything about the technology that they’re crafting legislation about.

102 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. 'Murricaaa by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Fuck yeah!

    1. Re: 'Murricaaa by terrywirth5 · · Score: 1

      The Japanese have only a single swear word in their vocabulary (look it up). That said, all I can say to this Congress is "baka" (idiot) to the nth power. I got your cisa right here and I will cut you with it!

    2. Re: 'Murricaaa by ememisya · · Score: 2

      More lawyers performing brain surgery.

    3. Re: 'Murricaaa by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      kusottare - shitdrip
      chikusho - SHIT!
      baka - idiot
      aho - idiot

      Just off the top of my head, also in terms of dealing with true idiots "baka" is about the least insulting word you can use. Far more damaging is referring to someone as one of various animals like "Mr Pig" is far more insulting to someone that being called an utter moron in english.

  2. Blaming ignorance is more credit than they deserve by spacepimp · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Blaming ignorance is more credit than they deserve. Willful ignorance is a choice of action, whereas ignorance is sometime forgivable. If they listened to any of the concerned parties they certainly didn't show it here.

  3. incorrect final sentence by rubycodez · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Senators don't pass bills they know nothing about, they pass bills they see as having some sort of benefit. Benefits might be popularity, might be to appease donator, might be something darker. What benefit did they get from passing this and from whom? Who encouraged them to pass it?

    1. Re:incorrect final sentence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Exactly! The Senators who passed it very likely knew exactly what they are doing - appeasing their largest donors and extending the power of the government.

    2. Re:incorrect final sentence by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Well, there's a benefit to not being in the minority too. So a totally ignorant member of Congress, merely told that "some computer bill is winning the vote 70-24" would probably vote for it. Cause odds are*, if over 2/3 of people in the Senate want it, it's a good law.

      *There are spectacular counter-examples. But those tend to be "nobody go fired for buying IBM" moments.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    3. Re:incorrect final sentence by ganjadude · · Score: 3, Insightful

      correction, senators dont pass bills that dont help them politically. they dont really care what is in the bill as long as its politically worth it to them

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    4. Re:incorrect final sentence by dcollins117 · · Score: 2

      correction, senators dont pass bills that dont help them politically. they dont really care what is in the bill as long as its politically worth it to them

      In a representative democracy the people elect representatives to enact laws on their behalf. At least theoretically. In practice, once elected, representatives don't have any obligation other than to enact laws to benefit themselves. If you need legislation in your favor there is a price to pay.

    5. Re:incorrect final sentence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Considering the bill's purpose is to get information about the people voting for them, the purpose is crystal clear. Information is power, and they just grabbed a lot of it.

    6. Re:incorrect final sentence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      If people realized that the US is supposed to be a constitutional republic things might be different.

  4. Re:Sharing is a good thing by Sowelu · · Score: 1

    Information does want to be free, after all.

  5. Sheep. You're all Sheep. (yes I know) by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Baaaa!

    Seriously, I know there's that guy who posts that on every thread, but today it's true.

    You're all sheep.

    And you don't live in a Democracy.

    You don't even live in a Democratic Republic.

    In a Democratic Republic you have Rights.

    You only have serfdom.

    And no privacy.

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
    1. Re:Sheep. You're all Sheep. (yes I know) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It increases the length of time for copyright again, and makes more penalties for circumventing DRM.

  6. Good luck getting this through congress by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    They can't even pass a budget.

    1. Re:Good luck getting this through congress by bigfinger76 · · Score: 2

      It passed the House in April, and the President supports it. It's essentially a done deal.

    2. Re:Good luck getting this through congress by St.Creed · · Score: 2

      Another nail in the coffin of privacy, but a great boost to aid the move in the EU to ban the transfer of data to US companies outright. Since privacy legislation is much more stringent in the EU, that should help a sizeable portion of the Earth's inhabitants. And as a bonus it will reduce the unassailable positions now occupied by Google, Amazon etc. and stimulate EU companies to create alternatives. As each ones home market is too small to dominate the rest, that should give us a bit more choice.

      --
      Therefore, by the (faulty) logic you're using, you're just a cow with a keyboard - osu-neko (2604)
    3. Re:Good luck getting this through congress by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Think of trying to sell US based cloud products to the wider world after this legal "collect it all" public/private relationship..
      Over time the leadership of the US based cloud provider might, have to, did, would, was asked to share all data with the US gov as a default request.
      Legally and fully protected your data is collected.
      5 eye nations get a look. Other 3rd party nations the US really likes get a free look too. Some might be competitors.
      Most nations are going to be very aware of who gets their big data contracts.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    4. Re:Good luck getting this through congress by dryeo · · Score: 1

      They'll be a trade deal sooner or later to allow businesses to sue countries over privacy protection (and any other pesky laws that pro

      --
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism
    5. Re:Good luck getting this through congress by dryeo · · Score: 2

      Should be
      They'll be a trade deal sooner or later to allow businesses to sue countries over privacy protection (and any other pesky laws that protect citizens). Can't have sovereign nations passing laws that are bad for business, especially businesses that pay lip service to pretending to be American.

