CIPSA (US Bill)

[redyoshi49q]

I'm on the mailing list for a website called Avazz, and I got this mass email just a few hours ago.  The email discusses a new bill going through Congress called the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), and calls for action against said bill; accordingly, the information in the mass mail is biased to that end, and does not present a counterargument.  Having said that, I felt this email was worth sharing here because the reservations against CISPA are highly similar to those against SOPA - exceptionally vague language that could potentially be interpreted to allow the widespread infringement of privacy and free speech rights over the Internet.

Dear friends,

Right now, the US Congress is sneaking in a new law that gives them big brother spy powers over the entire web -- and they're hoping the world won't notice. We helped stop their Net attack last time, let's do it again.

Over 100 Members of Congress are backing a bill (CISPA) that would give private companies and the US government the right to spy on any of us at any time for as long as they want without a warrant. This is the third time the US Congress has tried to attack our Internet freedom. But we helped beat SOPA, and PIPA -- and now we can beat this new Big Brother law.

Our global outcry has played a leading role in protecting the Internet from governments eager to monitor and control what we do online. Let's stand together once again -- and beat this law for good. Sign the petition then forward to everyone who uses the Internet:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_cispa/?vl

Under the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), if a cyber threat is even suspected, companies we use to access the Internet will have the right to collect information on our activities, share that with the government, refuse to notify us that we are being watched and then use a blanket immunity clause to protect themselves from being sued for violation of privacy or any other illegal action. It's a crazy destruction of the privacy we all rely on in our everyday emails, Skype chats, web searches and more.

But we know that the US Congress is afraid of the world's response. This is the third time they have tried to rebrand their attempt to attack our Internet freedom and push it through under the radar, each time changing the law's name and hoping citizens would be asleep at the wheel. Already, Internet rights groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have condemned the bill for its interference with basic privacy rights -- now it's time for us to speak out.

Sign the petition to Congress opposing CISPA. When we reach 250,000 signers our call will be delivered to each of the 100 US Representatives backing the bill:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_cispa/?vl

Internet freedom faces threats everyday from governments around the world -- but the US is best placed to attack the rights of Internet users because so much of the Net's infrastructure is located there. Our movement has, time and time again, proven that global public opinion can help beat back US threats to our Net. Let's do it again.

With hope,

Emma, Rewan, Ricken, Antonia, Lisa, Morgan, Mia, Pascal and the entire Avaaz team


More information

Move over SOPA & PIPA: Here comes CISPA — Internet censorship (Digital Journal)
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/322396

CISPA: Congressional plan to censor Internet concerns critics (Examiner)
http://www.examiner.com/progressive-in-portland/cispa-congressional-plan-to-censor-internet-concerns-critics

Good freedom, bad freedom: Irony of cybersecurity (RT)
http://rt.com/usa/news/usa-internet-cybersecurity-cispa-299/

Internet SOPA/PIPA Revolt: Don’t Declare Victory Yet (Wired)
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/01/internet-revolt-follow/

H.R. 3523: Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2011
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr3523

The email referenced EFF without linking the corresponding article; this is that article.  The bill's text is accessible through the last link in the email (or you can just view it here).

[Shim]

This is disgusting. That's all I can say.

[Mylo]

I think I already said this before, but they are going to pass a child of SOPA sometime (although this bill is of a much different vein).  It's not if...it's when.  And if you really think hard, you'll realize all the benefits attained in favour of the government for this particular type of law.  And its really sad, considering how the Internet is today. 

But honestly, the government is probably doing this already...they just need another law to either extend or legitimize their efforts.

[Storm Fox]

They keep trying to change the internet, and they keep trying to tie everything down…
It’s like we’re in a cold war with our own government.

[furtopia02]

But honestly, the government is probably doing this already...they just need another law to either extend or legitimize their efforts.

You can leave out the probably part. All I really need to say on the topic. You can't stop them from doing what they do.

[Mylo]

Well, the house passed it...and according to this article, they passed it a day before they were supposed to vote on it and with several amendments that make its scope of power much broader.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120426/14505718671/insanity-cispa-just-got-way-worse-then-passed-rushed-vote.shtml

Let's wait and see if the Senate follows suit.

[PsychotixxFoxx]

Are you guys aware of this one, as well? H. R. 1955

http://www.naturalnews.com/022308_free_speech_thought_crimes.html

The actual bill:
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc110/h1955_rfs.xml

[Hashira]

If anyone's going to spy around here it's me...

[Kobuk]

If anyone's going to spy around here it's me...

*watches Carter with binoculars*

O.O

[Ziel]

If anyone's going to spy around here it's me...

*watches Carter with binoculars*

O.O

Those are some large binoculars.

On topic: I agree that sometime some manner of law about this will get passed. But this isn't it still. The President already threatened to veto if it makes it to him.

But whatever does wind up passing will probably actually be worded fairly carefully, and will have to pass the scrutinizing eye of the Internet itself. Sure, there will always be your people who scream "don't touch my internets!", but I think that a bill that is drafted properly could actually get the backing of a good number of internet users. Or at least an indirect approval through the lack of widespread opposition for the bill online.

I'm not completely opposed to passing some sort of regulation. It is a national security issue after all. But it has to be done right, and nothing they have come up with yet has been 'right'.

[Avor]

Information is the most potent weapon in wat and life. for somebody to deny you information, is at heart, you enemy and wishs you to die or be dominated.

Governement are weak and feeble, epecialy the American government. They fear that "propaganda" that would inspire citizens to demand the needed changes, and the iformation of how to fight for that change in differnt and  important ways.