Replies

I was astonished at the text of this bill, and further amazed that it was proposed by a so-called Republican assemblyman. Here is my reply to Mr. Biondi and his ridiculous proposal (which I submitted via his web site along with my name and address).

Dear Assemblyman Biondi,

I am not a citizen of your district, but I am a Republican. I recently read online a draft of a bill sponsored by you that requires internet service providers to maintain identity records for any person who uses their services. The scope of the language in your bill would by virtue of the liability it imposes on internet service providers encompass every private chat room and public discussion forum and information directory, be they political, professional, or otherwise, on the internet. I would not be 100% certain that this was the most ridiculous law I have ever seen proposed regarding the internet, were it not for the fact that the bill provides for no manner in which to protect the privacy of the persons (essentially every person on the planet who uses the internet) who would be required to submit their name and address in order to comply with the law, presumably my means of credit card verification as there is no other expedient and reliable electronic means of establishing identity. So, let me get this straight: a Republican assemblyman has proposed a law that would essentially require every person who uses the internet to disclose their credit card information to every internet service provider they visit, and every service provider would be liable for failing to collect such information? Let me ask you a question Assemblyman Biondi: Have you lost your mind? Is this a joke? How can you call yourself a Republican? I have never heard of you before, being a California citizen, so I Googled your name, and I wagered myself one dollar before I saw the search results that you would be some fanatical liberal Democrat who is well known for proposing ridiculous legislation. Imagine my surprise to discover who you are and the party with which you are affiliated. Sir, as a fellow Republican, and as a citizen of California and the United States of America who wishes to remain free, and unencumbered by ridiculous burdens imposed by the government, I urge you to withdraw at once your proposed bill, along with an apology for even contemplating such a stupid piece of legislation, which is the most obscene invasion of privacy and establishment of liability I have ever seen proposed regarding use of the internet. I have no idea why you proposed this law, but if by chance this was done as an emotional reaction to someone who perhaps unfairly slandered your good name, then Sir, I must say, you have demonstrated well that you are worthy of being spoken of poorly, because this is the most mindless piece of legislation I have ever seen written by a lawmaker. I do hope you will think more carefully about the kind of legislation you propose in the future, or otherwise resign from office immediately so as to not further threaten the freedom and financial well being of the Citizens of your State of New Jersey and of the United States.

Very sincerely,