Wednesday, February 8, 2012

BATTLESTATIONS! Senate may sneak in SOPA under a new name


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) launches a second round of attacks in an attempt to censor the Internet.

After trying to adopt Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA), both pieces of legislation turned out to be a disaster, causing outrage among Internet giants and ordinary users alike. Congress had to retreat. However it's determined to get what it wants this time.

After the shelving of SOPA and PIPA back in January Reid stated,“There is no reason that the legitimate issues raised by many about this bill cannot be resolved.”

As RT reported last month, Senator Reid added that lawmakers will“continue engaging with all stakeholders to forge a balance between protecting Americans’ intellectual property, and maintaining openness and innovation on the Internet.”

The vote on the anti-piracy legislation was postponed from its January 24date after Wikipedia and other popular websites went dark to protest the draft law.

Now the battle for online freedom continues.

The rebuttal to push Internet-regulating legislation has transformed into a new cybersecurity bill. The particulars of the latest attempt by senators to censor the Internet have not been disclosed to the public.

However some leaks suggest that the bill will grant the authority to crack down on the Internet to the executive branch of power, namely the White House. It looks highly possible taking into consideration that the legislation has to come out of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, chaired by Connecticut Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman.

The same Lieberman who earlier co-sponsored the so called Kill Switch bill that could allow the president of the United States to "declare a cybersecurity emergency," and practically shut down the Internet.

After outrage from Internet advocacy groups, Kill Switch never made it in the Senate. This time it may be back under a new name.





Original article here

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Cant wait to see what unfolds in the next few weeks regarding this. When will they learn?

11 comments:

  1. Why are they being such dicks about this

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  2. Oh yeah I've heard about this.
    They're just trying to make the internet into what TV turned into: Media completely controlled by business and not users.
    Let's not let it happen.
    Glad I'm following you.

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  3. Really?!
    Wow, if you can't get your way the first time, just try again...Ridic!

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  4. "But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing. It behooves you, therefore, to be watchful in your States as well as in the Federal Government." -- Andrew Jackson, Farewell Address, March 4, 1837

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  5. I`m so sick of this thing. ACTA is against constitutional rights in several countries. If they want to control piracy, then I have nothing against that. It´s just that ACTA takes it too far. They can`t take our right to privacy for controlling piracy!

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  6. I have been saying this for a while now, after people have been running around like idiots screaming, "WE b347 da gov3rnm3n7@!@@!#$@ N0 m0r3 s0p4 and p1p4 y44433h!". This little kids need to grow up and realize that it is not over yet, and won't be until we get new, non corrupt officials into office.

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  7. This is the reason why there should be a law that prevents rejected draft from returning even by a new name. Rejects should remain as rejects.

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