Even Without COICA, White House Asking Registrars To Voluntarily Censor 'Infringing' Sites

Even Without COICA, White House Asking Registrars To Voluntarily Censor 'Infringing' Sites

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While there's been increasing attention paid to the "Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act" (COICA), the proposed law that would allow the government to require ISPs and registrars to block access to websites deemed to be "dedicated to infringing activities," it looks like the White House (which we had thought was against censoring the internet) appears to be working on a backup plan in case COICA doesn't pass.

(visit the link for the full news article)

This appears to be a recent trend by the US government to take control of the internet or at least try to get some control of by any means it can. First they want to be able to have access to your email and other information that you transmit electronically now they're blocking websites they don't want you to access.

At the moment the plan appears to be to block websites that sell pharmaceutical drugs (god forbid big pharma makes less money). But we all know how powers get abused, first it's these drug sites, next it's anything that so much as talks negatively about the government.

I sincerely hope this doesn't pass, this is worse than Cleanfeed or whatever they called the attempt at censorship in Australia.

www.techdirt.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I agree with you wholeheartedly.

These kinds of measure are generally out of proportion because they are not intended to protect citizens but corporations.... who seem to believe that because they convinced the BAR to support their bid for citizenship the actual real live citizens ... you know .. people who are born living and actually die... are going to accept that they are citizens just like them.

The attempt to protect property rights - even intellectual property rights - is intended - and has always been intended - to protect TRADE - not people. This SEWER act is one such example of a law which protects profit over freedom of expression, innovation, and community.... all because robber barons refuse to expend the funds to adapt their business models to reality. Instead they want to legislate the profitable status quo into dogma.

/rant off