      --
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism
    6. Re:Good luck getting this through congress by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 2

      Actually it doesn't appear to have passed the house yet. I know the house has passed some related bills but hasn't passed this one yet. So while not on the way to the presidents desk at the moment it likely will be shortly. I fully expect my hawkish, freedom hating, former nuclear football carrying in the Regan administration, representative to support this. Then again he called me about USA FREEDOM act which he cosponsored as he didn't like how I was representing the bill and him weeks after it passed. When I stated why I was opposed to it using the exact language in the bill he stated that the law didn't say that. At that point I asked him if he was really that illiterate or just retarded and told him I had read him the exact language in the bill. Interestingly shortly there after he announce that he wasn't going to be running again so maybe I was the reason, or at least I would like to think so.

      --
      Time to offend someone
    7. Re:Good luck getting this through congress by bigfinger76 · · Score: 1

      The House passed a version of this bill. All that needs to be done before handing off to the President is reconciliation; it's done.

  7. Re:Blaming ignorance is more credit than they dese by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    They voted for government and against people.

  8. How Each Critter Voted by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative
    1. Re:How Each Critter Voted by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Informative

      Short version: If your senator is a D-Disney, they voted Yea.

      That's false. The majority of the NO votes were Democrats, and the majority of the YES votes were Republicans. And NONE of the current GOP Senators running for president voted against it. Not Cruz, Rubio, Graham or that champion of liberty, Rand Paul could be bothered to vote against this bill.

      Bernie Sanders voted against it, because he's not full of shit like Rand Paul.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    2. Re:How Each Critter Voted by cfalcon · · Score: 1

      Paul had voted against some earlier thing. Instead of showing up to oppose, though, he didn't show at all for this vote. While I think the official story is that he's opposed, the lack of the Nay is meaningful, and shouldn't be overlooked in the future.

    3. Re:How Each Critter Voted by KGIII · · Score: 2

      How strange this world is, eh? I'm a registered Libertarian, running for office in 2016 (you can't vote for me, I think I'm the only Mainer here), and I support a tried and true Socialist instead of the person claiming to represent Libertarian ideals who is Rand Paul.

      For the curious, my political ideology takes second place - if elected. My job will be to represent my constituents, regardless of my personal feelings. Fortunately, they generally seem to align with my own or I'd not take the job. I'd not be qualified. I don't actually want the job, I've better things to do with my time. However, the job needs doing. :/

      I can only wonder, in the run-up, will Lewiston Sun Journal come find my Slashdot posts. As I think about the many things I've posted back when I drank, well... I'm gonna have some explaining to do. Fortunately, it's Maine. We're all pretty wasted in one way or another. Woohoo! Vote for the candidate that typed the most gibberish on the internet!

      Yeah, so I'm not actually getting elected. I'm sort of okay with that.

      Anyhow; Vote Bernie - This Message Brought to you by an *actual* Libertarian. (Yeah, yeah... No true Scotsman. I know. Trust me, I know... I can't really stop the vocal minority from being the first to reach the microphone. I apologize.)

      Yes, yes I do need to sleep. It has been a couple of days.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    4. Re:How Each Critter Voted by KGIII · · Score: 3, Insightful

      He also did the *mostly* meaningless charade that is the filibuster earlier this year. As I said then, I'm not impressed. I kind of, sort of, appreciated his dad. I voted for him knowing that he'd not win. To be honest, I'm not sure that I'd have voted for him if he'd an actual shot at winning. He's kind of a fruitcake. He has some great ideas and some terrible ideas. I'm not entirely sure which would be enacted. But, I generally throw my vote away on a third party. I don't expect them to win. I expect the number crunchers to notice that more and more of us are disenfranchised with the two-party oligarchy and are unwilling to vote for them. Eventually, I hope, this number will increase and we'll get more notice. So far, so good. The number's actually been rising steadily but at a very small rate. By extrapolating, by the time I'm on my third lifetime - there will be an actual third party that is viable and a more representative democracy. I need sleep. Insert paragraph breaks, proper punctuation, and spelling corrections as needed. If it doesn't make sense just assume I'm a lunatic.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    5. Re:How Each Critter Voted by Raseri · · Score: 1

      One of my senators voted Yea, the other Nay. At least they cancel each other out. This is just one of the many perks of living in one of the most politically deadlocked states in the country.

      --
      Writhe your naked ass to the mindless groove.
    6. Re:How Each Critter Voted by coinreturn · · Score: 2

      ...If it doesn't make sense just assume I'm a lunatic.

      TL;DR Summary: Voted for Rand Paul, therefore a lunatic.

