I know this is old news, but it got overshadowed so I'm mentioning it again. The US government is proposing to pass the Security Systems Standards and Certification Act (SSSCA). Basically what this does is it forces all personal computers sold in the US to have government-approved policeware installed. Removing this policeware would be a $500,000 fine and up to five years in prison. Among other things the policeware would monitor your computer for “illegal” uses, like listening to mp3 files or using pirate software. In addition, it would immediately ban operating systems like Linux that refuse to be packaged with this policeware.
Even if you're OK with being constantly monitored in your own home by the government, you must realize that this will have a devestating effect on the US software industry — do you really think the international community will be willing to buy any more US computers or operating systems when the US has already admitted to using systems like Echelon to spy on European companies and pass that on to US companies to give them an advantage?
If this is an issue that concerns you, click here or click here.
Any day reading the news nowadays is a terrifying event. Even “minor” issues are being skewed to give the government enormous power to suspend the citizens' rights. For example the FTC is backing down on ensuring consumer privacy online, and even copyright laws (which the SSSCA is a part of) are being worded in truly draconian ways…
That's not all though, don't forget that the vote on the Anti-Terrorist Act is pending… If that passes, you can see goodbye to America as a “free” country.
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