-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Note: my references to the Constitution are from http://atl46.atl.msu.edu/atl/reh/battle/u.s.con.html "A. Padgett Peterson P.E. Information Security" writes:

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Gov does have the right (in fact the duty) to regulate communications between citizens and non-citizens/sites in other lands

lmccarth@cs.umass.edu replies:

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(not wishing to start a flamewar) Why do you think so ?

"A. Padgett Peterson P.E. Information Security" replies:

"...provide for the common defense"

(From the Preamble) So, if it isn't related to the "common defense," this doesn't apply.

"To regulate Commerce with foreign nations..."

(Article I, Section 8) My dictionary claims "commerce" is "the buying or selling of goods, esp. when done on a large scale between cities, states, or nations" (primary definition, anyway). If you can convince someone that "social intercourse" (secondary definition) is what the Founding Fathers really meant, your argument carries more weight.

"...or in adhering to their enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort."

(Article III, Section 3, clause 1) Doesn't say anything about them being foreign or domestic. Theoretically everyone who participated in the Confederate cause during the War Between The States :^) committed treason -- but that's another argument.

There are the bytes - try reading them in context.

Hmm. I did, but wasn't edified. It seems to me that Tim May's commentary is dead on. Maybe a more appropriate statement would be: "The government has the power (_not_ the right) to regulate communications between citizens and non-citizens / sites in other lands under narrowly defined circumstances." If you're not engaging in espionage, trading with countries like Libya or Iraq, or committing treason, it doesn't sound like there's any reason for the government to regulate your communications with non-citizens (at least from a Constitutional point of view). That may not stop them from trying to vacuum them up off the Internet, though. :-) Scott -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQB1AwUBMR7Aq+vEnOI8TfM9AQH+vQMAjL/+IGDKKz9M1WB6LdeswpEVUWmLq+4i qTrPH4pci8gkU3fH1O893xmWMCHbVCYywazk4tF69wyLV6WvWlNSOyYRW1S7xiq1 24PFoBpD7yLpDguTB2UEU1b9HxwZ017y =Wus/ -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----