    7. Re:How Each Critter Voted by KGIII · · Score: 1

      In my defense, albeit a poor defense, I didn't expect him to win. I don't think I'd actually have voted for him if I'd expected him to win assuming there were better candidates at the time. Also, I'm assuming either I mistyped or you mistook something. Not Rand Paul - I can't (and wouldn't) vote for him. His dad, Ron Paul, was the one meant to be discussed.

      Hmm... I expanded what I wrote and looked. You misread or I wasn't clear enough.

      I kind of, sort of, appreciated his dad. I voted for him knowing that he'd not win.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    8. Re:How Each Critter Voted by coinreturn · · Score: 1

      Actually, I knew you meant Ron, but I mistyped his name as Rand! Oh, and it was an attempt at humor.

    9. Re:How Each Critter Voted by KGIII · · Score: 1

      They can not. I'm up above Farmington. I'm in a different district. However, the Sun Journal will surely cover it. The KJ will and the PPH will. I'm just outside of Rangeley, about 25 miles out, technically. Well, if you want technical, I am not home but you get the idea.

      To the other AC - you can't vote for me, legally. But if you want an absentee ballot... (No, I'm kidding...) The email address is real - and checked sometimes. I'll be back in the state in a short bit (I need to go check on some property first) and I don't know when. I don't drink but I'd buy you a beer. ;-) (No, not to entice you to move and vote but because I've never met another Mainer who's a Slashdot reader. I've met countless online people in the real world but no Slashdot folks.)

      I'm not entirely sure when I'll be back - hopefully before hunting season is over. However, I'm kind of meandering aimlessly, or was. Then I got stuck in Buffalo. Err... I've been here for over a month now. Well over. Ayuh... Technically, I'm "from away" but I didn't try to change things when I moved in so, with some work, I'm almost technically a Mainer. I'm still an import but they gossip down in the village about me less than they used to. I dare say, they actually like me. Well, as much as one likes an import. So far, indications are that I've a decent shot at the election. It doesn't mean much on the national scale and I'm okay with that. I don't plan on serving more than a single term, anyhow.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  9. Re:Blaming ignorance is more credit than they dese by gcswt · · Score: 1

    The type of language used in the summary doesn't help at all. The jabs about e-mail knowledge are akin to a non-techie saying "technical people don't know anything about people." It's adolescent and completely unproductive. It's okay to disagree, but do it with some intelligence.

  10. Thank you Dianne Feinstein by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Another fine piece of legislation co-authored by Dianne Feinstein. What the hell is wrong with California that they have kept this cunt in office for over 20 years?

  11. Now they're not even hiding. by rmdingler · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Following the "Ho-hum" reaction to the Snowden revelations, including but not limited to, pervasive evidence the US was spying on its own citizens...

    well, there was really no point in the government continuing to pretend it wasn't happening.

    This legislation just codifies it.

    --
    Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

    Ernest Hemingway

    1. Re:Now they're not even hiding. by Dog-Cow · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "Created equal" says nothing at all about what happens afterward. And that phrase was used by a group that went on to codify slavery in its constitution. Don't take the words so seriously, they were never meant to apply to everyone.

    2. Re:Now they're not even hiding. by strikethree · · Score: 1

      Following the "Ho-hum" reaction to the Snowden revelations, including but not limited to, pervasive evidence the US was spying on its own citizens...

      Was it really "Ho-hum" or was it all carefully presented and hidden away to give that impression?

      --
      "Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
  12. They know damned well what they're doing by kheldan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yet it still sailed through the Senate, mostly because lawmakers - many of whom can barely operate their own email - know hardly anything about the technology that theyâ(TM)re crafting legislation about.

    Bullshit. They know damned well what they're doing: They're legalizing more and more surveillance and privacy violation of U.S. citizens, because they can. Them, them, fuck them.

    --
    Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
    1. Re:They know damned well what they're doing by cfalcon · · Score: 1

      Right? It's not like all the sane and normal groups opposing this just FORGOT to mention why it was a bad idea.

      Of course they knew what they were voting for.

    2. Re:They know damned well what they're doing by roman_mir · · Score: 1

      Correct, because they can and because, as I said already (and was modded in a weird way) Government = Evil

  13. Welcome to shitocracy by fnj · · Score: 2

    The sets of ignorant Congressmen, stupid Congressmen, and evil Congressmen are all large. The union of all three encompasses almost the entire membership.

    It wouldn't be quite so bad if only any one of those sets were problematic and we could concentrate all efforts on obliterating it. As it is, our only roles are Sisyphus, Don Quixote, or the ostrich with its head in the sand.

    1. Re:Welcome to shitocracy by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      Eh, it could just be plain old sadomasochism...

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  14. Maximum evil by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The actual vote tally shows that both Democrats and Republicans voted for the bill (74 for, 21 against, 5 abstain).

