March 2001 - cypherpunks-legacy

Censorware ("Filtering"): It's not just for kids anymore
by Seth Finkelstein 23 Mar '01

23 Mar '01

I've seen much CIPA discussion which assumes that it's only for kids. The full text of the "Children's Internet Protection Act" can be found at http://www.cybertelecom.org/cda/cipatext.htm . It's worth reading. The name is Orwellian. It misleads people into thinking that the law only concerns children (defined in the law to be "minors", those less than 17 years old). In fact, that idea is quite false. Every section of the law which has a requirement for "minors" is followed by another requirement which is general or specifically to adults. In particular, censorware is mandated to apply to adults in libraries: ``(C) CERTIFICATION WITH RESPECT TO ADULTS.--A certification under this paragraph is a certification that the library-- ``(i) is enforcing a policy of Internet safety that includes the operation of a technology protection measure with respect to any of its computers with Internet access that protects against access through such computers to visual depictions that are- ``(I) obscene; or ``(II) child pornography; and ``(ii) is enforcing the operation of such technology protection measure during any use of such computers. Now, a reader might object, there is nothing wrong with banning such material. It's not protected by the First Amendment. However, the key point to understand is that the law does not say the banning *must* be restricted to that material. Rather, it very specifically disclaims elsewhere that it does not prohibit the blacklisting of "any content other than content covered by this title". The effect of this is to have government law behind censorware-makers, giving wide range to private, unaccountable, secret, blacklisting. Consider SmartFilter's category description: http://www.securecomputing.com/index.cfm?skey=86#ex Extreme/Obscence/Violence (ex) The extreme category includes URLs that may fall into other categories, but push the limits of acceptability. These URLs are typically extremely violent, gory, or horrific in nature and may be related to sex, bodily functions, obscenity, or perverse activities. ^^^^^^^^^ By having a category they claim contains "obscenity", but also has a vague, elastic definition ("push the limits of acceptability"), they have free reign here. In my SmartFilter report "I've Got A Little List" http://sethf.com/anticensorware/smartfilter/gotalist.php I called this "Mother rapers, father stabbers, littering, and creating a nuisance" Note also that obscenity must be determined by a court, and varies from place to place (sometimes dramatically, from e.g. San Fransciso to Memphis). It is difficult topic in law, and people argue about it all the time. Turning over that judicial decision to a private blacklister, who may then make it according to their own agenda (or by a computer program), should offend every principle of free speech and the First Amendment. But merely invoke the cry of "protect the children" (here, quite literally), and immediately all of the above is swept away in the reaction which flows from that rhetoric. __ Seth Finkelstein Consulting Programmer sethf(a)sethf.com http://sethf.com Anticensorware Investigations: http://sethf.com/anticensorware/ EFF Pioneer: http://www.eff.org/awards/20010305_pioneer_press_release.html ************************************************************************** Subscribe to Freematt's Alerts: Pro-Individual Rights Issues Send a blank message to: freematt(a)coil.com with the words subscribe FA on the subject line. List is private and moderated (7-30 messages per week) Matthew Gaylor, 2175 Bayfield Drive, Columbus, OH 43229 (614) 313-5722 ICQ: 106212065 Archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fa/ **************************************************************************

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Censorware ("Filtering"): It's not just for kids anymore
by Seth Finkelstein 23 Mar '01

