RIAA/MPAA Want Government-Mandated Spyware That Deletes 'Infringing' Content Automati

Galen

http://gizmodo.com/5517850/riaampaa-want-government+mandated-spyware-that-deletes-infringing-content-automatically

The RIAA and MPAA have submitted a plan to the Office of Intellectual Property Enforcement. It's basically a plan that they want the government to enact, and it's terrifying.
Here are some of the lovely things that they're calling for:

* spyware on your computer that detects and deletes infringing materials;
* mandatory censorware on all Internet connections to interdict transfers of infringing material;
* border searches of personal media players, laptops and thumb-drives;
* international bullying to force other countries to implement the same policies;
* and free copyright enforcement provided by Fed cops and agencies (including the Department of Homeland Security!).

Uh, yeah. So we'd basically give up all of our privacy so the government could play copyright cops for the RIAA and MPAA. This is crazy stuff, and one's got to assume that it's so crazy that the government would never listen to it. But good lord. URL="http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/entertainment-industrys-dystopia-future"]EFF[/URL] via [URL="http://www.boingboing.net/2010/04/15/big-contents-dystopi.html"]Boing Boing[/URL

Send an email to Adam Frucci, the author of this post, at [EMAIL="adam@gizmodo.com?subject=http://gizmodo.com/5517850/riaampaa-want-government+mandated-spyware-that-deletes-infringing-content-automatically"]adam@gizmodo.com[/EMAIL].

Trivarion

What's frightening is that it's already possible. Sony tried it with a rootkit (and we all know how that turned out). The detection systems described actually already exist and because of RIAA bullying are currently deployed in US universities (since 2003 I believe).

Shane O' Malley

So mad i would expect that story to be released on April 1st.

Shtanto

I have to wonder if the government can sell my privacy in this way to the highest bidder. A queer form of slavery, don't you think?

Galen

The government would sell us all in a heartbeat if possible!