Comments on: House vote on illegal images sweeps in Wi-Fi, Web sites

Bill would force anyone offering an open Wi-Fi connection, plus social-networking sites, ISPs, and e-mail sites to report illegal images including "obscene" cartoons and drawings.

[jrice]

Really funny-sad

It's really sad, how people here are falling all over themselves, saying things like, "pedophiles should be shot, but..." and "I'm against child molesters, but..." It's like the McCarthy era, when anyone who dared make a reasoned argument first had to establish his anti-Commie bona fides, especially Democrats. And whose branchild is this horror joke of a bill? Surprise, surprise! Reeling from charges of being soft on terrorists, the Dems are beating up on a well-publicized but minor group that no one can object to being beaten up on because we can all with a straight face compare them with terrorists. Masquerading as a noble effort and armed with an impied, "What, do you support child molestors?" this bill is pure demagoguery by Democrats, who try to camouflage their inability to pass truly meaningful legislation with chest-thumping cheap -- and wildly unconstitutional -- shots like this one.

[tatepc]

You either with us.. or your with the terrorists

this logic is being rammed into our minds so often. its difficult to fight the brainwashing.

security or liberty? You decide.

[spruceman]

Foot in the Door

Next, we add anything one might think is terrorism, then "subversion." and then maybe anyone who wants to change the power structure status quo of the country even by peaceful means. --- and some day it might be a political party, or a train of thought, or a demographic group other than children that has to be reported. Sure, we want to protect children from predators; but we must also protect our Bill of Rights against predators as well.

[johnstar_advisor]

Investigate VA Senator James Webb (D) then

Remember, he's the guy that writes stories about kiddie porn.

[asi9]

WTF?

Does anyone find the fact that wifi providers will be watching all your files to make sure you have no "obscene" images or videos coming through... I'm pretty sure that requires them to look through everything in order to not be prosecuted, and that leaves the question of this being a total big brother problem and all internet access being watched and recorded.. Am I wrong?

[tatepc]

this allows any service provider a blank check...

to scan all your files and emails. including the coffee shop.

[inachu]

Catch 22

You have to view the sick images yourself to verify if they are bad or not and record the file names into the firewall and log them each time you see them.

But once you view them then you are just as guilty as the person whos intent was to get sexual gratification from those same pictures.

So building a power OS with lots of space n a router must be created.

This kind of reminds me of that saying.... Sins of the fathers. Meaning I will not be held guilty for a sin that someone else made.

Seems that the govt wants everyone to be guilty first while the wifi stealer laughs and walks away.

sounds a lot like a republican made this bill.

[gmschmitz]

...

Nice completely off-base partisan swipe. I apologize to all readers for dignifying it with a response.

[tatepc]

well every single democrat voted for it!!!!

and whats your point?

[abetterinternetplease]

Disaterous!

I agree, no one should have to view this sick distructive coruption.
But, read closly, it may sound like reps, but it stinks of dems!

[kenStech]

wittling away freedom, one law at a time

I have to wonder at what point the loathsome meddlers will feel we have enough "security." In fact, it might be helpful to ask them that very question so that we can know what their IDEAL image of a perfectly secure world might be.

That way we can force them to call their shots ahead of time, rather than come back year after year with yet another encroachment on our freedom in the name of the CHILDREN.

Kinda reminds me of the Soviet pursuit of the New Communist Man, whose ultimate end heralded some mythical New Dawn, but yet never seemed to materialize.

-Ken
www.kenStech.com

[tatepc]

only if they could invent a though chip

yea.. a brain chip that could detect your intentions and thoughts.

we could effectively jail 90% of the population that way....

then the 5% of everyone else could rule over the thought criminals, prisons, slave labor, torture, re-education (concentration) camps. the works!!!!

sci fi for everyone! (sarc.)

[gerardmclean]

15 minutes of jail time for everyone

With laws like this, being an American will not only entitle everyone in this country to 15 minutes
worth of fame, but also 15 minutes worth of jail time!

If the yah-yoos we keep electing to Congresss would spend less time with John Walsh and more time
in the average coffee shop, talking with average folk, stupid crap like this would never even see the
House floor, much less a vote. Like the old saying, it is better to be thought a fool than to open your
mouth and prove it. Every time the House or Senate has a vote, the stupid people keep raising their
hands. Ron Paul keeps looking more and more like the only smart, thinking guy in Congress!