    If anyone believes that voting for R (or D) is worse than the other side, or how it's the "lessor of two evils", feel free to explain this.

    There are a finite number of votes in any term. When our representatives vote against the interests of the people in all votes, there is no more damage that they can do. There can be no "lesser" evil - they're both at "maximum evil".

    I took a look at the text of the recent Iowa poll, the one that puts Carson ahead of Trump that everyone is talking about. I couldn't see any obvious bias (a good thing), but this question stood out:

    Which do you think is the bigger risk for the future of the country?

    74 To elect a president who has not held office so does not know the processes and procedures of governing

    101 To elect the same sort of person who has served as president for many decades who will likely continue to do things the way they have been done with the same effect

    25 Not sure

    The numbers are total Dem+Rep respondents in the poll.

    This is interesting because it shows that Americans (in Iowa, at least) are waking up to the realization that electing career politicians is not in their best interests.

    With respect to Democrat readers, your only viable candidate on that side (Hillary Clinton) is a weak contender, while the Republican side appears to have both Trump and Carson as strong candidates.

    With respect to the Republican readers, neither of your strong candidates is a career politican. One doesn't need to sell his influence to moneyed interests.

    This may be the beginning of the end for career politicians and national parties.

    1. Re:Maximum evil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      With respect to Democrat readers, your only viable candidate on that side (Hillary Clinton) is a weak contender, while the Republican side appears to have both Trump and Carson as strong candidates.

      Don't count out the Bern yet. He's already tracking better than Obama was 8 years ago (compared to Hillary)

      And while Hillary is definitely a career politico, she's never actually won an election for anything in her life.

    2. Re:Maximum evil by Alypius · · Score: 1

      We're still more than a year from the election and it's anyone's game to lose. At this point in 2011, Herman Cain was beating Romney.

    3. Re:Maximum evil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      If anyone believes that voting for R (or D) is worse than the other side, or how it's the "lessor of two evils", feel free to explain this.

      Of the 21 senators who voted against this bill, 14 were Democrats (15 if you count Sanders, who is in the senate as an Independent but presently running for the Democratic presidential nomination).

      Or, to put it slightly differently: 14/44 (= 32%) of Democratic senators voted against this, versus 6/54 (= 11%) of Republican senators. Democrats were three times more likely to vote against this.

      So, yes, voting for R is worse. It's unfortunate that neither party is *good* (ie voted strongly against this bill) on privacy/surveillance, but the Democratic party consistently does more strongly oppose invasive legislation like this. If you pretend both parties are exactly the same, all you're really doing is sending a clear message to the Democrats that their better track record is irrelevant when it comes to getting your vote. And if that's the case, there's clearly no motivation for them to vote against this sort of invasive legislation.

    4. Re:Maximum evil by Xyrus · · Score: 1

      This may be the beginning of the end for career politicians and national parties.

      Hardly. This is just another step along the downward spiral. Predictable even.

      It seems to be progressing faster than I thought it would though. I didn't expect someone like Trump could actually be a viable presidential candidate until the 2030's.

      --
      ~X~
    5. Re:Maximum evil by roman_mir · · Score: 1

      Government = Evil

      That is an axiom. Some do not understand it.

    6. Re:Maximum evil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      And while Hillary is definitely a career politico, she's never actually won an election for anything in her life.

      I'm surprised at how many people have been parroting this idiotic statement lately. You know Hillary served two terms as a senator, right? Did you think she did that by losing the election twice? Use your brain.

    7. Re:Maximum evil by Trinsic · · Score: 2

      So, what the numbers are saying is that if the senate where 100% Republican, this bill would have passed with a veto-proof majority. And if the senate where 100% Democrat, this bill would have passed with a veto-proof majority.

      Some difference ;)

      It seems to me voting for these same Democrats is just telling them it's okay to vote Yes for bills like this.

    8. Re:Maximum evil by T.E.D. · · Score: 2

      The actual vote tally [govtrack.us] shows that both Democrats and Republicans voted for the bill (74 for, 21 against, 5 abstain).

      If anyone believes that voting for R (or D) is worse than the other side, or how it's the "lessor of two evils", feel free to explain this.

      This is true...ish. A majority of both parties voted FOR the bill.

      OTOH, Democrats were THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY to vote against it than Republicans. Of the 21 votes against, only 6 were Republicans. So in the binary system we have, if you care about things like this, your best move is to register as a Democrat. That way, you are still free to vote for the better candidate in November (regardless of which party they are in), but you can also push the better candidate(s) in the primary, in the party that is much more likely to have one.

  15. Re:Blaming ignorance is more credit than they dese by King_TJ · · Score: 5, Informative

    Honestly, I find it hard to believe ignorance has much to do with it at all. There are some big name companies on the record as completely supporting FISA, including Xerox. (Funny how Xerox also seems to have most of the contracts with local govt. for maintaining speed cameras.... Just maybe, they stand to profit any time government takes on some additional responsibility concerning technology? Hmm....)

