Lawmakers Call for an End to Internet Anonymity

[zsdersw]

Don't turn this into politics. The only real application of this law to politics is that whichever side takes power starts imprisoning people who post opposing views on the internet and that party takes control without any resistance.

This is BAD FOR BOTH SIDES.

dmcowen is quite obviously a liberal.. so the claim that this law will stop something from happening is laughable. It fits a common narrative for liberals and social conservatives alike: let's use government to try to stop an otherwise legal behavior that we find offensive. No matter which side tries it, it's laughable every time.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Who cares which side it is. If it isn't one it is the other that would have done it. This is a non party issue people, wake up. This is the kind of measure that leads to a Nazi type power rising to control the masses.

This is a philosophical issue and whether you like it or not. "The General Welfare" principle put into effect where we'll all be safer if we have government watching over us. This is the ideal Progressive state that some have in mind, whether they would admit to it or not. Give enough power away and this is the result.

Nevertheless it is wrong and the less authoritarian types aren't going to be happy. I'm not and in the process of giving someone hell.

 

[dmcowen674]

I'm in this armpit of a state and it IS the liberal philosophy here. The government is responsible for making things fair and right through its power. It's upholding the rights of the oppressed. We're just a little ahead of the curve.

I'm trying to find the idiots contact info. Yes I said idiot.

Real New Yorkers know what is right.

Surprised you are not in Texas.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I just fired this off to my state representative.

Dear Sir,
This is perhaps one of the most ill considered pieces of legislation to be put forward in this (or any other) state. The idea that calling someone an idiot is so horrible that sites must remove comments unless personally identifiable information is provided is bizarre and frankly unthinkable in terms of the First Amendment. I do not see that one has a right to be free from offense nor that one cannot offend unless one surrenders one's identity in the Bill of Rights. This is a ridiculous bill which frankly is leaving others aghast at the authoritarian attitudes of our legislature. The overused terms of "nanny state" and "thought police" may make eyes roll, but the very the thoughtlessness of someone like O'Mara who hasn't the wit to consider the legal and practical ramifications of something so foolish suggests that these phrases aren't inappropriate after all. Please pass this along and oppose such legislation at every opportunity. It offends me.

Thank you for your attention in this matter.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Real New Yorkers know what is right.

Surprised you are not in Texas.

Which is why the majority of people outside of NYC and the immediate area would be glad to see them and their puppets in Albany become the 51st state.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Oh Dave,
Good catch on this one although you posted in support which is pretty crappy.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally Posted by dmcowen674
Real New Yorkers know what is right.

Surprised you are not in Texas.

Which is why the majority of people outside of NYC and the immediate area would be glad to see them and their puppets in Albany become the 51st state.

Republicans wanted to make Chicago the 51st State and then they realized they would actually lose votes in Congress so decided against it.

 

[CPA]

I do not agree with the Republicans sponsoring this bill. But, it is New York, so their republican titles should be challenged.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Republicans wanted to make Chicago the 51st State and then they realized they would actually lose votes in Congress so decided against it.

The trade off would be worth it. The reality of politics here in NY is that NYC has a disproportional influence over the state politics. That leaves us subject to the inane thinking of trolls like O'mara who must be vetted to reach his level in our politics. Consequently we in other areas have laws which range from merely irrelevant to downright counterproductive and provide onerous regulations which are not needed outside of NYC (and probably not there either). The attitude of "we know best" pervades our state and know what? They aren't Republicans. As you know I have little love for political parties and this is one reason. Get enough control and anything is possible. That's the scary part.

 

[nehalem256]

I dont seem to recall the 1st Amendments right to Freedom of Speech/Press being contingent on making your name and address available.

 

[dmcowen674]

I dont seem to recall the 1st Amendments right to Freedom of Speech/Press being contingent on making your name and address available.

This is the information age, start recalling.

 

[LegendKiller]

This is the information age, start recalling.

