-Caveat Lector- FTC press release and news coverage: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/04/girlslife.htm http://www.internetworld.com/news/archive/04202001c.jsp Background: http://www.politechbot.com/p-01732.html http://www.politechbot.com/cgi-bin/politech.cgi?name=coppa -Declan ********** http://www.cluebot.com/article.pl?sid=01/04/20/038208&mode=thread COPPA Claims More Victims posted by lizard on Thursday April 19, @09:58PM from the who-needs-the-CDA dept. The FTC is currently bragging about applying the thumbscrews to companies which committed the unthinkably evil crime of allowing children to have email accounts without Mommy's permission. As might be expected, the liberals are gloating over this and similair acts which are, one by one, driving children off the net, all in the name of 'protecting' them. Do I really have to note the Lizardrant follows? --- When the government attempted to mandate age identification data as a means of protecting children from the sight of naked nipples, the free speech crowed was rightly revulsed. Such would be an unthinkable act of censorship. Remember 'L18'? However, propose the same thing in the name of saving children from evil marketers, and liberals applaud. Folks like Lawrence Lessig, who wail and bemoan 'corporate control' of the net, and write books like 'Code' which maintains the net is safe only so long as the Evil Corporations don't get their hands on the infrastructure, are not only not actively speaking out against this sort of regulation -- they demand more of it! Andrew Shapiro, one of Lessig's fellow 'cyber-realists', has actually recommended all browsers be shipped 'locked down', with massive censorware in place, until a code from a central server could be downloaded to indicate the user was an adult. The costs of complying with COPPA are going to force anyone running any commercial site to be certain anyone claiming to be over 13, is. [1] When such requirements were implied as part of the cost of complying with the CDA, liberals shrieked (correctly) that it would kill the web. When such requirements are implied in the name of 'privacy', liberals shrug and say, "Them's the breaks!" The 'cost of doing business' argument was roundly rejected during the CDA days;why has it suddenly become valid when the issue is profit instead of porn? There is more than a slight stench of hypocrisy here. [1]Otherwise, the law is useless, as anyone with more brain cells than candles on their birthday cake will simply lie when asked 'How old are you?'. Just as the right-wing bookburners protested that 'Click here to enter www.nakedwetteensluts.com if you are over 18' was a joke, so the left-wing bookburners (sorry, 'privacy advocates') will protest that 'Fill out this form only if you are over 13' is likewise a joke. #### ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if it remains intact. To subscribe, visit http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