  16. Re:Sharing is a good thing by dcollins117 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    On the one hand information wants to be expensive, because it's so valuable. The right information in the right place just changes your life. On the other hand, information wants to be free, because the cost of getting it out is getting lower and lower all the time. So you have these two fighting against each other.

    Somehow Stewart Brand's original statement got morphed into "information wants to be free."

  17. Let's lose the naivete, shall we? by Type44Q · · Score: 1

    because lawmakers - many of whom can barely operate their own email - know hardly anything about the technology that theyâ(TM)re crafting legislation about.

    Rest assured that those they actually work for are well aware of the technology their minions are crafting legislation about.

  18. Who voted NO? by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here is a list of the 21 senators who voted AGAINST this CISA surveillance bill.

    Baldwin (D-WI)
    Booker (D-NJ)
    Brown (D-OH)
    Cardin (D-MD)
    Coons (D-DE)
    Crapo (R-ID)
    Daines (R-MT)
    Franken (D-MN)
    Heller (R-NV)
    Leahy (D-VT)
    Lee (R-UT)
    Markey (D-MA)
    Menendez (D-NJ)
    Merkley (D-OR)
    Risch (R-ID)
    Sanders (I-VT)
    Sullivan (R-AK)
    Tester (D-MT)
    Udall (D-NM)
    Warren (D-MA)
    Wyden (D-OR)

    Also, Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Ted Cruz (R-Canada) did not vote at all, because they are huge pussies. Remember that the next time you believe any of those turds are in favor of your liberty.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:Who voted NO? by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Are they any worse than the D's and R's that voted for the bill?

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    2. Re:Who voted NO? by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Are they any worse than the D's and R's that voted for the bill?

      Yes, because they showed cowardice. They wanted to be able to tell prospective voters that they're all for personal liberty, while not upsetting the powers that be. At least go on the record as standing for something so you can be held accountable. Have the courage of your convictions.

      Remember, voting on bills is the only goddamn thing we pay senators to do. They get $174,000 per year to work about 100 days, and these sonsabitches can't even manage to be there to vote?

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    3. Re:Who voted NO? by T.E.D. · · Score: 1

      Also, Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Ted Cruz (R-Canada) did not vote at all, because they are huge

      ... or it could be because they are out campaigning for POTUS, rather than hanging around DC doing their jobs. Not that they couldn't be ducking to avoid taking a stand on a controversial issue, but I seriously doubt this issue will be seen as a big deal by the average Republican primary voter. Incompetence is usually a much more likely cause than malice.

    4. Re:Who voted NO? by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      ... or it could be because they are out campaigning for POTUS, rather than hanging around DC doing their jobs.

      I'll bet they'd have flown cross-country for a campaign dinner with Sheldon Adelson.

      I seriously doubt this issue will be seen as a big deal by the average Republican primary voter.

      That's definitely true.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    5. Re:Who voted NO? by JakartaDean · · Score: 1

      Ted Cruz (R-Canada)

      I saw what you did there...

      --
      The subject who is truly loyal to the Chief Magistrate will neither advise nor submit to arbitrary measures (Junius)
    6. Re:Who voted NO? by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      That's funny. I know you would never have said that if it was the Ds not showing up.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  19. Who to blame. by geekmux · · Score: 2

    "...Yet it still sailed through the Senate, mostly because lawmakers - many of whom can barely operate their own email - know hardly anything about the technology that they’re crafting legislation about."

    In what decade do you think we will find it relevant or important to elect lawmakers who are as competent with technology as they are bullshitting about hope and change?

    In other words, I'm struggling as to who really to blame here, since we voters have been using that "lawmakers are old and ignorant" excuse for too damn long now.

    Perhaps when we stop electing stupid people...

    1. Re:Who to blame. by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 2

      But the big issues of the day aren't about Government Surveillance, it is about the Kardashians and whether or not to Nay Nay (however it is spelled).

      The problem isn't the politicians, it is the ignorant people who vote for them.

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
    2. Re:Who to blame. by Alypius · · Score: 1

      Your lack of pop culture references is disturbing. Nae Nae.

    3. Re:Who to blame. by AHuxley · · Score: 2

      Welcome to a big digital Berlin wall. Every user is going to be legally tracked anywhere near the 'internet' by the enthusiastic US brands and their pro gov/mil friendly logging.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    4. Re:Who to blame. by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 1

      As I said to my kids "One day, you're going to look back at this and think, 'My GAWD!!! What were we thinking!!!" "

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
  20. We've lost by AndyKron · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The people have completely lost control over their government. Vote Bernie Sanders!

    1. Re:We've lost by jez9999 · · Score: 1

      Nice try but no-one's gonna be allowed to disrupt the Hillary coronation.

