User:Mattderojas/SAFETY Act

This editorial originally appeared on my user page on 19 February 2007, revision 109406091 (see original).

All right, I'm at the point where if I don't write this down, I'll blow a fuse. Read the Wikinews article on this new bill that representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) is proposing. The full name of the bill has a ridiculously long title, but in other words, it's the SAFETY Act. Purpose? To record all your online activity on the Internet. To "combat child pornography" and other stuff like that.

By the time I had read that and William Wolfrum's blog, my bullcrap detector had pretty much exploded. I suppose if I go to a site that I'm not supposed to go, the government is going to come knocking (nay, pounding) on my door to lock me away, right?

This has nothing to do with protecting children. It has nothing to do with stopping the terrorists. It's about taking your privacy.

And, again referring to the Wolfrum blog, Smith said something similar last month when his Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act got signed into law: This invasion of privacy can adversely affect Americans’ lives. These records can reveal details of our medical or financial life. The records can identify our occupation or physical location – a serious concern for undercover police officers and victims of stalking or domestic violence.

I say to Smith, WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU THINKING?! You're going on about how personal details can be revealed and then you come up with a bill to reveal whatever may be of them on the Internet? If you can, please write a "Dear Sir" letter to Smith here or your local rep here and tell him that it's just not right. Please. --  M  (speak/spoken) 22:30, 19 February 2007 (UTC)