Yes, some lawmakers want to make it a felony to stream videos that you don't own the copyright for. Supporters of the bill insist that's not what will be targeted with this bill, but there's nothing in the bill explicitly stating as such.

 

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110601/01515014500/senators-want-to-put-people-jail-embedding-youtube-videos.shtml

 

The original article:

 

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/05/new-bill-upgrades-unauthorized-internet-streaming-to-a-felony.ars

 

Senators Amy Klobuchar (Democrat) and John Cornyn (Republican) introduced the bill.

 

Discuss.

This is almost as stupid as the novelty lighter law.

 

Do law makers and politicians really have nothing better to do ??

 

...What's next? Invent a law that you cant smoke outdoors in NYC? ... oh wait.

wow...

 

yeah i don't understand where they get these ideas. i think it is just another method of allowing the government to monitor individuals for whatever reason they want.

It's the vague laws that are the most easily abused...

I keep seeing laws like this, mostly because the technological industry is starting to really become commercialized (at the mainstream level). Its a classic move by politicians to get in these stupid laws in now before the whole thing really gets big (as big as it is now, technology/social media/etc is going to get bigger). Interestingly, it seems like this is one field that I don't know if governments could truly get a choke hold on. We have seen how hackers, amateurs to the professionals, have brought big names to their knees... and while many are professional hackers who are state-backed, many are also just "lowly denizens" of the global population.

 

What I find more scary, and relating to the bit about hackers, is that the United States will start considering network security breaches (hacking) possible acts of war. While I do agree that its a natural progression, what kind of doors does that open?

 

What I find more scary, and relating to the bit about hackers, is that the United States will start considering network security breaches (hacking) possible acts of war. While I do agree that its a natural progression, what kind of doors does that open?

 

Acts of war or acts of terrorism? Well, semantics I guess, but you are right, which is why the US Air Force already has a cyber command and the Air Force mission includes air, space, and cyberspace.

Acts of war or acts of terrorism? Well, semantics I guess, but you are right, which is why the US Air Force already has a cyber command and the Air Force mission includes air, space, and cyberspace.

 

Acts of war: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/31/washington-moves-to-classify-cyber-attacks

Fox News had an article about it, but I can't seem to find it. If you Google "US will consider hacking an act of war", there is quite a buzz on the interwebz.

As for the new cyber commands, yea, its not just the AF these days (though they had their foot in the door first). My old command had the first Army personnel trained for it, and now with the new command, they have really broadened their capabilities (and budget ).