When I look at laws like E-PARASITE that are aimed at "taming" the internet (whatever that means), I do not see a big lumbering government trying to gain control over the internet. What I see are big lumbering corporations trying to keep the money flowing without having to work to keep up with the rapid pace of technology.
From the Wikipedia entry on SOPA/E-PARASITE:
Rogue sites legislation receives broad support from organizations that rely on copyright, including the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America, Macmillan Publishers, Netflix, Viacom, and various other companies and unions in the cable, movie, and music industries. Supporters also include trademark-dependent companies such as Nike, L'Oréal, and Acushnet Company.
I can't imagine what the landscape of the internet will look like in a decade, but it's worrisome that the next generation will grow up in a world that would make even Orwell roll in his grave.
You are also right. One and the same. Those organizations intend to use the muscle of the government to entrench a specific self-serving model. Without a large and powerful government, it would not be possible for such an agenda to succeed.
> Without a large and powerful government, it would not be possible for such an agenda to succeed.
s/large and powerful/corrupt/
The problem is not that our government is large (that is a tangential issue). It's that government is now fully captured and co-opted by the wealthy interests (often large corporations).
Devolution of power into state and local governments is not going to meaningfully help either... often time these entities are much easier to bribe, to bend the law in the favor of the corrupt.
The issue is the concept that "money == speech"; to consider it thus is inherently crooked unless everyone has the same starting point or opportunities.
Geeks are a lot smarter than telcos; we'd win that battle easily. Geeks are a lot smarter than government, too, but they have big sticks to hit with; that battle requires a bit more care.
Any group that is as big as government and as organized would be already on government's radar as a major threat. So you might want to work on your robustness before working too hard on your organization.
From the Wikipedia entry on SOPA/E-PARASITE:
Rogue sites legislation receives broad support from organizations that rely on copyright, including the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America, Macmillan Publishers, Netflix, Viacom, and various other companies and unions in the cable, movie, and music industries. Supporters also include trademark-dependent companies such as Nike, L'Oréal, and Acushnet Company.
I can't imagine what the landscape of the internet will look like in a decade, but it's worrisome that the next generation will grow up in a world that would make even Orwell roll in his grave.