9-21-2003 'Trusted computers' are a wolf in sheep's clothing
What would such a "platform" do? Oh, not much. It would make it impossible for your computer to use any hardware or software that's not approved by the Trusted Computing Group. It would prevent you from using your computer for any purpose that the group hasn't approved of, and would notify them (or the government) if you attempt to do otherwise. And it would be impossible for you (the consumer) to remove, decrypt or disable (just like the lavatory smoke detectors on airplanes).
The presence of a Trusted Platform Module would make your computer a captive of the Trusted Computer Group, which would -- by force of law, if it has its way -- ensure that you use it only for purposes of its liking. It would place the computer not under your control, but under the control of the group, which is controlled by large corporations through direct membership, or through other arrangements.
Think of the possibilities. Disney could have an arrangement that the "trusted" computer would not play any of its DVDs unless a fee had been paid. The music industry could work out an arrangement so the "trusted" computer would only play music CDs a certain number of times, or only at certain times, unless additional fees were paid. According to one group that opposes the trusted computing platform group, with this mechanism in place, you'd only be able to rent software, not buy it, and once your "rent" is up, and unless you pay more "rent," the software you've downloaded would stop working and possibly even erase the files you already created.
Don't stop there. Think of additional "freedoms" made possible by the beneficence of the group, if it gets its way. Remote censorship would be possible. Documents could be remotely erased if they fall into a category deemed by the group to be offensive, inappropriate, politically incorrect, or whatever.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Between the DMCA and this, the Digital Information Age at least in the U.S. will be over and done. Way To Go U.S.A.
What would such a "platform" do? Oh, not much. It would make it impossible for your computer to use any hardware or software that's not approved by the Trusted Computing Group. It would prevent you from using your computer for any purpose that the group hasn't approved of, and would notify them (or the government) if you attempt to do otherwise. And it would be impossible for you (the consumer) to remove, decrypt or disable (just like the lavatory smoke detectors on airplanes).
The presence of a Trusted Platform Module would make your computer a captive of the Trusted Computer Group, which would -- by force of law, if it has its way -- ensure that you use it only for purposes of its liking. It would place the computer not under your control, but under the control of the group, which is controlled by large corporations through direct membership, or through other arrangements.
Think of the possibilities. Disney could have an arrangement that the "trusted" computer would not play any of its DVDs unless a fee had been paid. The music industry could work out an arrangement so the "trusted" computer would only play music CDs a certain number of times, or only at certain times, unless additional fees were paid. According to one group that opposes the trusted computing platform group, with this mechanism in place, you'd only be able to rent software, not buy it, and once your "rent" is up, and unless you pay more "rent," the software you've downloaded would stop working and possibly even erase the files you already created.
Don't stop there. Think of additional "freedoms" made possible by the beneficence of the group, if it gets its way. Remote censorship would be possible. Documents could be remotely erased if they fall into a category deemed by the group to be offensive, inappropriate, politically incorrect, or whatever.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Between the DMCA and this, the Digital Information Age at least in the U.S. will be over and done. Way To Go U.S.A.
Facebook
Twitter