From the start of the new millenium there has been more and more push by the big media companies to legislate, implement, and enforce stricter and more consumer unfriendly copyright protections. From the RIAA suing for $150,000 per song to the French government passing a three-allegations and you're off the Internet policy to End User License Agreements to sign away your soul, it's the removal of any and all consumer rights.
So, at least then it can't get any worse, right? Well, in Canada thusfar we have avoided disastrous copyright reform such as the United State's DMCA, but there is strong lobbying for it. But hey, however poorly they're doing it, they are just stopping illegitimate downloads, aren't they?
Well strap in, because you are about to find out that these guys aren't just bastards, they're downright evil.
The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act is proposed legislation that includes strict prevention of applications to secretly steal or monitor user information, and must be installed with expressed user intent for the purpose the program purports to provide -- it outlaws spyware.
Well, as being reported by noted copyright blogger Michael Geist, Big Media wants an exemption. This includes ISPs being exempt, and broadening the definition of ISPs services to the following:
It's absurd. Is it so much to ask that our politicians not be bribed? That our ISPs don't interefere with our browsing? That we have a right to property and privacy? That people be human?
And in case you're keeping score, this one was tabled by the Liberals. At least I can feel reassured again that I voted for the NDP.
So, at least then it can't get any worse, right? Well, in Canada thusfar we have avoided disastrous copyright reform such as the United State's DMCA, but there is strong lobbying for it. But hey, however poorly they're doing it, they are just stopping illegitimate downloads, aren't they?
Well strap in, because you are about to find out that these guys aren't just bastards, they're downright evil.
The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act is proposed legislation that includes strict prevention of applications to secretly steal or monitor user information, and must be installed with expressed user intent for the purpose the program purports to provide -- it outlaws spyware.
Well, as being reported by noted copyright blogger Michael Geist, Big Media wants an exemption. This includes ISPs being exempt, and broadening the definition of ISPs services to the following:
"providing computer security, user account management, routing and transmission of messages, diagnostics, technical support, repair, network management, network maintenance, authorized updates of software or system firmware, authorized remote system management, and detection or prevention of the unauthorized, fraudulent or illegal use of a network, service, or computer software, including scanning for and removing computer programs"
It's absurd. Is it so much to ask that our politicians not be bribed? That our ISPs don't interefere with our browsing? That we have a right to property and privacy? That people be human?
And in case you're keeping score, this one was tabled by the Liberals. At least I can feel reassured again that I voted for the NDP.
Recently Spotted:
*crickets*
"Is it so much to ask that our politicians not be bribed?"
For starters, why is it just accepted as an ordinary part of government that we have groups called lobbyists that spend millions of dollars per year persuading the government towards a single cause? At least in Canada it isn't as bad as in the US, where companies can actually write off lobbying as a legitimate business expense.
I can feel reassured that I didn't vote at all last time around, because inevitably whomever I voted for would fuck something up. If I bother to vote in the future, it will probably be a spite vote for independent or some other that has no chance of winning, just to give the government a proverbial poke.
"providing computer security, user account management, routing and transmission of messages, diagnostics, technical support, repair, network management, network maintenance, authorized updates of software or system firmware, authorized remote system management, and detection or prevention of the unauthorized, fraudulent or illegal use of a network, service, or computer software, including scanning for and removing computer programs"
Hey, I do all of that for my own computer. I guess I'm an ISP.