Child pornography is horrible, vile, and despicable; I hope we're all in agreement there. People have been fighting against it for some time, and it is a cause I'm sympathetic to.
Well, it seems that a new bill has been brought before the House targeting child pornography , and its authors were just a tad bit overzealous...
...Yikes.
(As with SOPA and PIPA, I think it is worth mentioning a few things. 1) The entire House, nor the rest of the American government, does not automatically condone this bill. 2) The bill, while making it past committee, has not been brought before the House yet. It may take some time, or it may not happen at all.)
Honestly, I'm sympathetic to the authors of this bill; I really am. Call me an optimist, but I don't see any real malice behind this bill. I think some well intentioned Representatives, seeking a way to combat a horrible and violating crime, tried to create a bill that would put a stop to it once and for all. Not really understanding the internet or what the terms of the bill would mean, they overreached. Before anybody starts raging that the government is trying to spy on us, 1984 style, it's important to remember that the road to hell is often paved with the best of intentions.
I don't expect that this bill, in this day and age, will be signed into law (let alone survive the House). Still, the blackout on Wednesday was a powerful show of the impact that the internet can have on the legislative process. If you oppose the provisions of this bill, channel that rage positively and contact your local representative (If you live in the US, of course).
If Wednesday was the first step towards establishing the influence of the internet (and the people who use and understand it), this could be the proof that the Blackout was not an isolated incident.
Then again, it might not be all bad. After all, I would finally have an excuse to play this all day. Freedom or Bowie? Huh... tough call.
Well, it seems that a new bill has been brought before the House targeting child pornography , and its authors were just a tad bit overzealous...
Source: The Atlantic
...Yikes.
(As with SOPA and PIPA, I think it is worth mentioning a few things. 1) The entire House, nor the rest of the American government, does not automatically condone this bill. 2) The bill, while making it past committee, has not been brought before the House yet. It may take some time, or it may not happen at all.)
Honestly, I'm sympathetic to the authors of this bill; I really am. Call me an optimist, but I don't see any real malice behind this bill. I think some well intentioned Representatives, seeking a way to combat a horrible and violating crime, tried to create a bill that would put a stop to it once and for all. Not really understanding the internet or what the terms of the bill would mean, they overreached. Before anybody starts raging that the government is trying to spy on us, 1984 style, it's important to remember that the road to hell is often paved with the best of intentions.
I don't expect that this bill, in this day and age, will be signed into law (let alone survive the House). Still, the blackout on Wednesday was a powerful show of the impact that the internet can have on the legislative process. If you oppose the provisions of this bill, channel that rage positively and contact your local representative (If you live in the US, of course).
If Wednesday was the first step towards establishing the influence of the internet (and the people who use and understand it), this could be the proof that the Blackout was not an isolated incident.
Then again, it might not be all bad. After all, I would finally have an excuse to play this all day. Freedom or Bowie? Huh... tough call.
I was gonna say that. lol
