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When I look at laws like E-PARASITE that are aimed at "taming" the internet (whatever that means), I do not see a big lumbering government trying to gain contro

by mvanga 15y ago

When I look at laws like E-PARASITE that are aimed at "taming" the internet (whatever that means), I do not see a big lumbering government trying to gain control over the internet. What I see are big lumbering corporations trying to keep the money flowing without having to work to keep up with the rapid pace of technology. From the Wikipedia entry on SOPA/E-PARASITE: Rogue sites legislation receives broad support from organizations that rely on copyright, including the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America, Macmillan Publishers, Netflix, Viacom, and various other companies and unions in the cable, movie, and music industries. Supporters also include trademark-dependent companies such as Nike, L'Oréal, and Acushnet Company. I can't imagine what the landscape of the internet will look like in a decade, but it's worrisome that the next generation will grow up in a world that would make even Orwell roll in his grave.

hammock 15y ago
You are also right. One and the same. Those organizations intend to use the muscle of the government to entrench a specific self-serving model. Without a large and powerful government, it would not be possible for such an agenda to succeed.
- r00fus 15y ago
  > Without a large and powerful government, it would not be possible for such an agenda to succeed. s/large and powerful/corrupt/ The problem is not that our government is large (that is a tangential issue). It's that government is now fully captured and co-opted by the wealthy interests (often large corporations). Devolution of power into state and local governments is not going to meaningfully help either... often time these entities are much easier to bribe, to bend the law in the favor of the corrupt. The issue is the concept that "money == speech"; to consider it thus is inherently crooked unless everyone has the same starting point or opportunities.
- Avshalom 15y ago
  With out a large and powerful government it's dealing with a small number of huge Telcos. Harder, but certainly possible.
  - JoshTriplett 15y ago
    Geeks are a lot smarter than telcos; we'd win that battle easily. Geeks are a lot smarter than government, too, but they have big sticks to hit with; that battle requires a bit more care.
    - ericd 15y ago
      We're not nearly as organized as either, though - that would need to change first.
      - waqf 15y ago
        Any group that is as big as government and as organized would be already on government's radar as a major threat. So you might want to work on your robustness before working too hard on your organization.
        ericd 15y ago
        Fair. No one said it had to be the same size, though :-)
    - icebraining 15y ago
      Without a big government, big companies in general would have (or hire) their own sticks.
      - JoshTriplett 15y ago
        That's the "no government" case, not the "without a big government" case.

by mvanga 15y ago

hammock 15y ago

You are also right. One and the same. Those organizations intend to use the muscle of the government to entrench a specific self-serving model. Without a large and powerful government, it would not be possible for such an agenda to succeed.

r00fus 15y ago
> Without a large and powerful government, it would not be possible for such an agenda to succeed. s/large and powerful/corrupt/ The problem is not that our government is large (that is a tangential issue). It's that government is now fully captured and co-opted by the wealthy interests (often large corporations). Devolution of power into state and local governments is not going to meaningfully help either... often time these entities are much easier to bribe, to bend the law in the favor of the corrupt. The issue is the concept that "money == speech"; to consider it thus is inherently crooked unless everyone has the same starting point or opportunities.
Avshalom 15y ago
With out a large and powerful government it's dealing with a small number of huge Telcos. Harder, but certainly possible.
- JoshTriplett 15y ago
  Geeks are a lot smarter than telcos; we'd win that battle easily. Geeks are a lot smarter than government, too, but they have big sticks to hit with; that battle requires a bit more care.
  - ericd 15y ago
    We're not nearly as organized as either, though - that would need to change first.
    - waqf 15y ago
      Any group that is as big as government and as organized would be already on government's radar as a major threat. So you might want to work on your robustness before working too hard on your organization.
      - ericd 15y ago
        Fair. No one said it had to be the same size, though :-)
  - icebraining 15y ago
    Without a big government, big companies in general would have (or hire) their own sticks.
    - JoshTriplett 15y ago
      That's the "no government" case, not the "without a big government" case.