The Obama internet plan has expanded to include something besides more internet connection for everyone. As if the Patriot Act was not enough, the Obama administration and the regulation enforcement and intelligence agencies are putting together legislation that will expand federal access to the telecommunications industry. If these new laws pass, it will grant the government greater access for surveillance purposes. Washington already has accessibility to a broad array of communications for surveillance purposes, and this will expand that access.
Obama internet rules
According to the NY Times, the White House wants to pass a bill expanding monitoring and wiretap accessibility for intelligence and law enforcement agencies. The bill builds upon existing jurisdictions. The White House is on board, and the Obama Internet surveillance bill will likely go to Congress next year. The amount of communications the federal already has accessibility to is ample, which will expand if the bill passes. Some forms of digital communications are private and encrypted, while many others are not secret at all to the government.
Regulation is against boutique designers
Though this law would certainly favor large businesses that have the engineering staff to handle new specifications, startup tech companies could be at a disadvantage. The recent ban of the Blackberry in several nations was due to Research In Motion having designed the phone so e-mails and texts are encrypted, private communications. RIM is within the process of complying with surveillance needs of several governments, and businesses such as Skype and other VOIP, or voice over internet protocol, companies could have to re-engineer their products to regulatory standards. Law enforcement and intelligence services do rely on monitored communication to catch criminals, and as a result of the decreased access, have seen their capabilities “going dark” to do their jobs.
All listening ears
There have been many laws passed giving government the ability to look or listen in. Few methods of communication, except maybe sign language, are exempt. Obama has been mum about repealing some of the almost Orwellian laws that were part of Bush domestic spying controversies. Though further potential encroachment on privacy seems almost egregious, there is the security issue to deal with. The federal maintains that it isn’t overstepping its bounds in requesting increased access. Powers of this sort could be used for good, but are easily misused.
Articles cited
NY Times
nytimes.com/2010/09/27/us/27wiretap.html?pagewanted=1