    2. Re:We've lost by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They'll always win if you don't fight.

  21. Re:Blaming ignorance is more credit than they dese by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

    they did listen to the 'concerned parties' who paid for their reelection campaign. This is just another sign that all of them need to be fired.

    No, it is a sign that the Corporations need to be fired
    And "Corporations are people my friend"

  22. Re: Blaming ignorance is more credit than they des by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Disagree, I think it's completely relevant and on topic. The people writing these bills have absolutely no idea how the technology works, but are quite comfortable throwing away our privacy rights based on that. They are technophobic imbeciles who are driven by fear, and that's a scary thing because they have a lot of power. This is the perfect example because apparently NOBODY except the lawmakers wants this legislation, yet they don't care and vote based on their fear. It's very important that people realize the current set of lawmakers are almost entirely out of touch with modern technology, and that can have a massive stifling effect on our economy which a large portion of is based on this tech. We need young, new blood in these seats.

  23. Bernie Sanders isn't effective by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 2

    With respect to Democrat readers, your only viable candidate on that side (Hillary Clinton) is a weak contender, while the Republican side appears to have both Trump and Carson as strong candidates.

    Don't count out the Bern yet. He's already tracking better than Obama was 8 years ago (compared to Hillary)

    And while Hillary is definitely a career politico, she's never actually won an election for anything in her life.

    I stay away from the "the other side will do *this* when elected" rhetoric, and try to confine myself to analysis of present situation and past performance. Please bear that in mind when replying - I'm not being a partisan echo chamber.

    Money is a pretty good indicator of who will win an election in this country. With a 95% success rate, it's a pretty-good rule of thumb to use.

    Bernie doesn't have his own money, so he has to rely on donations. Donations come from moneyed interests in return for political favors, and Bernie won't sell himself that way, so he won't get a lot of money.

    He also says things which are easy to (unfairly) attack, such as sticking with the term "Democratic Socialism". Socialism is closely aligned in the public's mind with Communism, the USSR and cold war, and to a lesser extend the Fascism of WWII Italy.

    While you and I can sort through the actual meanings, the public will only see what the pundits say. They will see Bernie as wanting to implement a completely non-democratic political system (Socialism!), and without the money to make his voice known it's unlikely that he'll get very far.

    Yes, I agree with his position and rationale, but as the saying goes: it's not enough to be right, you have to be effective.

    1. Re:Bernie Sanders isn't effective by Trinsic · · Score: 5, Informative

      Perhaps you haven't been paying much attention to the primary races, and I certainly can't blame you for that. I seldom have until this year. But when it comes to money, Bernie is doing just fine thanks to large numbers of small donations. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics...

      As for being able to win in the general election, hypothetical polls show that Bernie does just as well as Hillary in match-ups against likely republican candidates. http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-th...

      For once we have a chance to vote for something other than one of two lizards, and there is a real chance he can win. Lets not let that chance go to waste ;)

    2. Re:Bernie Sanders isn't effective by jxander · · Score: 1

      He also says things which are easy to (unfairly) attack, such as sticking with the term "Democratic Socialism". Socialism is closely aligned in the public's mind with Communism, the USSR and cold war, and to a lesser extend the Fascism of WWII Italy.

      Those terms aren't nearly as toxic as they've been in the past. When was the last time this country fought "commies?"

      WWII Italy? How many voters today are really influenced by something from the 40s and 50s?
      Musolini died in 45
      McCarthyism and all the "Red scare" stuff lasted well into the 50s (speaking of which, woo woo Fallout 4)
      Cuban Missile Crisis was in the 60s
      The wall fell in 89.

      The 90s, 00s and teens have been pretty quiet on the "commies" front. Mostly just Putin riding around on horseback shirtless, trying to make the cover of Teen Beat. Anyone born in the late 70s or beyond wouldn't have much predisposition against communism, other than what they've heard crazy grandparents mumbling about.

      And even those crazy grandparents would mostly be giving second-hand grumbles. The boomers were infants back in the real meat n potatoes Red Scare. Anyone who was an adult back then would be pushing 100 now.

      That's not to say that espousing "socialism" isn't a risky bet. It is. It's different and different is scary. Plus it seeks to correct the oligarchy in which we currently live... toppling the moneyed oligarchs is tough when they, well, have all the money. Bernie's got a steep hill to climb, but it's not because socialism is a dirty word.

      --
      This signature is false.
    3. Re:Bernie Sanders isn't effective by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Those terms aren't nearly as toxic as they've been in the past. When was the last time this country fought "commies?"