You're the one stuck in the past. It's nobody's fault you lost your job, it's nobody's fault you lost your bar, it's nobody's fault you lost your boat and it's certainly nobody's fault that you go on here making every stupid prediction you can make in order to puff yourself up. You are *WRONG* every time or declare it after the facts are known or mere happenstance.

You set yourself up for ridicule, the same ridicule that can be anonymous if you sit on a street corner saying this stupid shit, screaming at people. It's your right to do that but it's our right to ridicule you for it. If that happens in real life, the people doing the jeering don't have to self identify to the troll. What happens if that's required now? Can any protestor going against another group, or the government, be required to identify themselves?

Just because people call you out on your bullshit doesn't mean you are right in your zeal to make an ass out of yourself. Further, you've already threatened this website with a subpoena to get user's identities, what happened to that?

Get over yourself, your aspirations for complete dominance of dissonant opinions are nothing more than delusions of grandeur.

 

[sactoking]

It will certainly affect every board in the U.S.

Is every message board in the United States owned by a New-York based website?

would make New York-based website owners delete

 

[xj0hnx]

You guys would be knocked off the Internets too

Only if I went shopping for vinegar without an ID.

 

[cybrsage]

OK....I hear that a lot....what is up with the vinegar and ID?

 

[woolfe9999]

That's rich. Silly, silly liberals... thinking that laws like this would succeed in stopping something.

Please do not equate McOwned with liberals in general. It's akin to equating Spidey with conservatives in general. Let's put this in terms you might understand. Suppose I were to find the stupidest homosexual in America and start equating that person's views with gays in general? Might you take exception to that?

 

[woolfe9999]

I'm in this armpit of a state and it IS the liberal philosophy here. The government is responsible for making things fair and right through its power. It's upholding the rights of the oppressed. We're just a little ahead of the curve.

I'm trying to find the idiots contact info. Yes I said idiot.

I think you may be confusing mainstream liberalism with the excesses of liberal philosophy. While I don't deny this this particular form of legislative stupidity is likely to come from a liberal, I tend to doubt this bill will pass in your state house. We'll see.

You might also review the history of attempts to censor the internet in general, particularly at the federal level, and note which party most of have come from. Each side has its own set of reasons to censor particular things. The real issue is how much support each idea gets within its respective party.

 

[xj0hnx]

OK....I hear that a lot....what is up with the vinegar and ID?

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2049456&highlight=balsamic

Classic McOwned

 

[dmcowen674]

You're the one stuck in the past. It's nobody's fault you lost your job, it's nobody's fault you lost your bar, it's nobody's fault you lost your boat and it's certainly nobody's fault that you go on here making every stupid prediction you can make in order to puff yourself up. You are *WRONG* every time or declare it after the facts are known or mere happenstance.

You set yourself up for ridicule, the same ridicule that can be anonymous if you sit on a street corner saying this stupid shit, screaming at people. It's your right to do that but it's our right to ridicule you for it. If that happens in real life, the people doing the jeering don't have to self identify to the troll. What happens if that's required now? Can any protestor going against another group, or the government, be required to identify themselves?

Just because people call you out on your bullshit doesn't mean you are right in your zeal to make an ass out of yourself. Further, you've already threatened this website with a subpoena to get user's identities, what happened to that?

Get over yourself, your aspirations for complete dominance of dissonant opinions are nothing more than delusions of grandeur.

What happened with that? Look at the thread title and article.

Lawmakers are obviously keenly aware of the problem with people like you and working on changing the situation.

Cowards are afraid they will lose their shield behind the monitor and in a panic as they should be.

In fact there is an FBI task force set up just to track people like you.

The gig is up.

5-24-2012

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/05...m_campaign=Feed:+Slashdot/slashdot+(Slashdot)

FBI Quietly Forms Secretive Net-Surveillance Unit



"CNET has learned that the FBI has formed a Domestic Communications Assistance Center, which is tasked with developing new electronic surveillance technologies, including intercepting Internet, wireless, and VoIP communications.

