Posted on 06/24/2004 6:17:54 AM PDT by avg_freeper
Edited on 06/29/2004 7:10:43 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Florida state officials are considering taxing home networks that have more than one computer, under a modified 1985 state law that was intended to tax the few businesses that used internal communication networks instead of the local telephone company.
Officials from Florida's Department of Revenue held a meeting on Tuesday to see whether the law would apply to wired households, and exactly who would be taxed. About 200 people attended, including community and business representatives.
(Excerpt) Read more at wired.com ...
What would be "reasonable suspicion" that someone is using a home network? Do you seriously believe that the State Of Florida would issue such warrants? Really?
Further, the Patriot Act applies to terrorism cases (and in other realms, to drug and RICO cases). Are you asserting that the Florida Department of Revenue would even attempt to make a Patriot Act case against the owner of a home network, and that they would do so on the basis of terrorism or RICO infractions?
As for "Hacking a router or a switch on a NAT really isn't all that hard," I can assure you that even corporate nets can be masked behind a single IP, and @stake, Securityfocus, and the rest of them will not find a single NAT'd IP. Not one. Even cheapo Linksys home routers can be configured to resist virtually all hacking/discovery attempts.
So in the end your case rests on the State Of Florida either (a) egregiously violating federal law as established in Kyllo or (b) issuing individual search warrants for each and every instance in Florida where the DoR believes someone has a home network.
These are not plausible scenarios, and the cost/benefit to the Florida DoR is precisely zero at best.
Are you seriously so naive to think they would not put in clauses for enforcement?
The Patriot Act sets precedent. Precedent that is already being used by local law enforcement. "Fishing expeditions" have been OK'ed by the USSC.
I've hacked my own Linksys cable router from my work machine. Do not presume to think you know jack sh*t about what can be found. A quick Google search will come up with dozens of pages listing exploits for doing EXACTLY what you are saying cannot be done. An Asta La Vista search will point up even more and give you links to the tools to DIY.
I also notice you dodged the question of whether or not you approved of this tax. Would you also be supportive of any regulatory measures they would want to put in place to monitor compliance?
I can remember when the Texas Lottery created, and it was claimed it would be for the schools..eventually the politicians got their hands on the money and God only knows how much actually goes towards the schools these days(apparently not much).
The scenario being discussed here is the typical home network as a target of the Florida DoR. Not a garage stuffed for a "home gaming party." Even your mention of a webserver doesn't make the case, it's electrical usage will again be in the 250 Watt range (same as a lightbulb) and a webserver is in itself no proof of multiple computers (even if it is in fact networked and made available via port forwarding).
Your example of the wireless network again makes no case for DoR attention, since all that's being used is a wireless router, and this would bring no special attention if NAT is being employed.
I don't know what you're trying to accomplish with all of these implausible and technically unfeasable scenarios, none of them make any practical or legal sense.
Of course the attempt to tax home networks is completely idiotic, but what you're not catching is that the DoR's plan is technically unenforcable.
It's kind of hard to believe that you as a computer person don't understand that.
Taxes don't work like that. The government will assume then you'll have to prove otherwise.
Here in Connecticut, they tax personal assets like cars. You get a new car, they know about it right away. You get rid of a car and they could know just like when you buy one, but they keep on taxing you until you prove to them you don't owe the taxes.
Although Florida can be pretty liberal, I have a feeling that most wouldn't want the state inspecting houses for these (although I've run into FReepers who wouldn't have a problem being searched because they "have nothing to hide").
I'm thinking tax the hell out of the hardware/software. They could always examine financial transactions as well (credit card sales, etc.). Florida maybe one of those states in the MATRIX database program where they keep an eye on the citizens (on what they buy and stuff).
They could also get ISPs to release records (if they don't have access to them already) of people and easily find multiple machines in one house (by looking at MAC addresses that are accessing the internet).
Doesn't matter how many clauses they use, it's not technically viable to enforce this law.
"Fishing expeditions" have been OK'ed by the USSC.
And you seriously believe the USSC would approve of the Florida DoR scanning for "uncompliant" home networks while expressly denying law enforcement the "right" to scan for home pot farms? Really?
I've hacked my own Linksys cable router from my work machine.
You should enlist the help of a competent IA professional to lock that baby up.
Besides we're talking about the general principle of the DoR doing it's own hacking operations against citizens, not the specific case of which router is or isn't vulnerable. Red herring.
I also notice you dodged the question of whether or not you approved of this tax.
No, I didn't "dodge" it. I think the idea is so patently ridiculous from a technical and legal perspective that it doesn't warrant discussion "on the merits" (which there are none).
The Florida DoR is not going to use the Patriot Act or "probable cause" or search warrants or scanning of hacking or anything else to enforce this "law".
As I said, it is absurd. Laughable.
Your cable/DSL router masks MAC addresses. One router=one MAC.
Floridians can't figure out how to vote; but they want to tax my computers? I think I'll go back to the quill pen and abaccus.
I really hope your company isn't paying you much. With your attitude, its a wonder your network is still up.
"Paging George Orwell. Mr. Orwell, please pick up the white courtesy phone."
I have a home network with 5 machines attached, but I am the only "user" of that network, at least according to my definition. Those of you with families (hence, multiple users) are screwed, however.
It would definately turn me into one.
a Government employee will be stationed at every house to make you don't cheat on your taxes, to make sure you don't smoke pot, have sex in unapproved positions and the list goes on. It's for our own good, and most importantly it's for the children.
WHO EXACTLY! I WANT FRIGGIN' NAMES!
Since FL doesn't have a state income tax, they would have to start a whole new department of router revenue collection...boy, the costs just keep going up!!
If you're on the Internet, you're on at least one of my networks.
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