The Downfall of the Free Internet Topic - SOPA back as CISPA

[Plan 2]

I read some things about these bills and I believe they would do a ton more damage instead of helping. I don't want the Internet to be censored by the government. I also believe businesses shouldn't have this type of power to censor our internet. The internet is our free speech. Censoring or limiting it is against the first amendment right of free speech. Not to mention the fact that it would destroy the parties that are creating it. I going to help to take these bills down. We are the people and our voices should be heard!

[CarThief]

so, i found something which sums up what the public feels about this whole situation:

(click to show/hide)

Pretty much.

You may take our rights slowly, one by one. You may take our money, more and more. You may put (some of) us to prison for no reason. But you will NEVER, EVER take away the things we enjoy. All these crimes are forgotten or forgiven as we live on and enjoy life, take away that enjoyment, however, and we will be forced to pursue vengeance.

I already do plenty of unusual things when utterly bored. It wouldnt be beyond me to join some rebellion and try to take down the government if they where the cause of this boredom.
Oh, those links i posted in the previous post, they are quite critical in (the mere attemp of) stopping ACTA. I suggest visiting those, if you havent.

Edit: Oh, found some online petition against ACTA as well, no idea if it will mean anything but whatever could happen wont be even half as bad as the results of ACTA. I doubt non-europeans can vote, however, but worth taking a look. Say... Is ACTA already accepted in the US?
https://www.accessnow.org/page/s/just-say-no-to-acta

[Gummywormz]

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/201202 ... aims.shtml

Dat U.K.

[CarThief]

Looks like we only reduced the damage that was able to happen. The power to remove websites may fortunately not be in the hands of many, many corporations, but it seems the Government is quite capable of it, though i guess that seems somewhat logical. Lets just hope they know how to use it... Though considering some of the people running for President... Ugh, this whackjob Santorum, really?

http://news.yahoo.com/us-govt-claims-se ... 04235.html

As for ACTA, nothing going on yet, people waiting for the moment to finish it off or it will end up beyond our reach. Seems Canada is having an bill of its own though its being pushed back quite fiercely.

https://www.accessnow.org/page/s/a-license-to-snoop

[Sora]

I love how morbidly depressing this thread is.  It really nails that "we're all doomed" feel you just can't find anywhere else~

[CarThief]

There are other places i suppose. Though it sure fits the theme of 2012, "the world is coming to an end!" or "the sky is falling!" stuff like that. Seems to be a stuck habit of people every half to full year from now on. Though things sure seem to be going downhill from here.

[CarThief]

Um, this seems somewhat important, so i hope doubleposting wont be minded in this case...

On a international scale, i think, the typically evil corporations are now trying to 'freeze' ACTA, so its free from harm and unchange untill it later unfreezes, in like 1-2 years, and then sneak it through the backdoor into current law, as all protests have ceased at that point, and most probably forgot.
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/dont-let ... reeze-acta
Bugging the ECJ about this to not investigate this is presumed the proper course of action, so they dont end up freezing ACTA to take a look at it. If not frozen, it will be subjected to the current votes and opinion of the EU and/or the people in general and will almost certainly fall.
Im not sure if its still going on though...

On a smaller scale, apparently Pakistan is recieving some fire, as its government is trying to recreate its own grand Firewall like China has...
http://content.bytesforall.pk/node/39
Fortunately there's a campaign going on against that: https://www.accessnow.org/page/s/20-million-silenced

[CarThief]

Considering the lenght of time... And how things are going, this small bump seems acceptable if you ask me.
The good news: ACTA is being voted on as planned, and hopefully rejected, which could take like a month or two till voting starts.

And the bad news... The UK is, if i recall correctly, now currently suffering from new laws quite litterally just crammed right in, that allows the government and police/etc capable of getting information from ISP's without a warrant and whatnot, perhaps even more...
And if i hear correctly they're also stepping up on illegal file sharing by having ISP's warning and removing people's connections if they assume they're doing so. Though all of these only apply to the UK.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17576745
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17270817

Sure hope our country things twice before allowing such draconian laws, or allowing entry for such laws...

[FCx]

I'm sorry if my post sounds "Off-Topic". On internet there's a (new) class of malware: The Metropolitan Police virus.

(click to show/hide)

.

This virus has the purpose of scare the PC user, by blocking Windows with a warning like the image above, and requesting paying a financial penalty.
Maybe this virus could be more popluar if the UK goverment approves that law.

So, be cafeful.

(click to show/hide)

Also There's a lot of variants depending of the country. Some examples:

American variant


Argentinian variant (I'd scare the ** out if I see this one)
("Argentine Republic". You suck at translating...

[CarThief]

Heh, that almost seems like a legit thing, save for the request of a payment, most likely online or perhaps via a bank, which just screams scam. If it was a real thing it would probaly be more covert, or warn the recieving person of a police visit, and in the latter all data could still be removed by more... forcefull means, aka good ol water, magnets, sledgehammers, or fire. Maybe all in a procedural treatment in one go. :P

I guess UK is going to fall on hard times, though i heard the country already had something against videogames, or atleast its politicians certainly did. Damn politicians messing with things they dont know squat about.

[n30n]

oh look, i found something interesting to report:

http://www.drudge.com/news/155312/sopa- ... name-cispa

[CarThief]

Sheesh they just dont give up do they... Cant those old damn greedy bastards understand the Internet is fine as is? I wish they would get a heart attack already so we can live in peace...

I suppose dont forget ACTA is still in the race as well, currently awaiting the day it will be voted on.

[brotoad]

The main problem is the general publics lack of doing anything against it.
signing an online petition or liking a page on facebook? it won't do anything.

I think if one of these things got through, people would realise how bad things really are and actually do something about it instead of nothing at all.

[CarThief]

Best thing one could do is mail or call their representative on such matters and request them to take a better look at the matter. Thats all we can do, and spread the word. All else is left purely to those with massive quantities of money or a high government position...

So yeah, all we can do is complain untill they get tired of it and cancel/remove it, technically... Hm, even if we manage to convince the government, it will only be temporarely as the Entertainment Industry (most likely, or some other big company or companies who want pure power) will shower the government people with money to start the cycle anew.

And almost anything, even online petitions, should work in large enough quantities, as long as it gets their attention.

[CarThief]

Well ACTA seems down for the count for now, atleast for Europeans. Though im unsure if its the same for people in the US, they say its signed in there but will it actually come to effect without Europe i wonder...
http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2012/0 ... _news_blog

No clue how CISPA is going right now, just hope it hasnt or will not get into law quickly and silently like politcians and companies like to do in a sneaky fashion.

Ah well, if they both fail, i wonder whats the next one or two bills to assault the freedom of the Internet, as it just wont stop coming it seems...