This effects EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. As SFNers, we ALL use the internet as an Important if Not PRIMARY means of communication. No matter what you believe, READ THIS SHIT, and save the Colin Powell for REAL bullshit.
This is IMPORTANT!!!

Congress wants to monitor all Emails, IMs, Etc.

Originally posted at The Seminal.

A bill introduced last week by Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) is beginning to raise eyebrows.

[It] would require ISPs to record all users' surfing activity, IM conversations and email traffic indefinitely.

The bill, dubbed the Safety Act by sponsor Lamar Smith, a republican congressman from Texas, would impose fines and a prison term of one year on ISPs which failed to keep full records. (emphasis mine)
This is a terrifying development and it must be stopped before it gains any significant momentum. Background, Action items and contact information below the fold.

Under the guise of reducing child pornography, the SAFETY (Stopping Adults Facilitating the Exploitation of Today's Youth Act) Act is currently the gravest threat to digital privacy rights on the Internet. Given the increasing tendency of people, especially young people, to use the Internet as a primary means of communications, this measure would effect nearly all Americans in ways we are only beginning to understand. Also, given the fact that the Act requires all Internet Service Providers to record the web surfing activity of all Internet users, this amounts to the warrantless wiretapping of the entire Internet.

Amazingly, although the bill was introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday Feb. 6, it has been virtually ignored by both the corporate media and major blogs alike. By combining such draconian legislation with several child pornography measures, Smith is trying to pull a fast one on the Judiciary Committee and on the democratically controlled Congress as a whole. I say we don't let this happen. So, first, a little background information. Then below, I've outlined a few actions you can take if you'd like to spread the word on this.

Background:
The original SAFETY Act, introduced in June of 2006 by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), was shot down due to free speech concerns over aspects of the bill other than the ones I've focused on here. At the time, the Center for Democracy and Technology wrote that the bill "would undermine First Amendment free speech protections and do nothing to protect children on the Internet."

So what was Lamar Smith's response you ask? He added the misguided measures discussed above in an attempt to fulfill the demands of the FBI. In an October 2006 conference of police chiefs, FBI Director Robert Mueller made the following statement:

Terrorists coordinate their plans cloaked in the anonymity of the Internet, as do violent sexual predators prowling chat rooms. All too often, we find that before we can catch these offenders, Internet service providers have unwittingly deleted the very records that would help us identify these offenders and protect future victims.

Mueller was signaling to Congress that he would like to see measures put in place that would require ISPs to store records of all Internet usage so he could access it when he felt it was neccessary. But, as has been pointed out:

The thing about retention laws is that they require all data to be maintained, not simply the data from child pornographers and terrorists. This means that such laws are usually favored by other, unrelated groups who would like access to such log files. Groups like the music labels. In Europe, where retention rules are already in place, the entertainment industry has already stated its belief that the data should be available for use in the investigation of any crime, even copyright infringement.

Action:
There are two ways to make members of Congress listen to your concerns.

1. Inundate them with phone calls and emails.
2. Get negative media coverage of what they are trying to accomplish.

Please contact any or all of the people and organizations listed below. Let them know that the SAFETY ACT, as it is written, is not acceptable.

Sponsor:
Rep. Lamar Smith, web form, 202-225-4236

Cosponsors:
Rep. Steve Chabot, (202) 225-2216
Rep. Tom Feeney, (202) 225-2706
Rep. J. Randy Forbes, (202) 225-6365
Rep. Trent Franks, (202) 225-4576
Rep. Elton Gallegly, (202) 225-5811
Rep. Dan Lungren, (202) 225-5716
Rep. Mike Pence, (202) 225-3021

House Judiciary Committee Chair:
Rep. John Conyers, (202) 225-5126

This effects EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. As SFNers, we ALL use the internet as an Important if Not PRIMARY means of communication. No matter what you believe, READ THIS SHIT, and save the Colin Powell for REAL bullshit.
This is IMPORTANT!!!

Congress wants to monitor all Emails, IMs, Etc.

Originally posted at The Seminal.

A bill introduced last week by Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) is beginning to raise eyebrows.

[It] would require ISPs to record all users' surfing activity, IM conversations and email traffic indefinitely.

The bill, dubbed the Safety Act by sponsor Lamar Smith, a republican congressman from Texas, would impose fines and a prison term of one year on ISPs which failed to keep full records. (emphasis mine)
This is a terrifying development and it must be stopped before it gains any significant momentum. Background, Action items and contact information below the fold.

Under the guise of reducing child pornography, the SAFETY (Stopping Adults Facilitating the Exploitation of Today's Youth Act) Act is currently the gravest threat to digital privacy rights on the Internet. Given the increasing tendency of people, especially young people, to use the Internet as a primary means of communications, this measure would effect nearly all Americans in ways we are only beginning to understand. Also, given the fact that the Act requires all Internet Service Providers to record the web surfing activity of all Internet users, this amounts to the warrantless wiretapping of the entire Internet.

