FOSS uber-guru Richard Stallman on CISPA: “nearly abolishes” 4th Amendment

Russia Times interviewed Richard M. Stallman — the guy who in many folks’ estimation singlehandedly made the “greybeard” meme — on CISPA, and here’s what he had to say.

A choice quote:

If you store any data in a US company, that company – with few exceptions – is legally required to hand that data over to US government without even a search warrant, so I think both individuals and governments should take precautions to make sure that their citizens’ data is not being handed over to US companies or their foreign subsidiaries, which are also subject to that same hypocritically named Patriot Act.

This naturally means that I am opening myself to all manner of privacy violations by blogging on a US-hosted network. Yes, CISPA still has to pass the Senate, and the veto pen, but that’s small consolation given Obama’s less than stellar record on civil liberties. I consider the Senate to be the Maginot Line for this one.

Hat tip Greg Laden, who has so many blogs of his own, yet he still had to throw me this red meat.

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FOSS uber-guru Richard Stallman on CISPA: “nearly abolishes” 4th Amendment
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4 thoughts on “FOSS uber-guru Richard Stallman on CISPA: “nearly abolishes” 4th Amendment

  1. 1

    “If you store any data in a US company, that company – with few exceptions – is legally required to hand that data over to US government without even a search warrant”

    CISPA *permits* *voluntary* sharing of information with the government, it does not require it.

  2. 2

    It indemnifies companies from any legal repercussions of that sharing. There is zero disincentive for companies to refuse the government, and every reason to think “voluntary” is a hell of a lot less than voluntary.

    But then, you do so love to parse words terribly carefully, Jim. So carefully that you’ll refuse to take simple things at face value, and will excoriate mild hyperbole over actual abrogation of rights.

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