New US Bill Aims to Protect Researchers who Disclose Govt Backdoors:
New legislation has been introduced that amends the Espionage Act of 1917 to protect journalists, whistleblowers, and security researchers who discover and disclose classified government information.
The goal of the new legislation is to amend the Espionage Act of 1917 so it cannot be used to target reporters, whistleblowers, and security researchers who discover and publish classified government secrets.
Concerned that the current laws are being used for partisan prosecution, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D - California) introduced the new legislation to Congress on March 5th, 2020 and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D - Oregon) will soon introduce it to the Senate.
"My bill with Senator Wyden will protect journalists from being prosecuted under the Espionage Act and make it easier for members of Congress, as well as federal agencies, to conduct proper oversight over any privacy abuses. Our nation's strength rests on the freedom of the press, transparency, and a functioning system of checks and balances. This bill is a step toward ensuring those same principles apply to intelligence gathering and surveillance operations," said Rep. Ro Khanna.
"This bill ensures only personnel with security clearances can be prosecuted for improperly revealing classified information," Senator Wyden stated.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 10 2020, @02:56PM (6 children)
Will it protect true whistleblowers like Assange, or just spies in the administration for Trump's political enemies?
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 10 2020, @03:11PM (3 children)
Or will it protect anyone at all? The Espionage Act of 1917 is wildly out of date with modern society. What may have been scoffed at for being no longer applicable will now be current and enforceable in every legally binding sense.
(Score: 0, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 10 2020, @03:52PM
Or will it protect anyone at all?
Of course not! It's fucking cynical theater! They put this stuff out to feed the hippies, knowing full well it won't pass, nor was it even meant to pass. They wouldn't dare do this if they had control of the senate without enough obstruction from the blue dogs. It's sick that people fall for this crap and reelect these people.
(Score: 3, Touché) by DeathMonkey on Tuesday March 10 2020, @06:05PM (1 child)
Hmm...maybe we should amend it or something!
(Score: 1) by pTamok on Wednesday March 11 2020, @08:22AM
I agree. Modern society definitely needs amending.
(Score: 3, Touché) by DeathMonkey on Tuesday March 10 2020, @06:07PM (1 child)
If you like Assange so much why do you support the only administration that has tried to extradite him?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 10 2020, @09:58PM
Reading comprehension. I did not say I was supporting the administration, I was enquiring what this democrat bill was going to cover.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday March 10 2020, @03:52PM (3 children)
So a new Snowden only has to give his leaks to a reporter and he's fine? Release it yourself and you're screwed?
Hmmm... i choose option one, your honour!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by janrinok on Tuesday March 10 2020, @04:03PM
No, because the new Snowden has given the information to the unauthorised recipient - the journalist. The new Snowden is guilty of the offence.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by DannyB on Tuesday March 10 2020, @04:07PM (1 child)
Nothing is going to protect a new Snowden.
Spook agencies just want to get rid of the public black eye and have a new public image.
A new kinder, gentler torture and mass surveillance.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday March 10 2020, @04:17PM
So, Guantanamo lite? Say, Colon, Cuba? Where they only give colonoscopies? Or Moron, Cuba: where they think you'll believe anything?
"We
tortureinterrogate them with Q-tips in their ears, which as everyone knows shouldn't be done. That is all...nothing bad.Really. You can trust us!
:)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Thexalon on Tuesday March 10 2020, @03:59PM (3 children)
This is going to die on Mitch McConnell's desk, just like literally every other bill created by Democrats. Because that's McConnell's raison-d'etre: Prevent any Democrat from creating any government policy under any circumstances.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DannyB on Tuesday March 10 2020, @04:09PM (1 child)
The Democrats may be taking advantage of turtle face to introduce bills that they may not actually want, but would like to be seen by the public as supporting. Oh, you see, it's the evil Republicans that are against this wonderful bill (that Democrats don't actually want either).
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(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Tuesday March 10 2020, @05:17PM
I can't stand Greenwald, but he did spell it out as clear as day how they work the room, and how they lost 63 seats on congress. [commondreams.org] Damn Russians!
And you only need a few to pull it off. [gq.com]
It remains a mystery why anybody should vote for these people over and over. Well, not really I guess, local interests always do take precedence.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Tuesday March 10 2020, @10:10PM
Don't understand.... how can this be modified +6 insightful?
This sig for rent.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday March 10 2020, @04:05PM (9 children)
First thing it kicked up on seeing that headline was "Who the hell wants to see Hillary's asshole?" with an accompanying mental image.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday March 10 2020, @04:12PM (3 children)
In that case, I suppose I should not say anything about Hillary's large testicles.
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(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday March 10 2020, @04:17PM (1 child)
Those at least aren't original equipment. She cut them off Bill after he left office and keeps them in her purse.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday March 10 2020, @05:03PM
I thought Bill had his own miniature set that aspired to be as big as hers.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 10 2020, @04:20PM
or "Tiny Hans".
(Score: 5, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 10 2020, @04:27PM (1 child)
Who the hell wants to see Melania's asshole, but there he is everyday on TV spouting nonsense.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday March 10 2020, @05:05PM
You mean on Twitter?
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(Score: 2) by stretch611 on Tuesday March 10 2020, @05:49PM (2 children)
While I agree, nobody should be subjected to hillary's asshole... Either the one that she sits on, or at this point the one she talks out of.
However, my initial thought of a response was "Who wants to see TMB's asshole?"
And damn, I hate my brain for the same reason... and now I am temporarily blind from shock and mentally I don't think I can handle this site for the rest of the day over that traumatic thought.
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday March 11 2020, @01:50AM
Uzzard is his own asshole, and that phrase works on several levels.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday March 12 2020, @02:48AM
Are you disparaging the serene beauty of my cornhole? I demand satisfaction! Regexes at twenty paces sound good? Not at dawn though, I haven't finished my coffee by then. Any time after my post-lunch nap will be fine.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 11 2020, @01:50AM
Simple answer to leaks: Send a copy to every congressman. There is NO WAY, that at least a dozen of them don't leak it. Most of them would leak nuclear secrets just to be mentioned on the "Jimmy's Sandwich Shop" monthly newsletter and coupon.