Amazingly, although the bill was introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday Feb. 6, it has been virtually ignored by both the corporate media and major blogs alike. By combining such draconian legislation with several child pornography measures, Smith is trying to pull a fast one on the Judiciary Committee and on the democratically controlled Congress as a whole. I say we don't let this happen. So, first, a little background information. Then below, I've outlined a few actions you can take if you'd like to spread the word on this.

Background:
The original SAFETY Act, introduced in June of 2006 by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), was shot down due to free speech concerns over aspects of the bill other than the ones I've focused on here. At the time, the Center for Democracy and Technology wrote that the bill "would undermine First Amendment free speech protections and do nothing to protect children on the Internet."

So what was Lamar Smith's response you ask? He added the misguided measures discussed above in an attempt to fulfill the demands of the FBI. In an October 2006 conference of police chiefs, FBI Director Robert Mueller made the following statement:

Terrorists coordinate their plans cloaked in the anonymity of the Internet, as do violent sexual predators prowling chat rooms. All too often, we find that before we can catch these offenders, Internet service providers have unwittingly deleted the very records that would help us identify these offenders and protect future victims.

Mueller was signaling to Congress that he would like to see measures put in place that would require ISPs to store records of all Internet usage so he could access it when he felt it was neccessary. But, as has been pointed out:

The thing about retention laws is that they require all data to be maintained, not simply the data from child pornographers and terrorists. This means that such laws are usually favored by other, unrelated groups who would like access to such log files. Groups like the music labels. In Europe, where retention rules are already in place, the entertainment industry has already stated its belief that the data should be available for use in the investigation of any crime, even copyright infringement.

Action:
There are two ways to make members of Congress listen to your concerns.

1. Inundate them with phone calls and emails.
2. Get negative media coverage of what they are trying to accomplish.

Please contact any or all of the people and organizations listed below. Let them know that the SAFETY ACT, as it is written, is not acceptable.

Sponsor:
Rep. Lamar Smith, web form, 202-225-4236

Cosponsors:
Rep. Steve Chabot, (202) 225-2216
Rep. Tom Feeney, (202) 225-2706
Rep. J. Randy Forbes, (202) 225-6365
Rep. Trent Franks, (202) 225-4576
Rep. Elton Gallegly, (202) 225-5811
Rep. Dan Lungren, (202) 225-5716
Rep. Mike Pence, (202) 225-3021

House Judiciary Committee Chair:
Rep. John Conyers, (202) 225-5126



http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h238/Highpowered350/b3098c9694014cc123220ab17b4e104a.gif

Wrong forum, cockblock...

Nothing new... Clinton funded the research into implementing the sifting machine to process all our e-mails called the Beast by it's developers...... this has been coming for 10 years

I assumed they already did that with the Patriot Act.
You know...to protect our freedom.

don't worry, the chairmen of the key committees are civil libertarians

I thought the Democrats were running things now?

Thank God I live in Canada.
It would be embarrasing if they found out I do a ton of google searches for asian trannies


oops :o

I thought the Democrats were running things now?

:bigthink:

This effects EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. As SFNers, we ALL use the internet as an Important if Not PRIMARY means of communication. No matter what you believe, READ THIS SHIT, and save the Colin Powell for REAL bullshit.
This is IMPORTANT!!!

Congress wants to monitor all Emails, IMs, Etc.

Originally posted at The Seminal.

A bill introduced last week by Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) is beginning to raise eyebrows.

[It] would require ISPs to record all users' surfing activity, IM conversations and email traffic indefinitely.

The bill, dubbed the Safety Act by sponsor Lamar Smith, a republican congressman from Texas, would impose fines and a prison term of one year on ISPs which failed to keep full records. (emphasis mine)
This is a terrifying development and it must be stopped before it gains any significant momentum. Background, Action items and contact information below the fold.

Under the guise of reducing child pornography, the SAFETY (Stopping Adults Facilitating the Exploitation of Today's Youth Act) Act is currently the gravest threat to digital privacy rights on the Internet. Given the increasing tendency of people, especially young people, to use the Internet as a primary means of communications, this measure would effect nearly all Americans in ways we are only beginning to understand. Also, given the fact that the Act requires all Internet Service Providers to record the web surfing activity of all Internet users, this amounts to the warrantless wiretapping of the entire Internet.

Amazingly, although the bill was introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday Feb. 6, it has been virtually ignored by both the corporate media and major blogs alike. By combining such draconian legislation with several child pornography measures, Smith is trying to pull a fast one on the Judiciary Committee and on the democratically controlled Congress as a whole. I say we don't let this happen. So, first, a little background information. Then below, I've outlined a few actions you can take if you'd like to spread the word on this.