Even if this gets put into law, who the hell has the money to actually enforce it? Oh, that's right. It will
be selectively applied where convenient.

[cybervigilante]

control the net

Well, I've always said the dems are getting more like the repugs every day. both want to nanny us into servility and control and destroy the Constitution. Good for Ron Paul, the only man in America who respects Freedom. I won't vote for anyone else, that's for sure.

It seems Everyone is hot to control the net every way they can. Corporations and government don't like the fact that you can get the truth here, which you can't get from the mainstream. Pornography is just a wedge. Then it's on to sedition and thought crimes.

[OmegaWolf747]

Ron Paul for President in 2008!

I'm certain he would definitely get rid of this damnable legislation if elected President. Death to Net censorship!

[tatepc]

This proposed law is dangerous

all your enemy needs is a one time anonymous email address, a sick picture and to target you as a welcome receiver of an email. call FBI.. and your screwed for life.

Security of Liberty? You decide.

[tatepc]

what? Theyre is NO LEARNING without MONITORING

puhleeese

[tatepc]

what? Theyre is NO LEARNING without MONITORING

ok ....There. ^

[alflanagan]

Re: Senator James Webb

Oh, for God's sake. Just because George Allen dredged up this "issue" in the waning days of a failing campaign, doesn't mean we have to fall for it. Webb wrote some scenes which were set in Vietnam, based on things he actually saw there. In books that were clearly intended for adults. Before you start repeating serious charges like that, make sure you know what you're talking about.

[tatepc]

US Judges are cowards for not defending the 4th amendment against the

patriot act.

we have given the govt a blank check to do whatever they please, whenever they please. this was sold as anti-terrorism measures, but now these special powers have crept into (mission creep) all areas of law and legislation. when will it end?

[tatepc]

correction

some.. not all.

[tatepc]

double correction

Obviously.. the Judges comment was posted out of anger, and a love for what our founding fathers established and many died for. Therefore,I must redact (retract) my comment a bit.

Its evident that many Judges do support the US Constitution as the supreme law of the land. However... they are are last hope to support and defend the people and to restore balance to our troubled nation.

Part of the problem is that often legislation is passed without so much as a single congress person reading the bill.

So.. in reality my heart and confidence goes out to Judges who do radically defend and support this great nation, with liberty and justice for all.

Please accept my apology to any one i may have offended with the "judge comment" post.

[chash360]

It will end when we march on Washington

When the next presidetial election does not come out the way they want, they will try to convince you it did, with their control of the media (just like the last one). Then we need to march on Washington, it is our constitution right and duty to do so. If that happens, expect martial law real quick. Then our corrupt gov will see the real Patriot Acts, when the people hold them accountable for their crimes against humanity, not just America!

[rickealm]

Unfortunate solution to the problem. Report EVERYTHING

I just read the text of the House bill and its obvious that they have not defined what should be reported. In the words of the bill, any material that might be considered objectionable or questionable must be reported or face a potential fine.

If you report the material you also enable the hold-harmless clause that protects you against lawsuits.

In my opinion they provided the solution to the problem. Simply report ALL images that cross you network no matter the source. Are you to be held liable if an image contains something which the government considers questionable, but you considered to be harmless.

This would cause such of flood of materials being reported that any method the government declared to be useless. It's a shame that due consideration was not given to this bill, but do not risk your reputation or property by attempting to be the moral compass for congress.

I intend to comply with the law, mind you there are 33 images on this web page I'm using to post this talkback and each and every one of them would be submitted for their proper moral evaluation.

Go ahead Congress, pass this trash !!!

