NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Heads-Up: New York State "Digital Impersonation Act"
Heads-Up: New York State "Digital Impersonation Act"
http://j.mp/ja8gGb (This message in Google Buzz)
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New York State is apparently poised to pass a law banning "digital impersonation,"
which is being publicly championed by author/filmmaker Peter Thomas Senses (out
of concern for "child abduction" issues):
http://j.mp/l6hQVr (Chasing the Cyclone)
Outside of the fact that state-by-state laws addressing Internet-related
concerns are likely to create increased confusion, the explicit condemnation
of anonymity in general terms that appears to be associated with this
legislation and its proponents is very troublesome, e.g.:
"Anonymity is a criminal's best friend-and it's one of the defining
features of the Internet," said Assembly Member Kellner. "New Yorkers
deserve stronger protections so we can bring these nefarious
individuals out of the shadows and hold them accountable for their
actions."
Actually impersonating another person to harm them is one thing. But
broad anti-anonymity demagoguery is never justified and should always
be viewed with considerable suspicion.
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Google Buzz: http://j.mp/laurenbuzz
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com