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Amiga News and Community Announcements => Amiga News and Community Announcements => General Internet News => Topic started by: amigamad on March 31, 2003, 04:48:03 PM

Title: Use a firewall, go to jail
Post by: amigamad on March 31, 2003, 04:48:03 PM

The (DMCA) Digital Millennium Copyright Act clearly isn't enough for some people. Massachusetts and Texas are - in curious formation - considering bills that will extend it to make firewalls (among other things) illegal.  read full story on the register link here   the register  (http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/30003.html)

Title: Re: Use a firewall, go to jail
Post by: KennyR on March 31, 2003, 06:54:31 PM

Wasn't I hearing earlier that the Democrats take bites out of civil liberties? Seems the god-fearing Republican boys can do it too. And how.

Title: Re: Use a firewall, go to jail
Post by: Warface on March 31, 2003, 07:14:54 PM

Nothing's beyond human stupidity...

Title: Re: Use a firewall, go to jail
Post by: N7VQM on March 31, 2003, 09:30:10 PM

What the article fails to mention is that in order to be in violation, the concealment has to be done with intent to defraud.  So, just using a firewall to protect your network with no intention (or act) to defraud is not going to get you sent to jail.

Title: Re: Use a firewall, go to jail
Post by: AmiGod on March 31, 2003, 09:51:09 PM

N7VQM,

Unfortunately, most people coming up (and passing) new laws don't know a fraction of what your average computer geek knows about computers.  So they could just as easily claim you have something to hide just because you're using a firewall.

I wonder if the next thing they'll do is force people to be connected to the internet at all times, because if you turn off your computer, or disconnect from the internet, "you could be hiding something". :-P

AmiGod

Title: Re: Use a firewall, go to jail
Post by: N7VQM on April 01, 2003, 04:45:31 AM

Quote

So they could just as easily claim you have something to hide just because you're using a firewall.

Personally, I think that's abit far fetched.  Law enforcement and judges aren't stupid and the wording of the bills isn't ambiguous on the point.  However, if the issue were to be pressed, firewalls would soon be specifically exempted.

Title: Re: Use a firewall, go to jail
Post by: ikir on April 01, 2003, 12:36:06 PM

WHAT????? :-?  :-?  :-?

Title: Re: Use a firewall, go to jail
Post by: DanDude on April 01, 2003, 05:33:47 PM

Son, don't touch my oil cans--Son, I said, Son!  Don't touch my oil cans or I'll expose your nakid pictures you have on your lil ol' 'puter no matter what!!

Bwaahahahahahahaaaa.....

God, and I thought spelling "potatoe" was wrong!   :-D