Columnist: Slap Beta Tag on New Laws

Columnist: Slap Beta Tag on New Laws

December 22, 2009

Should the implementation of legislation be handled similarly to the release of software or a website?

An article in the latest issue of Wired suggests that new laws be rolled out in beta form in order to limit the “cost of failure” while granting an ability for fine tuning before a final release.

Aza Raskin, the article’s author and the head of user experience at Mozilla Labs, explained the impetus behind his innovative idea:

The start-up world is ruled by the mantra "Release early, release often". We embrace the uncertainty of the unpredictable wants, whims, and whimsy of the people that ultimately determine the success of our products. No amount of market research or focus groups give you the insight gained by simply releasing your product.

He continued:

In both software and hardware, we allow time for iteration because we know we will get it wrong. We should give our government the leeway to do the same for laws and social policy.

Raskin then proclaims World of Warcraft creator Blizzard as the best practitioners of “highly-iterated, fully-tested public policy,” and added, perhaps tongue in cheek, that if they (Blizzard) ran for office, they would get his vote.

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Re: Columnist: Slap Beta Tag on New Laws

That dosen't sound like a bad ideal. Do a test run of a law and the start enforcing it state and/pr nation wide.

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

Re: Columnist: Slap Beta Tag on New Laws

With the shit blizzard puts up with from it's customers of WoW, they'd handle presidency like champs.

Re: Columnist: Slap Beta Tag on New Laws

All legislative process have their 'beta' phase; where draft bills are discussed and honed. Once a law is enacted it must be complete to be enforced (or there are due process/human right implications).

Many pieces of legisilation also contain provisions to allow for swift changes, post enactment, in minor areas (these are know as 'Henry VII clauses' in the UK). But major alterations need to go through the full legislative process to ensure they have democratic legitimacy.

It is easy to compare these phases to software development, but Blizzard are a (benign) Dictator - not a model that I'd advocate for legislation.

Gus.

Re: Columnist: Slap Beta Tag on New Laws

I would not call that beta. Do you consider devs bug fixing and writing code with no customer exposure beta? That's the equivalent of the work in the legislature.

I agree the major alterations (IMHO, *ANY*) should go through the legislative process. I think though that all laws should have a relatively quick expiry (say 2-5 years at most) before going back to legislature. If it's out for a short period first, you see the unintended consequences (see: Printer Ink and DMCA)

 

Re: Columnist: Slap Beta Tag on New Laws

All the torture during the Bush Administration was closed Beta testing for Patriot Act 2.0. 

Re: Columnist: Slap Beta Tag on New Laws

closed beta? so that means patriot act 2.0 will be worldwide?

Re: Columnist: Slap Beta Tag on New Laws

err this doesnt mean they can start making laws without going through the usual channels right? just by calling it a beta?

Re: Columnist: Slap Beta Tag on New Laws

If done right, no.

Does a beta not go through developers before release?

 

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