[brentf777]

Disturbing, Dangerous Piece of Legislation

Where did this bill come from? It doesn't even go to committee, the Dems just put it out there and it passes nearly unanimously?! And only Ron Paul and Paul Brown had the guts to stand up against it. We already have laws that require the reporting of internet child porn by Internet companies. This law targets all Americans and makes YOU personally responsible for what anyone does with your connection. Even if you have a open network as an individual in your home and have no knowledge or ability to track usage by others you could be held liable for others actions! It would also expose every coffee house / wifi-enabled diner to liability when there is no practical way to monitor and keep track of every piece of info that flows over their network. The cost would be so high compliance would be impossible. This bill could potentially shut down public wifi everywhere since the potential liability would be too great for companies to justify. We need to ban together to stop this NOW! Call your senators, tell them how dangerous this bill is and urge them to shoot it down before its too late and your freedom is gone!!!

[tatepc]

there are a few million zobie bots in the world... you could be next

therefore

your box.. could have a root kit which allows an attacker to have control of your computer to transfer files, store files, and spam too.

there was a case reported on 20/20 of a 15 year old boy (similar age), who was reported to have images on his home pc. an internet security expert deemed his home computer was compromised by a hacker and pornographic (illegal kind)were stored there. the feds stormed his house. and now this teenager is listed as a sex offender. Yes the charges were reduced... but his life has been scarred forever. there was also a recent case that determined that you are not responsible for what is in your internet cache, becuase sometime images can be stored there that do not appear on the page. You can only convict for what is "stored" elsewhere on the hard drive if i remember correctly. this legislation will remove those safeguards.

your screwed. you will now be proven guilty ahead of innocent until proven guilty.

[saltzmaj]

When will this stop.

This scares the **** out of me:

Wednesday's vote caught Internet companies by surprise: the Democratic leadership rushed the SAFE Act to the floor under a procedure that's supposed to be reserved for noncontroversial legislation. It was introduced October 10, but has never received even one hearing or committee vote. In addition, the legislation approved this week has changed substantially since the earlier version and was not available for public review.

We do not have the option of reviewing legislation now if congress feel it necessary of us to do so? I?m really confused, I was under the impression that they worked for us. Now they?re actively pushing through bills without us having a discourse before hand. This is crap.

I?m a parent, father of a 15 year old, and the web is a scary place for me in that context. But, the genie?s out of the bottle. She?s been exposed to all sorts of heinousness via the web that I would have tried to shelter her from. And you know what, she not damaged, injured nor scarred from this. She has a different perspective on sexuality they I had. It?s been demystified and she being smart in how she?s approaching it. As opposed to reverential and fearful she being informed and accountable. I have to say I totally prefer this to the potential idiocy that this legislation is setting up.

We?re going to have right-wing Christian web cops seeking out content to take umbrage with. This will set up a fight similar to what we had with the Mapplethorpe controversy. Only this time it?s not the NEA that being compromised it?ll be our autonomy on the web as well as our already decimated rights to privacy. The interpretation of material is totally undefined and I?m concerned about that. Does this mean if I have a picture of my daughter in Goth makeup vamping it up could land me $300,000 in fines and possible jail time. Hell, she may post such a pick of herself on her MySpace account. Who?s actionable then? This is a poorly thought out with the same reactionary context that brought us the Patriot Act and Homeland Security Act.

The overall vote was similarly overwhelming as the post 9/11 referendums. I just wish there was debate of this bill with contemplation of why this is a bad idea. Some things just don?t change even with a change of the party in power.

[JaylieWoW]

Obviously I missed the Newsflash!

So am I to understand that there is some widespread exchange of child pornography between people seated at their local Starbucks while sipping a latte?

No point in repeating the obvious, since it has been stated so well above.

[abetterinternetplease]

Ron Paul Replaces Clinton as Porn Puppet!

The porn industry has a new friend in Ron Paul. They contribute, they endorse, they command, and he follows like a good doggy do. :)

[GuyInCT]

You mean Ron Paul is the only one

You mean Ron Paul is the only one who knows what the Constitution means anymore.

[mikewinva]

Simple fix

Simply as an ISP, stream all your incoming and outgoing data to the gov't site and state that it might contain illegal material. If a couple of hundred ISPs do this, they might get the message.

[JaylieWoW]

LOLZ!!

No THAT would certainly be what you could call legitimate "blowback" ;)

[grangerfx]

Legalized Kiddieporn

According to this act, you can keep as much kiddie porn on your computer as you want just as long as you register and upload copies to the government. Just leave your wireless router open. Is this really what they had in mind?