      The Cold War wasn't that long ago. Anyone over the age of 50 will remember their elementary school drills, teaching us to dive under our desks, or put hour heads between our legs, and kissing our asses goodbye. And, while that was useless, Romney was correct when Obama chided him for choosing Russia as a threat.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  24. Re:Blaming ignorance is more credit than they dese by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Except when IT'S TRUE. These people have their emails read and summarized by underlings, the summaries printed out in large type font on legal paper, double spaced with a wide side column for annotations and responses. Then the underlings type the responses and annotations up in separate files, and sometimes the responses actually get sent as an email. The Congress Critters never see the emails at all, because they either do not understand it, or are afraid they will be seen as understanding it. Wipe it? "Like with a cloth?"

  25. Let's Setup Powerline Internet! by zenlessyank · · Score: 1

    So can we just setup a Powerline Internet. Then no one will care what is getting sent since it wont be on the 'regular' Internet. Everyone is happy. Guess I will need a 240V DNS server.

  26. Because Privacy by Alypius · · Score: 1

    Congress: Securing your private information by making it public since 2001.

  27. Senate Web Page - Here is a clue by Tokolosh · · Score: 1

    Senate.Gov. The United States Senate

    Request unable to be completed.

    The submitted https request was not able to be completed at this time.
    Please retry your request using http. This may require disabling some browser based plug-ins.

    http://www.senate.gov/

    --
    Prove anything by multiplying Huge Number times Tiny Number
  28. More Treason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I wish George Washington were still alive. He would have taken a huge shit in each of these "senators" mouths, then condemned them to the firing line for ushering that "conspiracy from New York" and betraying all his hard work from freeing us from the enslavement of the British and the whole taxation without representation thing. This vote would be a prime example of taxation without representation.

    Why? Because companies like Facebook (who you give your data freely too like morons) lobbied heavy behind closed doors to pass this legislation without any open discussion, and total disregard to privacy advocates and technology gods (Note, Zuckerburg is not a technology God. He's some novice who decided to write some spaghetti code in PHP and got funded by some very rich jews like usual who are pushing this agenda. There were dozens of competent social networks written the same way at the time, but since he was a Jew from Harvard he was selected as part of the CIA operation you participate in called Facebook).

    Kudos to whoever hacked the government employees though. Since the federal government thinks it's citizens private information is so freely available to anyone in the world, I'm pretty sure senators and congress people will be targeted and exposed even more through data breaches.

    Oh and the CIA director still uses AOL lololololol

    1. Re:More Treason by transfire · · Score: 1

      this

  29. Let's remember 2008 by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 3, Interesting

    She might win the nomination... there's certainly a good chance. But she's hardly a shoe-in.

    Everyone just kinda assumed she win the nom 8 years ago, and that didn't really pan out for her, did it? And she hadn't even committed any felonies then.

    If you're good at remembering things, let your mind wander back to the summer of 2008.

    Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were both strong candidates with roughly equal support.

    Hillary and Barack had a meeting, and soon after Hillary withdrew from the campaign. The Wikipedia article states that she won the popular vote but lost the nomination, but I seem to remember that her campaign lost a lot of steam after that meeting, and before the nomination.

    The subtext that I read into that meeting was that the Dems felt that she was splitting the vote, and in return for her withdrawing gracefully and throwing support for Barack she would be the presumptive next nominee.

    Then President Obama appointed her Secretary of State, which was also probably a result of that meeting. She got a high-prestige and highly visible position, and gets to practice being president for 8 years. (A good plan, really, and I don't begrudge that sort of deal making - it's how politics is done in this country.)

    And now we're in the new cycle, and she's calling in that promise.

    The problem is, she was a lackluster Secretary of State. If you assume that the E-mail and the Benghazi thing is unimportant, there's nothing that really stands out in her career.

    She's a lukewarm candidate.

  30. Re:How much will a VPN help? by AHuxley · · Score: 1

    Your in a 5 eye nation. They get all the advanced US "collect it all" methods shared from the US over the decades.
    A VPN if installed correctly and of a good quality will save you from your everyday internet providers daily logging or apps/malware collecting your ip.
    If a person is of note or interest to the security services or seen as using a VPN on a tracked site or detected?
    "NSA’s Internet taps can find systems to hack, track VPNs and Word docs" (Aug 2, 2013)
    http://arstechnica.com/tech-po... Read up of methods surrounding X-Keyscore, TAO, VPN and bulk traffic.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  31. Re:Blaming ignorance is more credit than they dese by jdavidb · · Score: 1

    Also, they aren't just ignorant about technology. They are ignorant about liberty.

  32. Re:Blaming ignorance is more credit than they dese by fustakrakich · · Score: 2

    It's not ignorance, it's corruption. But it looks like nobody wants to see that elephant in the room. This will not effect the elections...

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  33. Please link to the bill in these stories by MrKaos · · Score: 5, Informative

    For those who don't need a third party to read something for them this is a link to the actual bill. The bill itself is a lot less reading than all of the articles on it.

    I just gisted the bill, it looks like one of these fait accomplis that follow this disturbing pattern we see of aligning the laws of Echelon (5 eyes, sigint or whatever other names it is know by) countries within the bounds of their beleaguered constitutions. Almost a year ago to the day laws with the same intent were passed in Australia under the NSL 2014.

