Posted on 11/29/2010 5:10:52 PM PST by jazusamo
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has extended the jurisdiction of her sprawling department to the Internet. The "Homeland Security Investigations" division of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seized control of 82 websites last week. Considering the mess Ms. Napolitano has made of airport screening, it's a bad idea to let Big Sister decide which websites will be allowed to exist in the future.
In announcing the latest confiscation, ICE officials staged a press conference showcasing counterfeit goods allegedly sold by some of the websites. Highlighting this clearly illegal activity was intended to overshadow the fact that other affected websites may not actually have violated any law. The department grabbed several file-sharing websites that did not themselves host unlawful content under the dubious theory that the sites assisted users looking for free movies and music over the Internet. This ought to raise an alarm at search engines like Google and Microsoft's Bing, which are just as useful to anyone seeking illicit material.
Less than two weeks ago, the SenateJudiciary Committee voted to hand the attorney general the same power to shut down websites that Ms. Napolitano is currently exercising without any clear legal authority. With the clock ticking on the lame-duck Congress, the Senate proposal stands little chance of becoming law.
While misguided, the Senate bill is correct on one point: Copyright enforcement has nothing to do with homeland security. The Obama administration thinks otherwise.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
As long as Mohammed and Louis Vuitton are protected, the hell with the rest of us.
.....and Homer Holder needs an out since he’s botched terror trials.
Yep, and Homer’s botched about everything he’s touched.
I heard illegal aliens are financing their trips to the US by copying thousands of CD’s and DVD’s. ;-)
LOL! There you go, when they get here they’re already to start their business. :-)
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