23 Mar '01

I've seen much CIPA discussion which assumes that it's only for kids. The full text of the "Children's Internet Protection Act" can be found at http://www.cybertelecom.org/cda/cipatext.htm . It's worth reading. The name is Orwellian. It misleads people into thinking that the law only concerns children (defined in the law to be "minors", those less than 17 years old). In fact, that idea is quite false. Every section of the law which has a requirement for "minors" is followed by another requirement which is general or specifically to adults. In particular, censorware is mandated to apply to adults in libraries: ``(C) CERTIFICATION WITH RESPECT TO ADULTS.--A certification under this paragraph is a certification that the library-- ``(i) is enforcing a policy of Internet safety that includes the operation of a technology protection measure with respect to any of its computers with Internet access that protects against access through such computers to visual depictions that are- ``(I) obscene; or ``(II) child pornography; and ``(ii) is enforcing the operation of such technology protection measure during any use of such computers. Now, a reader might object, there is nothing wrong with banning such material. It's not protected by the First Amendment. However, the key point to understand is that the law does not say the banning *must* be restricted to that material. Rather, it very specifically disclaims elsewhere that it does not prohibit the blacklisting of "any content other than content covered by this title". The effect of this is to have government law behind censorware-makers, giving wide range to private, unaccountable, secret, blacklisting. Consider SmartFilter's category description: http://www.securecomputing.com/index.cfm?skey=86#ex Extreme/Obscence/Violence (ex) The extreme category includes URLs that may fall into other categories, but push the limits of acceptability. These URLs are typically extremely violent, gory, or horrific in nature and may be related to sex, bodily functions, obscenity, or perverse activities. ^^^^^^^^^ By having a category they claim contains "obscenity", but also has a vague, elastic definition ("push the limits of acceptability"), they have free reign here. In my SmartFilter report "I've Got A Little List" http://sethf.com/anticensorware/smartfilter/gotalist.php I called this "Mother rapers, father stabbers, littering, and creating a nuisance" Note also that obscenity must be determined by a court, and varies from place to place (sometimes dramatically, from e.g. San Fransciso to Memphis). It is difficult topic in law, and people argue about it all the time. Turning over that judicial decision to a private blacklister, who may then make it according to their own agenda (or by a computer program), should offend every principle of free speech and the First Amendment. But merely invoke the cry of "protect the children" (here, quite literally), and immediately all of the above is swept away in the reaction which flows from that rhetoric. __ Seth Finkelstein Consulting Programmer sethf(a)sethf.com http://sethf.com Anticensorware Investigations: http://sethf.com/anticensorware/ EFF Pioneer: http://www.eff.org/awards/20010305_pioneer_press_release.html ************************************************************************** Subscribe to Freematt's Alerts: Pro-Individual Rights Issues Send a blank message to: freematt(a)coil.com with the words subscribe FA on the subject line. List is private and moderated (7-30 messages per week) Matthew Gaylor, 2175 Bayfield Drive, Columbus, OH 43229 (614) 313-5722 ICQ: 106212065 Archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fa/ **************************************************************************

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FREE INTERNET (no banners, contracts, minimums...)
by Bill Davidson 23 Mar '01

23 Mar '01

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Economist.com account information
by webmaster＠economist.com 23 Mar '01

23 Mar '01

Your request for a temporary password to access your Economist.com account has been processed. http://economist.com Account information: E-mail address: cypherpunks(a)algebra.com Password: 90762Na To update your account information or change your password go to: http://economist.com/members/myaccount.cfm

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Network Vigilante Gets Panties in Wad
by zippity＠doo.dah 23 Mar '01

23 Mar '01

http://www.inet-one.com/cypherpunks/current/msg00002.html http://www.inet-one.com/cypherpunks/current/msg00012.html http://www.inet-one.com/cypherpunks/current/msg00013.html http://www.inet-one.com/cypherpunks/current/msg00014.html Forwarded message: > From: Mike Echols > To: Joe Cypherpunk > Subject: You are now being "advertised" on our main web page... > Date: 23 Mar 2001 07:56:41: > > Greetings, turd! > > Even though you failed in your miserably poor attempt to join > Better A Millstone as a spy, I felt it wise to advise folks of your > actions and your sympathies and therefore I have not only put an > explanation on our main web page but, too, have sent emails to all > of our members and our hundreds of supports. > > Further, I have emailed the scores of law enforcement agencies with > whom we work to advise them of your actions and presence and > suggesting that the illegal attack on our former server could have > been your work and asking them to check out you, your domain, and > your IP host servers. > > Mike Echols, Founder & Executive Director > Better A Millstone, Inc. > > http://www.shadow-net.com/ Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

