from the government-is-here-to-save-the-day dept.
(Deliberately keeping summary politically neutral. There will be plenty of blame to go around if this goes anywhere.)
Today, House Energy and Commerce Committee [...] issued the following statement on a comprehensive legislative draft that establishes a national privacy standard to protect Americans and sets clear rules for consumer privacy and data security in the U.S.
"We now share more of our personal information online than ever before. Everything from information about where we bank, what we buy at the grocery store, to where we drive, and how well we sleep. In order to ensure that our information is protected, we need one national privacy law that supports small businesses and innovation, promotes transparency, and incentivizes solutions for data security. [...]
I assume they mean "supports individuals" instead of "supports small businesses", and that by "small business", they mean any business smaller than the federal government.
Commerce Committee [...] privacy framework is guided by Leader Rodgers' four principles—which she outlines here [...]
Principle #1: The internet does not stop at state lines, so why should one state set the standard for the rest of the country? Creating arbitrary barriers to the internet may result in different options, opportunities, and experiences online based on where you live.
Principle #2: A lack of transparency has led to where we are today and any federal bill must ensure people understand how their information is collected, used, and shared. We must also ensure that companies who misuse personal information must be held sufficiently accountable.
Principle #3: Any federal bill must ensure companies are implementing reasonable measures to protect people's personal information.
Principle #4: We must also protect small businesses and innovation. We know that in Europe, investments in startups are down more than 40% since their data protection and privacy law—the General Data Protection Regulation—went into effect. We must guard against a similar situation here. We want small businesses hiring coders and engineers, not lawyers.
Maybe it's just me, but looking at Principle #1, it occurs to me that the internet does not stop at national borders any more than at state lines.
(Score: 0, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11 2021, @03:24AM (2 children)
We want Congress electing coders and engineers, not lawyers.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday November 11 2021, @04:12PM (1 child)
Those who can, do.
Those who can't, become managers.
Those who can't manage, teach on the subject.
Those who can't teach, write papers on the subject.
Those who can't write, become consultants.
Those who can't succeed in consulting, run for office.
Those who can't get elected, become lobbyists.
Those who can't corrupt elected officials, become patent troll attorneys.
Those who can't succeed at patent trolling, seek employment at the RIAA or MPAA.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 12 2021, @06:05PM
A university TV advertisement says "everyone is equally talented." It's only opportunity that is lacking.
I think that means everyone wants be dirtbags and weasels, but they lack the opportunity. So that's what education will give you.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by mendax on Thursday November 11 2021, @03:25AM (2 children)
I don't believe that such a standard can be negotiated given all the corporate interests tied up in the lack of privacy we all have.
It's really quite a simple choice: Life, Death, or Los Angeles.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Opportunist on Thursday November 11 2021, @08:31AM
Since they're all in the pockets of some corporation, you'll find that a standard will actually be easy to be found.
One that maximizes profit and minimizes privacy, of course.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11 2021, @05:48PM
They've probably started to take notice of all the monies now flowing into the pockets of the EU from US' corporations, and they want in on the action.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11 2021, @04:04AM
Principle 1: makes sense, in keeping with the concerns about interstate commerce, establishes the federal government's reason for involvement.
Principle 2: A lack of transparency led ... what? No, a lack of regulation, enabling lies and omissions, led us to where we are. Straightforward clarification and enforcement of contract law would have prevented this, including a good set of definitions on unconscionable terms and due notice, and of course terms of redress.
Principle 3: "reasonable measures" - by whose definition? Will Big Bertha get to publically sodomise the CEO and CTO of offending companies? No? Why not? Isn't that a reasonable measure? Says who? This is so vague that it might as well not have even been listed.
Principle 4: This is boilerplate, at best praying that small companies won't be choked out, more realistically providing political air cover. The reality is that if Mom and Pop are going to be on the hook for a nickel and a rap on the knuckles, they'll simply delegate all the everything to Walmart, and do business in person.
D.C. at its finest, folks. Your tax dollars at work.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Thursday November 11 2021, @04:27AM
Principle #4 and Big Data lobbying money virtually ensure that nothing of value will ever come out of this. This is all hot air.
(Score: 0, Funny) by aristarchus on Thursday November 11 2021, @06:07AM (7 children)
Principle #5, do not let janrinok have access to identity information about ACs. He just can't help himself. Comes from years of having been an MI5 spook, in His Majesty's Service, with a license to kill any and all sockpuppets. And his Estonian contact. Shirley all this was covered in a John le Carré novel, no?
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by aristarchus on Thursday November 11 2021, @06:58AM (6 children)
Modded troll? Such was not my intention. Is there some factual error I have committed? Is my additional rule incorrect? Please, this community is all about discussion, not downmodding in futile attempt to silence voices of reason!
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11 2021, @07:21AM (1 child)
Yes - there hasn't been a king of England since 1952. "His Majesty's Service" is obviously incorrect. That throws doubt on any and all of your other claims.
(Score: 1, Troll) by aristarchus on Thursday November 11 2021, @07:35AM
Someone ought to inform janrinok. I believe he needs to know.
(Score: 0, Spam) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11 2021, @07:25AM (1 child)
You are a troll through and through, so you will be modded accordingly.
(Score: 1, Troll) by aristarchus on Thursday November 11 2021, @07:33AM
Such incivility from a fellow soylentil! I would respond in kind, but I am currently banned from moderation, due to excessive truth-telling. But that thing about janrinok? He is guilty as charged. I can't give any details, because of the gag order from Interpol Internet Division, but trust me. Why would I lie?
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11 2021, @07:41AM (1 child)
Posting AC because this is, indeed, offtopic. My username is dalek. I gave you one of your troll mods. I also modded another of your posts troll earlier today. I authorize the editors to verify that I am, indeed, dalek (the IPID will match) and that I did, indeed, give you two troll mods.
