Government going way too far - check this..

[reiss]

found this report from http://www.stoppoliceware.org/
this is just rediculous..
go to link & sign the petition.


WHAT IS THE CBDTPA?


The CBDTPA is a bill (S. 2048) proposed in Congress by Senators Fritz Hollings (D-SC) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), along with Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI), John Breaux (D-LA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The acronym stands for "Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act". Note that the CBDTPA was originally known as the "SSSCA" while in draft form.

WHAT WOULD THIS LAW DO?


The law would force all new personal computers and digital home entertainment devices sold in the United States to have government-approved "policeware" built-in.

This policeware would restrict your use of copyrighted material on these devices -- including music files and CD's, video clips, DVD's, e-books, and more.


WHO COULD GO TO JAIL?


You, if you're one of the millions of Americans who uses your computers to burn music CD's, listen to MP3's, share video files, etc. You'd face up to five years in federal prison and a $500,000 fine.

Think you'd be able to get around the law by removing the policeware from your personal computer? Think again -- anyone who defies the government by disabling or tampering with the policeware on their own computer, in the privacy of their own home or business, would also face five years in the slammer.


Since alternative operating systems like Linux and FreeBSD would most likely refuse to incorporate government policeware into their code, users of these open-source systems would also be eligible for hard time.


HOW CAN WE FIGHT THIS?


If we have any hope of keeping government policeware off of our personal computers and home entertainment devices, we must act quickly and decisively.

For starters, you can sign our petition opposing the CBDTPA, contact your representative in Washington, tell a friend about this site, and put a banner on your own web site.


Also, if you're a constituent, feel free to contact the CBDTBA's sponsors in the Senate to let them know how you feel. Please be polite and well-reasoned.
- Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC) - (202) 224-6121
- Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) - (202) 224-3004
- Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) - (202) 224-3934
- Senator John Breaux (D-LA) - (202) 224-4623
- Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) - (202) 224-5274
- Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) - (202) 224-3841
- Capitol switchboard -- call YOUR Senator! - (202) 224-3121


Finally, the Senate Judiciary Committee has set up a page where you can share your thoughts: Click Here to Visit. PLEASE NOTE that it's more effective to contact your Senator directly -- if you post a comment to the above page, please be sure to make a printout and mail / fax it to your Senator.


Thanks for joining the fight.

[Urban_Squrill]

WTF thats is taking it way too far.

[Beemer]

Anyone see the movie, "The Monitors"?

Cheers!

[Gettinbye]

I thought this might be a joke so I did a google search and found this over-worded, badly reasoned, freedom-stifling piece of CRAP here:
http://www.politechbot.com/docs/cbdt...48.032102.html

My grandfather, my father, my uncles, my cousins, and I have not participated in the wars that our armed forces have encountered just to watch communism creep up on the american society by way of incrementalism under the guise of "doing what's best for the american people". Americans need LESS government interference in our lives, NOT MORE! If the media industry is afraid of theft of intellectual property, then let them figure out better methods of securing there intellectual property. We already have laws making piracy illegal. WHY DO WE NEED ANOTHER LAW ALLOWING SURVEILLANCE TO HANDLE THIS? Is piracy a problem in the USA? Sure it is. I don't agree with it, but I agree even less with letting Uncle Sam peruse my desktop! I HAVE signed the petition mentioned in the original post, and would encourage EVERYONE WHO READS THIS to do the same. I hope and pray that the day never comes when we can't FREELY discuss our thoughts, opinions, and ideas here at TechIMO due to fear of government retribution.
Thanks for the post reiss.

[Prison Kids]

Signed and forwarded....

[Bill in SD, CA]

A "cop" in my computer?

Can't wait for the day when I have "voices" in my head.

Bill

[elroy]

Why am I not surprised that Diane Feinstein is involved in this. FYI, she is one of the most outspoken gun control proponents in the senate BUT as mayor of San Francisco CA. she was the only private citizen in the county to be issued a permit to carry a handgun. The rest of my opinion can't be printed here.

[Mike]

Oh, and I was just getting used to the Patriot Act...

[reiss]

I've just seen a device on the news. you have to blow into a breathaliser to get your car to start!! to much booze & your car wont budge!!
may be mandatory in a few years.
you'll be followed around by hovering video cameras before you know it.

damn this country is f**ked up

[no1_vern]

Hey guys WHERE HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN!!!?

This was reported HERE way back in 2002 !! Please pay attention or we will all lose rights we never knew we had!

Go here if you dont believe me :

http://www.techimo.com/forum/search....der=descending

Especially check out Home built PCs illegal?