Data retention bill expected next week

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A very slippery slope

I think Child Pornography (CP) is abhorent. That anyone would take away a child's innocence in this way is simply unacceptable. Those that do it should be caught, punished, and dealt with.

That said, legislation such as this puts us on very slippery slope. Today, we all agree that CP is bad and we need to deal with it. It's the tomorrow part that worries me. The real question is this:

Who is to decide what is right, what is acceptable, what is legal for you to download and have on your computer?

Today, we plan on using the records to try and find the predators that prey upon our children. It is really hard to argue against that. Tomorrow, somebody in government decides that adult porno is illegal and they go after anyone who has visited adult sites. The day after that, government abuses its powers and, through now legal means, periodically goes through all the ISP records and starts to build a database of everyone, where they go, what they've done. Maybe you've visited political sites or have a political blog critical of current administration policy. Those in power, abusing that power, decide that this is unacceptable. Police come, take your stuff, prosecute you for "behavior unbecoming a citizen" or some such nonsense. This is the way the government thinks: it's all about control.

I could add many more examples to make the path from CP to "unbecoming behavior" much more granular. The point is, however, where do you draw the line? Against CP? Sure, that's motherhood and apple pie. Against the government? Whoa, that's unacceptable behavior and brings on all kinds of grief.

Perhaps George Orwell was right; he was just a few years off.

Posted by: bitflippper1   Posted on: 09/22/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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