Stopping the Big Giveaway- by John Kerry

Here’s a link to a guest blog by Senator John Kerry for Savetheinternet.com.

He discusses how we still need to fight to win against the politicians who wish to take away our Net Neutrality.

I’ve heard it in the past, but never really payed much attention to it. I’m talking about Network Neutality.

Basically, it boils down to the large cable/phone providers (SBC, Comcast, Verizon) that want to control how WE USE THE INTERNET! They’re lobbying congress with millions of dollars so they can pick and choose which sites we can visit and how much bandwidth we get to have!

If for instance, Verizon creates an alternative to Google, they can block Google on their end for every single subscriber and basically force you to use their service. What kind of shit is that?!

I urge you to please, contact your congress-persons. Call, write, blog!
Goto http://savetheinternet.com , http://moveon.org and petition!

According to a new bill proposed through congress, starting as early as next week(if this passes), it will be illegal to disclose information about the Administration and it’s eve’s dropping program.

“The draft would add to the criminal penalties for anyone who “intentionally discloses information identifying or describing” the Bush administration’s terrorist surveillance program or any other eavesdropping program conducted under a 1978 surveillance law.”

Penalties for the new bill, for those found guilty, could face fines of up 15 years in jail, up to $1 million, or even both!

“The bill would make it a crime to tell the American people that the president is breaking the law, and the bill could make it a crime for the newspapers to publish that fact,” said Martin, a civil liberties advocate.

“As a practical matter, would they use this to try to punish any newspaper or any broadcast? It essentially makes coverage of any of these surveillance programs illegal,” she said. “I’m sorry, that’s just not constitutional.”

The Bush Administration is trying to pressure seach engine giant Google to release it’s search engine records via subpoena that it delivered to them on Wednesday. It’s all part of their plan to bring back and attempt to enforce the COPPA or the Child Online Privacy Protection Act.

If Google loses and does in fact have to turn over records, it will include a request for 1 million random Web addresses and records of all Google searches from any one-week period. So far Google has refused to hand over any such information.

“The government can’t even claim that it’s for national security,” Everett-Church said. “They’re just using it to get the search engines to do their research for them in a way that compromises the civil liberties of other people.”

Nicole Wong, an associate general counsel for Google, said the company will fight the government’s effort “vigorously.”

I hope that Google does go to court and fight this. Someone needs to stand up to our government and make them realize they cannot just take information when they feel the need. Especially when our privacy is at stake.