I'm sure that by now you've heard of the Internet censorship bill that was attempted to be fast-tracked through the US Senate. This bill, titled "Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act", grants broad discretionary powers to the US Department of Justice and, specifically, the US Attorney General, to censor Internet sites that fall under the auspices of piracy and infringement. The growing concern is that this censorship would not be limited solely to cases of infringement.
Thankfully the vote on this bill was delayed until after the November elections but it's still pending on the Judiciary Committee docket. No matter what one may think of infringement it must be argued that censorship, in any form, is wrong. I prefer not to preach the merits of becoming involved in the fight against this bill, but I would like to take a moment and ask you to glance at the mail I've forwarded below and perhaps review the EFF page at: https://www.eff.org/issues/coica-internet-censorship-and-copyright-bill Thanks :) John ----- Forwarded message from "Aaron Swartz, DemandProgress.org" <i...@demandprogress.org> ----- > Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:08:17 +0000 > From: "Aaron Swartz, DemandProgress.org" <i...@demandprogress.org> > To: "John Dennison" <jrd-demandprogr...@gerdesas.com> > Subject: Re: Internet blacklist > > John -- thanks again for signing our > petition opposing the Internet blacklist. We just broke 210,000 signatures > and we want to hit 250,000 before we start delivering them to Senate > candidates next week. It's crucial we get them on the record before the > election and every new signer shows that real voters care about this. > > Can you [1]click here to share it on Facebook and then forward the email > below to your friends? > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > Hey -- have you heard about this new Internet blacklist bill? It would > allow the Attorney General to censor entire websites in the United States > -- even if the site hasn't been convicted of any crime! > > President Obama has been denouncing countries like China and Iran for > censoring the Internet -- but now the U.S. Senate is about to do the same > thing here at home. And they're trying to rush the bill through right > after the election without having any debate. > > [2]Can you take a second to sign a petition opposing this bill? Click > here. > > Already over 200,000 people have signed and they're trying to hit 250,000 > before they start delivering petitions at the end of this week. Adding > your name could make a real difference. > > Please forward this email far and wide -- people need to hear about this > bill. > > Thanks! > > > > > > References > > Visible links > 1. http://act.demandprogress.org/go/3?akid=8.181544.a-UCAD&t=1 > 2. http://act.demandprogress.org/go/4?akid=8.181544.a-UCAD&t=2 > > Paid for by Demand Progress ([1]DemandProgress.org) and not authorized by any > candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions are not deductible as > charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. > > -- > You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time: > http://act.demandprogress.org/cms/unsubscribe/unsubscribe/?akid=8.181544.a-UCAD&t=1 > > > References > > Visible links > 1. http://demandprogress.org/ > ----- End forwarded message ----- -- Like the wind crying endlessly through the universe, Time carries away the names and the deeds of conquerors and commoners alike. And all that we are, all that remains, is in the memories of those who cared we came this way for a brief moment. -- Harlan Ellison (27 May 1934-), American author and media critic, Paladin of the Lost Hour (1985)
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