Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in Providing Open Wi-Fi? Now You Must Report Obscene Images.

Re: Providing Open Wi-Fi? Now You Must Report Obscene Images.

Chad W Smith — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:50:26 -0000

VOTE FOR RON PAUL! HE IS THE KUHLEST! HE WILL END TAXES AND GET US OUT OF IRAQ AND BRING WORLD PEACE AND FEED THE HUNGRY AND RAISE THE DEAD! RON PAUL FOR MESSIAH --- I MEAN PRESIDENT (OF THE FREAKING WORLD)!

Re: Providing Open Wi-Fi? Now You Must Report Obscene Images.

thepete — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:37:55 -0000

Clearly, Ron Paul hates children.

KIDDING.

I don't think this law will survive its first test. Who can afford to police their own network? Hell, even a "closed" network isn't that hard to crack, right? So, everyone who provides free wifi at coffee houses (or anywhere else) will just throw a password on and move on. People can still buy a coffee, get the password and traffic in child porn all they like.

It's not about these bastards pretending that they know the 'net, it's about these bastards pretending they're doing their job. This is just another "law" that makes them look busy but signifies nothing.

So, CountRob, don't worry so much about the coffee shops and libraries taking away free wifi. There's a difference between "free" and "open".

Re: Providing Open Wi-Fi? Now You Must Report Obscene Images.

Law Dude — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:36:10 -0000

...Now You Must Report Obscene Images"

Easy there...it's not a law yet. Perhaps you need a refresher on how the legislative system works...see this:

Re: Providing Open Wi-Fi? Now You Must Report Obscene Images.

revbean — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:33:05 -0000

CountRob, this bill is in no way going to cause coffee shops and libraries to turn off free wi-fi. The text of the bill only requires reporting if the provider "obtains actual knowledge" of criminal activity. And further goes on to say that nothing in the bill shall "require [a provider] to...monitor any user [or] monitor the content of any communication".

While requiring individuals or organisations to report knowledge of any sort of criminal activity, lest the be charged with a crime of their own, does seem at first like it may unduly forcing a civic duty on people who otherwise may have a more laissez-fair position, this is really no different than a medical services provider (hospital/clinic/doctor) being required to report gunshot wounds as evidence of criminal activity.

And furthermore, as much as I'm reluctant to defend Obama, as I do not personally support him, he is a Senator not a member of the House, and did not vote on this bill.

Re: Providing Open Wi-Fi? Now You Must Report Obscene Images.

CountRob — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:47:26 -0000

Ron Paul is like a one man army going up against 409 retards.

So I guess this means the end of free wi-fi at coffee shops and libraries, because no one is going to police them.

I love how bastards like Obama and Kucinich preach that we need to provide high speed internet for poor people, and then congress just took away the main providers of free wi-fi. Nice going morons.

These idiots do not know technology and the internet. Don't fall for their lies when they pretend they do.

Re: Providing Open Wi-Fi? Now You Must Report Obscene Images.

Noah Everett — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:23:10 -0000

How will these public wifi providers know whats being viewed? Log every URL accessed and view them all by hand or purchase expensive equipment to monitor it all?

Some clarification would be nice.

Re: Providing Open Wi-Fi? Now You Must Report Obscene Images.

Eric Waller — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:17:47 -0000

The whole issue with open wifi connections is that those providing them don't know what their network is being used for. This is just another win for the marketing "geniuses" in washington who get to name bills.

Re: Providing Open Wi-Fi? Now You Must Report Obscene Images.

laurentk — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:16:06 -0000

That's not good news for FON (http://www.fon.com/en/info/... either ...