When one set of net-strangling acts fail to get off the ground (SOPA and PIPA, in this instance), it comes as no surprise that yet another one is proposed. But oh, think of the children:

SOPA author strikes back with Internet surveillance bill; no one is safe
http://venturebeat.com/2012/02/18/internet-surveillance-bill/

When one fails, it’s quite common for people to pull the old knee-jerker know as children. Honestly? Methinks this has backlashed severely by making an increasingly vocal portion of the world sneer at the thought of children existing; I think we all know someone anti-kid-having, anti-kid-existing because having to tip-toe around them is making their life a living hell. So while yes, there are definitely parents living in their bubbles of fear who will scream all the louder for anything that saves the children (to include microchipping; I’ve seen people say they want to do this to their kids (?!!!?!?!?!)), this one has been used so much that it loses some of its power. And countries that have fallen for such rhetoric here in the Western world report increasing invasions on their privacy and data, a tying up of their Internet freedoms. Such legislature sounds like it means well at its heart, but it’s just another dangerous attack on our freedoms and privacy.

So yeah, if you’re stateside, take a deep breath and get back to contacting your Congressfolk. In the meantime, we can continue to hope that governments will quit trying to foster and exploit fear to pass freedom-stealing bullcrap. And I can wish for a flying pony and a lottery win while I’m at it, but eh… I’m still in this battle for the long-haul, it would seem.

<3