    If I may share my interpretation the bill, the main purpose appears to be to align the legal structures for government agencies to share information. Its up for interpretation and the more eyes reading this the better. I'll need a good read to really get it.

    Of specific interest was that the law is beating a pretty fast drum for the Federal agencies to comply with a 60-180 day time frame for them to develop policy. I'm going to guess that they want to allocate budget spending to implement the policy withing the next 12 months. Of particular concern in the US version the bill allows for Federal agencies to spy on state, local and individuals (sec 2.8).

    If the pattern is followed we can expect the UK and Canada to be next as these legal frameworks have already been passed in Australia and NZ - both political parties supported it there as well.

    Why the governments of our countries are so intent on harassing their population is anyone's guess. What would be really great is if these bills were posted to /. *before* they passed. At least then the outrage could be channeled into constructive action.

    --
    My ism, it's full of beliefs.
    1. Re:Please link to the bill in these stories by moeinvt · · Score: 2

      SEC. 106. Protection from liability.
      (b) Sharing or receipt of cyber threat indicators.â"No cause of action shall lie or be maintained in any court against any entity, and such action shall be promptly dismissed, for the sharing or receipt of cyber threat indicators or defensive measures under section 104(c) ifâ" ...

      In other words, whatever privacy arrangements you've established with 3rd parties are hereby null and void.

      Later in the bill they do include verbiage about how the legislation does not affect such agreements, but given the above provision, that's absurd. When there are no consequences or remedies for breaking the terms of a contract, the contract is worthless because neither party need abide by the terms. The government is now asserting that any information you might share with a third party can be handed over to government and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. No privacy agreement can protect you and you have no legal recourse whatsoever when a company hands over your data.

  34. Re:Corruption, thy name by jd2112 · · Score: 2

    No, just Politician. Corruption knows no borders.

    --
    Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
  35. You have to ask who encouraged it? by Bruce66423 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The fingerprints of the NSA etc are all over this bill. The only question is whether we will ever discover how many of them were blackmailed into giving it their support. The scale of the vote however does suggest that there was a lot of pressure being exerted.

    The phrase 'deep state' was invented to refer to the intelligence community in Turkey that used to have enormous influence in the running of that country. However it is a term which present experience shows it may be more applicable to the US than is nice to think about.

  36. Closing the loop by WaffleMonster · · Score: 1

    What I find interest is the play not just to close off remaining piddly avenues for people to challenge misappropriation of private data it is blocking off even avenues for people to discover anything at all with partially redundant FOIA restrictions.

  37. Re:Blaming ignorance is more credit than they dese by chihowa · · Score: 2

    They had to. Concentrating this last little bit of wealth is going to be the hardest part so far and they need to be ready when it starts cutting into the bread-and-circuses fund. Expect much more of this in the near future.

    --
    If you want a vision of the future, imagine a youtube comments section scrolling - forever.
  38. Re: Blaming ignorance is more credit than they des by murphtall · · Score: 2

    they dont vote based upon fear, not the one you think of, they vote based upon fear of their bottom line decreasing lol in other words they vote based upon who pays them the most....

  39. Re:What is it now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Corporate ogliarchy, same as it's been for your entire life. It's just more obvious now.

  40. "Helmets" are our only hope by transfire · · Score: 2

    Did you ever wonder why Star Wars depicts a future where so many where helmets all the time? Now you know.

  41. Re:Corruption, thy name by Dog-Cow · · Score: 1

    Hypocritical, sure. Paradoxical? I don't think that word means what you think it means.

    And other countries don't need to brand political donations as free speech because they allow bribes without the politically-necessary patina of respectability.

  42. Re:Blaming ignorance is more credit than they dese by cdrudge · · Score: 2

    It's not ignorance, it's corruption.

    You say that like it can't be both. It most definitely is both.

  43. One thing though.. by koan · · Score: 2

    Facebook was FOR the CISA bill (Google it)

    So please, stop using Facebook or you're complicit in everything Zuckerberg does.

    Don't forget his famous quote...

    "They trust me â" dumb fucks," -Zuckerberg
    http://gawker.com/5636765/face...

    --
    "If any question why we died, Tell them because our fathers lied."
  44. Re:Paging OhPlz!!! by lexlthr · · Score: 1

    Ted Cruz (R-Canada)

    That's funny right d'ere...

  45. Re: Blaming ignorance is more credit than they des by doccus · · Score: 1

    So they use "fuzzy language" to obfuscate their ignorance.. Well - Fuzzy laws lead to hard prison bars ..

  46. Re: Blaming ignorance is more credit than they des by doccus · · Score: 1

    ....The people writing these bills have absolutely no idea how the technology works....

    But.. but.. they know the "internets" is a whole bunch of pipes ;-)