Background:
The original SAFETY Act, introduced in June of 2006 by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), was shot down due to free speech concerns over aspects of the bill other than the ones I've focused on here. At the time, the Center for Democracy and Technology wrote that the bill "would undermine First Amendment free speech protections and do nothing to protect children on the Internet."

So what was Lamar Smith's response you ask? He added the misguided measures discussed above in an attempt to fulfill the demands of the FBI. In an October 2006 conference of police chiefs, FBI Director Robert Mueller made the following statement:

Terrorists coordinate their plans cloaked in the anonymity of the Internet, as do violent sexual predators prowling chat rooms. All too often, we find that before we can catch these offenders, Internet service providers have unwittingly deleted the very records that would help us identify these offenders and protect future victims.

Mueller was signaling to Congress that he would like to see measures put in place that would require ISPs to store records of all Internet usage so he could access it when he felt it was neccessary. But, as has been pointed out:

The thing about retention laws is that they require all data to be maintained, not simply the data from child pornographers and terrorists. This means that such laws are usually favored by other, unrelated groups who would like access to such log files. Groups like the music labels. In Europe, where retention rules are already in place, the entertainment industry has already stated its belief that the data should be available for use in the investigation of any crime, even copyright infringement.

Action:
There are two ways to make members of Congress listen to your concerns.

1. Inundate them with phone calls and emails.
2. Get negative media coverage of what they are trying to accomplish.

Please contact any or all of the people and organizations listed below. Let them know that the SAFETY ACT, as it is written, is not acceptable.

Sponsor:
Rep. Lamar Smith, web form, 202-225-4236

Cosponsors:
Rep. Steve Chabot, (202) 225-2216
Rep. Tom Feeney, (202) 225-2706
Rep. J. Randy Forbes, (202) 225-6365
Rep. Trent Franks, (202) 225-4576
Rep. Elton Gallegly, (202) 225-5811
Rep. Dan Lungren, (202) 225-5716
Rep. Mike Pence, (202) 225-3021

House Judiciary Committee Chair:
Rep. John Conyers, (202) 225-5126

wrong forum asshole.....can you fucking decipher what the correct forum is.......here let me help you fuckface.

We're exporting so much Democracy that soon there will be none here.

opposition to this bill should point out that it's inspired by the French law making encryption illegal. neither party will want to appear to be supporting anything French (Canadians will laugh at us..)

This will never work.... it's completely retarded.

Do you know what kind of bandwidth is needed to sustain enough people to be online at any given time? Think about AOL.... for instance

How many servers do they need to have in order for the 10's or hundreds of thousands of people online at any given time?

Now we need to at least QUADRUPLE that server amount just to start recording all of the IMs, emails, surfing histories... etc... (that's a conservative amount btw, assuming some people just check email and log off, and some people spend ALL day on the internet)

Now you need a place to store ALL those emails, all those surfing histories, all those IMs... and not just AOL, EVERY company or person who has anything to do with the Internet.

What about Mutt? He's going to need to make sure EVERY bulletin board post is now saved, electronically somewhere...

Ok, now if they decide to remove them from the electronic servers... now they have to record on tape or paper every IM and every email...

Do you see how logistically this is absolutely absurd? Even if they pass it there's no way they could enforce it... the companies wouldn't be able upgrade fast enough, they wouldn't be able to sustain that kind of drain on their servers, etc....

This will never work.... it's completely retarded.

Do you know what kind of bandwidth is needed to sustain enough people to be online at any given time? Think about AOL.... for instance

How many servers do they need to have in order for the 10's or hundreds of thousands of people online at any given time?

Now we need to at least QUADRUPLE that server amount just to start recording all of the IMs, emails, surfing histories... etc... (that's a conservative amount btw, assuming some people just check email and log off, and some people spend ALL day on the internet)

Now you need a place to store ALL those emails, all those surfing histories, all those IMs... and not just AOL, EVERY company or person who has anything to do with the Internet.

What about Mutt? He's going to need to make sure EVERY bulletin board post is now saved, electronically somewhere...

Ok, now if they decide to remove them from the electronic servers... now they have to record on tape or paper every IM and every email...

Do you see how logistically this is absolutely absurd? Even if they pass it there's no way they could enforce it... the companies wouldn't be able upgrade fast enough, they wouldn't be able to sustain that kind of drain on their servers, etc....

its a silly proposal, but when Lamar Smith runs for re-election, or for another office, he'll be able to throw up to his constituents how tough he was, and it was only because of the liberal democrats and guilliani republicans that he was unable to appropriately protect his fellow Texans from the invading terrorist mexicans and canadians (gotta watch those sneaky canadians)

This is a load of bullshit. I can't believe politicians are paid so much money for the job of taking people's rights away. Plus, shouldn't this be unconstitutional in some way? To monitor every man, woman & child's personal data has got to be violating rights.

I guess if this bill ever gets passed, there will be a load of encryption software designed to circumvent this load of shit law.