House Bill Could Criminalize Free Wi-Fi Operators

[[AK]Sonic Boom]

Gotta love those politicians (and the ridiculous acronyms they come up with), especially the ones who pass legislation without reading it first.

From Slashdot:

"Velcroman98 sends word of a bill that passed the US House of Representatives by a lopsided vote of 409 to 2. It would require everyone who runs an open Wi-Fi connection to report illegal images, including "obscene" cartoons and drawings, or be fined up to $300,000. The Securing Adolescents From Exploitation-Online (SAFE) Act was rushed through the House without any hearings or committee votes, and the version that passed on a voice vote reportedly differs substantially from the last publicly available version. CNET reports that sentiment in favor of such a bill is strong in the Senate as well."

[[AK]Bribo]

Sad thing is that the majority of these guys probably have never even used a PC before. They are just voting the way their big $$$ donors (ie. Telcos, cable companies) want them to vote all in the name of "protecting our youth."

[[AK]Palooka]

Oh, I see. It's for the children. That means it's guaranteed to become law.

Someday, Congress will run out of ideas for new ways to increase the absurd over-regulation of the people of this supposed free country. Right? Nah. I love it when they're on vacation (they just got back from their two-week Thanksgiving vacation); I just wish they'd make it permanent.

[[AK]Mydrial]

The real question is who's version of "obscene" will they be using as the guideline. Ive seen some folks totally upset by the lamest stuff....others think its hilarious to watch baby seals get clubbed. (not me of course) I remember watching disgustedly as Clinton showed how that "definition" game worked.

There are many free W-iFi hotspots that I frequently use throughout the day, whether it be a McDonald's, the library, or a Starbucks.....so if get an email joke with a questionable image, or get slammed to a porn site that loads on my comp......they are going to report this to the Govt?!?! Is anyone really gonna buy that this is for the children??

Geesh!!!

[[AK]Ozzred]

It sounds to me as though this would be one of those "Look what I did" sorta campaign things. As Myd said, who's defining Obscene? I'm sure theres a huge difference between what someone from the NE corridor could find obscene with someone from say the mid-west.

Aside from that, they would need to also define what constitutes a free hotspot? If I don't lock down my wireless modem and my neighbor's using it without my knowledge, am I responsible?

It would be next to impossible to actually regulate this and seems it would only actually be applied in the case of prospecting someone for another crime. Kind of like who they can fine you ump tine ways for speeding or blowing a stop sign.

As far as "Free" and "Freedom", I think Janis Joplin's cover of Me and Bobby Magee puts it in a neat perspective: "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." (wee bit off topic I know)

Cheers and Happy surfing.

[[AK]Mydrial]

Osred, apparently under that legislation you would be exposing yourself to $300,000 dollars worth of fines for not reporting him if he surfs porn over your wireless connection!!

Maybe that explains why the cable companies spend millions of dollars to create and deploy software to spy on thier customers. They can say the goverment made them do it.....its all so clear now

Hmmm......sounds like a good way to get rid of a neighbor or two that I dont really like. Muhaha

[[AK]Squidly]

"As clarified in an Ars writeup, this summary is a bit off-base. The bill doesn't require WiFi owners to police anything, merely 'stiffening the penalties' for those who make no effort to report obvious child pornography."

[[AK]Clay]

"As clarified in an Ars writeup, this summary is a bit off-base. The bill doesn't require WiFi owners to police anything, merely 'stiffening the penalties' for those who make no effort to report obvious child pornography."

I was unaware that WiFi was the gateway to child exploitation. Good thing we haven't had it until recently then.