Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
Is Britain Readying a Supremely Armed Pirate Hunter?
November 20, 2009
An story on BoingBoing cites a British Labour Government source that such a move may be underway.
The article, noticed by GPer DarkSaber, reports that changes could be introduced to the Digital Economy Bill, which would enable the Secretary of State to introduce legislation without debate in order to amend the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act and to introduce a Pirate-Finder General.
Current Secretary of State Peter Mandelson's is behind the proposal, which would feature the following measures:
1. The Secretary of State would get the power to create new remedies for online infringements.
2. The Secretary of State would get the power to create procedures to "confer rights" for the purposes of protecting rightsholders from online infringement.
3. The Secretary of State would get the power to "impose such duties, powers or functions on any person as may be specified in connection with facilitating online infringement."
The Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) was equally alarmed at the news and has introduced a form of action that urges UK citizens to call their MP.
The EFF labels the ability to to introduce legislation without debate “dangerous,” adding “This bill would grant the Secretary of State sweeping powers to mess with the very fundamentals of the UK copyright system law, ignoring the voices of UK citizens to meet the needs of one set of interest holders.”
The EFF further notes that Mandelson may also target “Cyberlocker” services like Amazon’s S3, Dropbox and YouSendIt, which allow users to swap and share large files.
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Posted 02/09/10 at 01:16pm
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:10pm
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:00pm
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:53pm
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:48pm
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:42pm
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:40pm
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:39pm
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:34pm
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:32pm
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:26pm
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:25pm
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
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Comments
Considering they roll over and take it like good citzens, then complain about it, I'd say yes.
And befor you start in, in the US we whine all the time :P
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Dude, I would totally play a game where you hunt pirates!
You can hunt pirates in Sid Meiers Pirates!
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
EVE awaits you then ;p
Yeah, but, EVE sucks. I think he wants a game that doesn't suck, that involves pirate hunting.
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He was dead when I got here.
So Mandelson put all the tougher law proposals in the bill even though they were not recommended, and now he's going to make sure that no one can debate it or alter it? Corruption at its finest.
Especially in view of reports about how cosy he's been getting with media companies lately.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Mandelson is a disgrace to UK politics, and that's saying something. The man needs to get gone and have the good grace to remain gone once he's kicked out. This time.
Mandelson is unelected, the public didn't want him (he was not elected in any way). He has added to this bill and made sure that it can't be debated, at every step of this bill Mandelson has intervened and added to it un-democratically.
And the tough measures only came about after he was wined and dined by David Geffen, co-founder of Dreamworks. America should take note because it is clear that the media organisations are using this as a test case to try to push through similar proposals in the US.
The problem with this in the UK is much the same as the problem with Atkinson and the R18 rating in Australia, most people are too tech-ignorant to give a damn, or see it as a problem.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
the pressing issue is will the pirate hunter use a custom pc made up to look like a corsair or ironside?
In a nearly empty pent house soon out of cash, Mandelson schemes a chilling scheme the touch of fear mongering and scape goating passed on to from imbecile to politician to moral mind raper, and their lie is his week worn thousand dollar gray suit the apparent pirates slayer to be Pete Mandelson .
In the dread of the night a killing sight suit of the gray and the devil was paid as the man beats down a chilling sound shoot im in da head another pirate dead, I'm a pirate slayer a political player with a nasty habit ...snorting brides!!......er... killing pirates..ya thats right..... pirates... *shifty look*
Kill the pirates kill the pirates, even if it's granny maw or a kid with no job kill them dead, another pirates head, as the axe calls out an information black out be quite and don't think, you must stay weak.
I'm a pirate slayer a political player with a nasty habit of double talking, laws don't effect me they just effect the weak. Kill the pirates kill the pirates, all those TV recording slobs and MP3 playing fools bring them all down the axe calls out.
I'm a pirate slayer a political player with a nasty habit of ...snorting brides!!......er... killing pirates..ya thats right..... pirates... *shifty look*'
Ban all data and media, loack it all down, and only allow 5 or 8 publishers of the world to sell legal goods and services thats what I am all about wheres my cut screw the people damnit wheres my money I have a life style of the rish and famous to uphold!! Thats my job by the way...being famous you know .....
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yes I know it falls about around line 4 or 5 but thats all I got....
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippysmlee.wordpress.com/
Did anyone else read that as "Is Britain Readying A Ninja?"
However, if they had a Ninja, they wouldn't use the word "hunter" as that implies possibility of failure.
"That's not ironic. That's justice."
So what is this article about? I read it, but I didn't understand it. Can someone explain to me simply what this article means, please......
"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry
I believe what is going on is basically, there is the possibility of a political official who can, essentially, pass what they want without debate (think of it as absolute power?), and will hunt down people who pirate, most likely, I would assume, through some kind of anti-pirate cyber effort.
This very well may, however, turn into what is basically like the Salem witch trials; a lot of people are going to get burned, and most of them will probably be innocent, or small-time offenders. While those that they really got to look for will find ways around everything they do. Well, that's how I see it.
The problem is that you are giving someone way too much, and possibly unchecked, power.
Ok thanks. I am agreeing w/you on how you explained it to me. I understand more now on this topic. It is full of political crap, so I'm not a fan of politics. But thank you.
"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry
You do realise this site is GamePOLITICS, right?
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.