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RE: Hints...
by Wayne Rad 23 Mar '01

23 Mar '01

Sorry, everyone, I fucked up, This was supposed to be a private message. we return you now to your regularly scheduled [de]programming. ---------- >From: "Wayne Rad" <waynerad(a)hotmail.com> >Reply-To: cypherpunks(a)ssz.com >To: cypherpunks(a)einstein.ssz.com >Subject: RE: Hints... >Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 21:57:48 -0000 > > >YOU're on this list?? > >wow, small world. > >I dunno if you remember I went to your oakland party in 1998, >(Blanc Weber's idea) Are you still doing those parties? I'd >forgotten about them... > >--Wayne Radinsky aka waynerad > >---------- >>From: "Sandy Sandfort" <sandfort(a)mindspring.com> >>Reply-To: cypherpunks(a)ssz.com >>To: <cypherpunks(a)einstein.ssz.com> >>Subject: RE: Hints... >>Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 09:48:54 -0800 >> >>Jim wrote: >> >> > Reply publicly to the list or we're done with this discussion. >> >>(Take a chill pill Jim.) Sorry all, I guess I pushed the wrong button. I >>sent the following to Jim alone by mistake: >> >>Jim wrote: >> >> > Q: When did Congress pass a law specifically >> > making the 'common law' in the 7th >> > Amendment equivalent to English Common >> Law? >> >>A: No need, it always was. The pre-existing common law in this country >>was >>not extinguished by independence. >> >> > Once again, why does "...shall make no >> > law..." not equate to (common law?) >> > 'Stop' signs? >> >>Once again, the admonition is directed at congress. The common law does >>not >>arise out of legislation and, thus, is not affected by the admonition. >>Quod >>Erat demonstrandum. >> >> > >_________________________________________________________________ >Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

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Re: Re: hello
by Blank Frank 23 Mar '01

23 Mar '01

At 01:05 PM 3/23/01 +0000, Ken Brown wrote: >Monty2hotty(a)aol.com wrote: >> >> how do i talk to fbi agents? i know everything. jfk, martin luther king, >> landing o nthe moon..... all of them. > >I'm sure there are millions of ways to talk to FBI agents. > >Walk up, look them in the eye, smile pleasantly but not too >affectionately, hold out your hand & say "hello". 1. Visit your local Russian embassy 2. Start sending encrypted email to russian ips, or better, posting original scans and audio recordings to innocuous sites. 3. Start jogging past your local military base

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eye - Opening the border for FTAA - 03.15.01
by Jim Choate 23 Mar '01

23 Mar '01

http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_03.15.01/news/ftaa.html -- The Laws of Serendipity: 1. In order to discover anything, you must be looking for something. 2. If you wish to make an improved product, you must first be engaged in making an inferior one. Tivoli Certification Group, OSCT James Choate jchoate(a)tivoli.com Senior Engineer 512-436-1062

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Slashdot | Hacking Biology
by Jim Choate 23 Mar '01

23 Mar '01

Another 'Garage Genengineering' tool? http://slashdot.org/science/01/03/23/1533204.shtml -- The Laws of Serendipity: 1. In order to discover anything, you must be looking for something. 2. If you wish to make an improved product, you must first be engaged in making an inferior one. Tivoli Certification Group, OSCT James Choate jchoate(a)tivoli.com Senior Engineer 512-436-1062

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Slashdot | New Fiber Development
by Jim Choate 23 Mar '01

23 Mar '01

Optical computing will likely benefit as well... http://slashdot.org/articles/01/03/23/1346253.shtml -- The Laws of Serendipity: 1. In order to discover anything, you must be looking for something. 2. If you wish to make an improved product, you must first be engaged in making an inferior one. Tivoli Certification Group, OSCT James Choate jchoate(a)tivoli.com Senior Engineer 512-436-1062

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