Internet blacklist goes into effect

[bdh]

The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act - COICA - is controversial at the very least and probably has as many supporters as dissenters. The summary of the act is here

According to one of the most vociferous opponents of the bill, in an article titled URGENT ACTION NEEDED: New Internet Blacklist Bill Could Shut Down Twitter And Youtube, they write

The rumor all over Capitol Hill is that the House version of the Internet Blacklist Bill will be introduced this week, probably on Wednesday.

The main resistance to this bill is explained as:

What exactly does it do?
The bill creates a blacklists of Internet domain names which the Attorney General can add to with a court order. Internet service providers, financial transaction providers, and online ad vendors (everyone from Comcast to PayPal to Google AdSense) would be required to block any domains on the list.
(The bill used to also have a second list that the AG could add to without a court order, but public pressure has gotten it removed.)


What kind of domains can go on the list?
The list is for domains "dedicated to infringing activity," which is defined very broadly — any site where counterfeit goods or copyrighted material are "central to the activity of the Internet site" would be blocked.


What's so bad about that?
Well, it means sites like YouTube could get censored in the US. Copyright holders like Viacom argue that copyrighted material is central to activity of YouTube. But under current US law, YouTube is perfectly legal as long as they take down copyrighted material when they're informed about it -- which is why Viacom lost their case in court. If this bill passes, Viacom doesn't even need to prove YouTube is doing anything illegal -- as long as they can persuade a court that enough other people are using it for copyright infringement, that's enough to get the whole site censored.

[soft]

We need more christian hackers

[HisLeast]

We need more christian hackers

Uh, no. The last thing the current Christian culture needs is more powerful tools. Especially in the West.

[HisLeast]

The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act - COICA - is controversial at the very least and probably has as many supporters as dissenters. The summary of the act is here

According to one of the most vociferous opponents of the bill, in an article titled URGENT ACTION NEEDED: New Internet Blacklist Bill Could Shut Down Twitter And Youtube, they write

On the plus side, maybe the current administration will actually try something so misguided, and in so doing alienate their young idealist voter base.

[Reynolds357]

The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act - COICA - is controversial at the very least and probably has as many supporters as dissenters. The summary of the act is here

According to one of the most vociferous opponents of the bill, in an article titled URGENT ACTION NEEDED: New Internet Blacklist Bill Could Shut Down Twitter And Youtube, they write



The main resistance to this bill is explained as:

I would be all for it if it could shut down Twitter and Face Book.

[bdh]

I would be all for it if it could shut down Twitter and Face Book.

Without saying it too loudly, I'd agree. I think those things pose more of a danger to privacy than people realize.

Having said that, it would be dark time for freedom the day big business could "legally" shut down a site like one of these because they were bad for business. The Internet may be many things but one thing it is not [yet], and that is owned by any one group. The day that happens would be the day we should all become very concerned.

[Warrior4God]

The Internet may be many things but one thing it is not [yet], and that is owned by any one group. The day that happens would be the day we should all become very concerned.

I agree. Anytime a small group of people have total control over something, that "something" usually becomes corrupted and worthless.

[thethirdtuttle]

The thing that I find most disturbing about this is that it seems to be motivated by noble intentions (i.e., find a more efficient way to go after those who are infringing copyrights), but does so in a way that seems to bypass due process. It would seem the more logical thing to do would be to change and/or amend the laws regarding Internet copyright infringement in order to make the prosecutorial system more efficient, rather than blacklist certain people and/or businesses from using certain parts of the Internet. Besides, where will all this eventually lead? If this particular law passes, won't it set a precedent for more drastic measures in the future? Scary stuff. God bless, and have a great day in the Lord!

Yours in Christ,

Benjamin

[bdh]

The thing that I find most disturbing about this is that it seems to be motivated by noble intentions.

...or at least the semblance of noble intentions. I think that's what the spin doctors call the candy.

[Diggindeeper]

I worry about WHO the police are that would be 'protecting' (?) all of us.............

Lordy, now they are gonna tell us what we can or cannot say in the AIR!!!

[Ayala]

Slippery. Slope.

[Bandit]

I worry about WHO the police are that would be 'protecting' (?) all of us.............

Lordy, now they are gonna tell us what we can or cannot say in the AIR!!!

Yea, I believe they have already made it illegal to intercept and decode signals that they are transmitting through your house and body. The way I see it, any electromagnetic signal that enters my property (and my body) is mine to do with as I please. If some company were to disagree with me, I would tell them to control their transmissions. Things have gotten really stupid.