'The big question for me is why there isn't more transparency about what's going on?' asks Jennifer Lynch, a staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil liberties group in San Francisco. 'We should know more about the program and what the FBI is doing. Which carriers they're working with — which carriers they're having problems with. They're doing the best they can to avoid being transparent.'"

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I think you may be confusing mainstream liberalism with the excesses of liberal philosophy. While I don't deny this this particular form of legislative stupidity is likely to come from a liberal, I tend to doubt this bill will pass in your state house. We'll see.

You might also review the history of attempts to censor the internet in general, particularly at the federal level, and note which party most of have come from. Each side has its own set of reasons to censor particular things. The real issue is how much support each idea gets within its respective party.

This is particular to NY and it is their philosophical justifications being used. We still have to separate warfarin bottles out and cotton used to clean counting trays and get rid of it by very expensive hazmat rules. We don't care if it makes sense. Do it.

No, something like would most likely pass here first among any states I've been in. Other states may have their problems and the justifications, but this inane crew stands above any I know in feeling quite entitled to demand their citizens toe their line. I wouldn't bet against this passing. We do stupid.

 

[LegendKiller]

What happened with that? Look at the thread title and article.

Lawmakers are obviously keenly aware of the problem with people like you and working on changing the situation.

Cowards are afraid they will lose their shield behind the monitor and in a panic as they should be.

In fact there is an FBI task force set up just to track people like you.

The gig is up.

5-24-2012

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/05...m_campaign=Feed:+Slashdot/slashdot+(Slashdot)

FBI Quietly Forms Secretive Net-Surveillance Unit



"CNET has learned that the FBI has formed a Domestic Communications Assistance Center, which is tasked with developing new electronic surveillance technologies, including intercepting Internet, wireless, and VoIP communications.

'The big question for me is why there isn't more transparency about what's going on?' asks Jennifer Lynch, a staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil liberties group in San Francisco. 'We should know more about the program and what the FBI is doing. Which carriers they're working with — which carriers they're having problems with. They're doing the best they can to avoid being transparent.'"

No, lawmakers are doing what they are always wont to do, gain control. This is a pointless pursuit and probably won't withstand serious scrutiny by a higher court.

 

[dmcowen674]

No, lawmakers are doing what they are always wont to do, gain control. This is a pointless pursuit and probably won't withstand serious scrutiny by a higher court.

But the fact is they are aware of the problem people behind monitors.

 

[woolfe9999]

This is particular to NY and it is their philosophical justifications being used. We still have to separate warfarin bottles out and cotton used to clean counting trays and get rid of it by very expensive hazmat rules. We don't care if it makes sense. Do it.

No, something like would most likely pass here first among any states I've been in. Other states may have their problems and the justifications, but this inane crew stands above any I know in feeling quite entitled to demand their citizens toe their line. I wouldn't bet against this passing. We do stupid.

Well, in support of your position, I would mention that the NY was the first state to seriously attempt to ban electronic cigarettes, in spite of zero scientific evidence that they cause any harm, and in spite of the fact that millions of people have used them to quit smoking. However, the bill, which had passed your Assembly, seems to have subsequently died in committee. I think there they came close because e-cig users have no real lobby and hence they are an easy target.

With this, the various First Amendment groups like the ACLU and EFF are all over it with bad publicity. I'm betting it gets shot down and dies a quiet death in committee.

- wolf

 

[piasabird]

I might even go along with mandatory Identity licensing for E-Mail and posting. But this is because if someone sends threats or harasses you online there should be an easy way to identify people like that. However, this could be a way to control free speech on the Internet. Democrats are always coming out whith legislation to try to control free speech. They just do not believe in the constitution. Communists and facists always try to control what information the public has access to. This how you control the public. Free Speech is the cornerstone of civilization.

However, sometimes there is a need to control the identity of posters, due to Identity theft. There is also the danger that people might be assaulted robbed or murdered if their information was summarily released online just because someone disagrees with their opinoin. You dont want to freely give out peoples addresses to criminals.