Sen. Hollings plans to introduce DMCA sequel: The SSSCA

[Arnold G. Reinhold]

At 9:27 PM -0400 9/8/2001, Jay Sulzberger wrote:
>On Sat, 8 Sep 2001, Harald Koch wrote:
>
>> >     It would be a civil offense to create or sell any kind of
>> >     computer equipment that "does not include and utilize certified
>> >     security technologies" approved by the federal government.
>>
>> Doesn't this allow the government to (finally?) control *domestic*
>> encryption technology also? Ominous...
>>
>> --
>> Harald Koch     <chk at pobox.com>
>
>The Hollings bill simply outlaws private ownership of home computers. It
>requires the Ministry of Infotainment to have permanent irremovable root
>privileges on every personal computer.  The Ministry is required to run a
>complete log of every read and write to the hard disk and of all
>connections to the Net.
>
>oo--JS.
>

I think the key point is that it doesn't outlaw private ownership of 
home computers. It merely requires all home computers to include 
provisions that allow the State to control what it is used for and to 
trace any information it produces. In this regard it is exactly the 
same as the laws in the old Soviet Union that forbid private 
ownership of a typewriter unless it was registered with the local 
police department, with a typing sample provided.

At least the enemy has finally removed his mask.


Arnold Reinhold

"1984 wasn't a novel, it was just another high-tech product plan with 
an unrealistic ship date."



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