On Mon, 5 Feb 1996, Duncan Frissell wrote:
Unfortunately, [a privacy act] would also:
* Require government registration of computers and databases containing information about people (whether these computers are used by business or individuals). This eases regulation of computers and future confiscation.
At 07:04 PM 2/5/96 -0500, Tim Philp wrote:
I don't believe that this follows at all. All that would be required would be a statutory obligation to comply with the legislation.
And how can you enforce this statutory obligation? Privacy laws against private citizens run into the same problem as drug laws: You need intrusive means to enforce them. A law "protecting" privacy would require government supervision of what is on my computer and your computer. --------------------------------------------------------------------- | We have the right to defend ourselves | http://www.jim.com/jamesd/ and our property, because of the kind | of animals that we are. True law | James A. Donald derives from this right, not from the | arbitrary power of the state. | jamesd@echeque.com