Earlier this week, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), joined its predecessors, the Protect IP Act (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the Senate committee on paper shredders.
Hallelujah.
The house failed so spectacularly at passing this piece-of-garbage legislation, despite insane amounts of cash from technology lobbying firms, estimated around $605 million. I have a small kernel of faith that maybe the good ol’ U.S.A. isn’t completely owned by lobbyists.
When the Senate shot down CISPA, as it did PIPA and SOPA, it was a victory for Internet privacy. Super simply stated, CISPA would have allowed private companies, the companies whose servers house your email, to pass along your email and internet usage to the government if they think you’re a terrorist. PIPA and SOPA were more dealing with copyright infringement, but still allowed the government access to your personal files. It’s the same reason the Patriot Act allows the government to tap your phone or fly a drone into your backyard without a warrant if they think you’re a terrorist. Millions and millions of Americans are not terrorists, and the government would be able to access their private data.
No warrant, and George Orwell just rolled over in his grave.
Ron Paul (R-TX) called it “Big Brother writ large.”
Amen, Dr. Paul, amen.
It blows my mind that the political party supposedly in favor of smaller government (Republicans) are trying to ram legislation through that is a gross overstep of authority.
All four Republican Colorado representatives, including the absolutely vile Scott Tipton, voted yes on CISPA.
Senator Mike McCaul (R-TX) used the Boston Bombings as a scare tactic to pass CISPA. McCaul referenced the bombings as a reason for an increase on more cyber security, and inferred the need for more government oversight of the Internet.
CISPA fractured the House into five parts:
1. The Libertarian Republicans, in favor of constitutional governments and not suppressing basic freedoms and privacy.
2. The tradition Republican, who, out of racist fear of Muslims (looking at you Lindsey Graham) or general, non-racist fear, screams to take rights away from everyone. These are the same people whose lobbyist-backed gun position says to not take guns away from law-abiding citizens because of shootings.
3. Then there are the Tea Partiers, who sit in the corner and let the adults vote.
4. Democrats who believe in basic freedoms and not suppressing human rights and privacy.
5. California socialists, who like more government in everything.
If CISPA has taught us anything, it’s that private interests have an incredible stronghold on our government. Lobbyists outspent opponents of CISPA 140 to one. That’s giants like Microsoft and a fleet of lawyers going up against rabble of Internet activists and their keyboards.
Talk about an underdog story.
It’s incredibly cliche, but after the last two years have heaped incredible amounts of tragedy on this country, I feel Benjamin Franklin’s quote rings truer than ever:
”People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.”
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