Your comment didn't contribute to discussion of the actual topic, which is a framework for federal privacy rules. They are generic principles, unlike the very specific "principle" in your post. Your post is offtopic. It's also blatantly a deliberate attempt to start an argument over SN's policies on sock puppets, which is why I modded you troll instead of offtopic. Your post isn't an effort to discuss the actual article, just a smartass comment about the editor who posted the article. You were just trying to piss people off.
By the way, I typically agree with you on politics. I agree with the point you're making in the journal you just posted. But you're being a jackass by posting stuff like this thread. Let's be honest; you knew exactly why you got your troll mods. Don't insult everyone's intelligence.
(Score: 1, Troll) by aristarchus on Thursday November 11 2021, @09:16AM
I can see why apk loves you so much. And Runaway, too. Members of the Serious Soylentils Society, the SSS. You may think that is one too many S's, and indeed it may well be, but careful what you wish for. SoylentNews is indeed in the death-throes, no one will bother to submit, hardly anyone will want to comment for the inevitability of moderation and counter-comments like this. Slay la vee, I always say!
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11 2021, @08:50AM
Here's an idea for a National Standard of Privacy; how about we celebrate Snowden and Assange as heroes for exposing corruption, illegal spying on American citizens (a violation of the 4th amendment of the United States Constitution and a violation of the 12th article of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights), and end the surveillance state?
Oh, wait, you mean, that's not what you had in mind?
hmm... That's surprising...
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11 2021, @01:44PM
This would seem more serious if they started differently.
Principle #0: Information gathering by other entities can not be used by the government to obtain information the government is legally prevented from gathering itself.
As long as the fox has an interest in keeping the hen house open, why would one expect the fox to legislate a proper door?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11 2021, @03:35PM
if you type it into the internet it's not yours anymore.
the problem is that it's a awesome communication tool and also allows simpler more broad commerce.
however, with commerce, with two parties seperated thru vaste distances and maybe will never acctually SEE each other some sort of IDENTITY confirmation has too happen.
THIS is where we need laws.
if i "commerce" with you, we exchange PERSONAL data. if we can do it another way, ok. do whatever with the data. but if one party DEMANDS personal data for "commercing", the part providing the data should have the right by law, that the other party will NOT exchange or further " commerce" this personal data.
this is just for commerce andnif a party demands it.
everything else is up for grabs. you VOLUNTERED this data. you have no way of getting any rights attached to it.
so even if your itchying to put data into the internet, if the other party didn't demand it, it was volunteered...
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11 2021, @04:13PM (7 children)
One of the pioneers of augmented reality is warning about the metaverse [notthebee.com]
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday November 11 2021, @06:34PM (5 children)
Imagine a person who has a normal life and a secret life.
She keeps the two strictly separate. Uses burner phones. Accepts payment for her services as cash only. Is careful not to carry her "real life" phone whenever she goes out "to do business".
There should be no way that she will ever have any connection or ties to any of her clients. Right?
Let's call her Alice. Right now, she is doing "business" with Bob. They are walking on the street, discretely.
Now along comes Jack and Jill. Jill would like Jack to take a picture of her. Jack snaps the picture of Jill, and in the background are Alice and Bob.
Unfortunately for Alice and for Bob, Jack uses Facebook.
Good ol' facebook recognizes Alice, because one of Alice's friends took a photo of them together once and tagged their names.
Good ol' facebook also recognizes Bob, because one of Bob's friends took a photo of them together once and tagged their names.
Now good ol' Facebook realizes that there is a connection between Jack, Jill, Alice and Bob. In particular Alice and Bob.
Alice does not want to have any of her own social media, and real life, associated with her secret business. But now Facebook ties Alice's real life social media with Bob (and Jack and Jill).
Similarly Bob does not want any of his social media, nor his wife's, to have any connection with Alice (nor Jack and Jill).
Soon Google, Twitter and all other social media have connected Alice with Bob (and with Jack and Jill).
The US need to make it legal for Facebook to do this. In order to protect "small businesses" like Facebook.
Does that help explain anything?
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11 2021, @11:26PM (4 children)
Now imagine a world where people's secret lives become normalized and people no longer need to fear being socially outcast for their activities. The tech could push us in either direction. One towards tolerance then acceptance, another towards a us vs them mentality
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11 2021, @11:51PM (3 children)
And the ritualistic human sacrificers, and snake handlers, and bazooka testers, and manure collectors, and Seventh-Day Adventists who live next door?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 12 2021, @09:16AM (2 children)
They've always lived next door. Somehow they and you are still alive and not at each other's throats.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 12 2021, @03:42PM (1 child)
I always wondered what happened to Grannie.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 12 2021, @05:41PM
And the dog.
And now that I think about it, nobody ever found the Hayward family, from down on the other end of the block.
What was that Tom Hanks movie? Oh yeah, The 'Burbs [imdb.com] (1989)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11 2021, @08:22PM
Before google, amazon was everywhere, and the impetus for actively maintaining my hosts file.
It's big; more than 160 from Facebook, a couple hundred from Google. Everybody is sowing, cultivating, and harvesting... puts Iowa to shame.
Gmail routinely wants me to update my settings, since they have very little on me, but all the time logging-in is this:
• Name - One account. All of Google.
• Password - Sign in to continue to Gmail
• Select - To use Gmail's basic HTML view, which does not require JavaScript.
• Add your birthday - Your date of birth is missing. This info is needed to help Google comply with the law.
I want to be alone.
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Friday November 12 2021, @05:46PM (1 child)
Several governments are actively working on getring the internet to stop at their national borders.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 12 2021, @05:58PM
And several major tech companies are actively helping 'em do it.