To ensure the smooth operation of our free market system, the FTC enforces federal consumer protection laws that prevent fraud, deception and unfair business practices.
From what they say in the article, it seems that are trying to track down people who are, in fact, committing the crime of fraud. The article also says they are asking for the anti-spam powers to be modelled after the powers they already use to fight fraudulent telemarketers.
If these secret investigative powers are harmful, it seems that it's a little late. They already have them and are simply attempting to apply the same standards to electronic commerce that are applied to telecommerce.
It seems highly unlikely that the FTC will be sending brute squads to our houses, even those of us who send out lots of email pretending to be hot teenage girls. Provided, of course, that in said e-mails you are not trying to sell your used panties as a penile enlargement/cancer treatment tool, particularly if you are actually a fat, balding, middle-aged man.
Imagine a Beowulf cluster of those puppies! *ouch* *ouch* *ouch*
But seriously (relatively), a cluster like that could replace the million monkeys and their typewriters who currently write most of the Hollywood scripts. The big production companies could cut costs and start making some money. I hear they're starving these days because of file trading. It might save the industry.
From what they say in the article, it seems that are trying to track down people who are, in fact, committing the crime of fraud. The article also says they are asking for the anti-spam powers to be modelled after the powers they already use to fight fraudulent telemarketers.
If these secret investigative powers are harmful, it seems that it's a little late. They already have them and are simply attempting to apply the same standards to electronic commerce that are applied to telecommerce.
It seems highly unlikely that the FTC will be sending brute squads to our houses, even those of us who send out lots of email pretending to be hot teenage girls. Provided, of course, that in said e-mails you are not trying to sell your used panties as a penile enlargement/cancer treatment tool, particularly if you are actually a fat, balding, middle-aged man.
I suppose that if you're going to use high-tech distance learning like that from home, you'd better make sure you wear your clean underwear to class.
Imagine a Beowulf cluster of those puppies! *ouch* *ouch* *ouch* But seriously (relatively), a cluster like that could replace the million monkeys and their typewriters who currently write most of the Hollywood scripts. The big production companies could cut costs and start making some money. I hear they're starving these days because of file trading. It might save the industry.