So you're familiar with the US laws and think that you're safe because you're not breaking them?
It's time to rethink that notion because of a treaty that the US signed up for. From the ArsTechnica article:
According to the EFF, "The treaty requires that the U.S. government help enforce other countries' 'cybercrime' laws—even if the act being prosecuted is not illegal in the United States. That means that countries that have laws limiting free speech on the Net could oblige the F.B.I. to uncover the identities of anonymous U.S. critics, or monitor their communications on behalf of foreign governments. American ISPs would be obliged to obey other jurisdictions' requests to log their users' behavior without due process, or compensation."
Those are legitimate issues to worry about, but among some conservative commentators, the fear goes far beyond thorny questions of international relations. Distrust of "leftists," "internationalists," and "Eurocrats" is palpable. "Even worse, the Cybercrime Treaty is open to all nations to ratify," writes one commentator. "That means a future leftist President could even allow Communist China to sign on to the treaty and direct U.S. law enforcement to investigate Chinese dissidents, even Americans, based in the United States."
Sure, because the left hates human rights and privacy, and it wants nothing more than to spy on ordinary Americans who haven't committed a crime. Oh, wait.
Or again, "the treaty could allow European or even Chinese Communist agents to electronically spy on innocent Americans." The Europeans, as the Convention's drafters, come in for special flogging—"greater control over what we do on the Internet is the goal of the Eurocrats so enamored with global government."
It's actually pretty scary when you think about it. The ability of other countries to target their laws at US citizens is a troubling prospect.
I'm not surprised that something like this has happened given that the Internet is a global phenonemon.
I haven't read the specifics of the treaty but if it's reciprocal - that is, US legal enforcement can enforce US laws abroad - that's also a scary proposition.
G-Man
Hmmm, bit of a different spin on this.
Would this also be affected by the UK's Disability Discrimination Act? Which states that web sites should make reasonable attemtps at making a web sites accessible.
The closest the US has to it, is section508, which I believe only applies to gov related sites?
If someone in the UK states a web site in the US isn't accessible enough to them, could that constitute a 'cyber crime'? Could it therefore be enforced across the pond? And web sites owners in the US forced to makes sites accessible, or risk getting sued, based on a UK discrimination law?
OK, so what are we going to do about it? I am tired of letting other people dictate what I can do or not do. Every human being came into this world the SAME EXACT WAY. We have allowed others to treat us like puppets. The only reason the government does what it wants to do is because WE HAVE GIVEN THEM THE PERMISSION TO DO WHAT THEY WANT. They sit in those chairs because we allowed them. If we want change, we have to make it happen.
You got it pittbug, game on! :)
I am a little lacking in hours of sleep this week but let me pull some good news out of this, I shy away from politics because it makes me insane but here goes...
1. The US has some possible terrorists here but the pacifists have taken over the house and senate and are restricting the law to get at terrorists in their typical naive "heal the world" way. :)
2. The president contacts the Brits and works out a plan using their less restrictive law, this allows us to get those who plan to do us harm before they attack.
If that is the current plan it is brilliant! Heck I would even agree with the creation of a shadow government if it's purpose is to protect and preserve the American way of life...
Hmm...that's an interesting concept you've got there Aaron! Could be right!
I completely agree Aaron -that was actually my first thought when I read the article. It's not about spying on innocent people, it's about retrieving criminals who have run out of the country. This just extends the cooperation between allies for the fight against terrorism.
I'm reminded of a story from Mr Nice by Howard Marks. Goes summit along the lines of a non-American bloke being charged (and possibly extradited (it's been a while since I read the book)) by the American authorities for selling (buying?) a non-American false passport from a non-American, and not in America. It kinda made my head hurty when I read it.
Geez I'm smoking a Cuban right now. Legal in Canada.
Can I expect a SWAT team?
Seriously, you can expect the American Government to not comply if it does not suit them. You need just look at NAFTA disagreements when they lose a decision.
Better be careful G-Man, you might be extradited and have your hands chopped off for typing this type of stuff.
LOL - I live my life expecting something to eventually happen. Until that time though I'll live it up! :)