New rule: spyware is OK with the feds
Wednesday, April 25th, 2007Last week a subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce approved H.R. 964, the Spy Act. It’s supposedly a law designed to protect you and me from spyware, but it should more really be called the Yes! You Can Spy Act. It legalizes the use of spyware by any company you do business with. Computer makers would be free to load spyware on a machine before delivering it to you. The federal bill would preempt any stronger state laws. And it takes away any private right to sue companies that use spyware against you.
Democrats who try to package themselves as pro-security are going to have a hard time defending a vote for this bill. Spyware opens up your computer—yes, the computer you used to prepare your tax return, the computer you use when you send your credit card information to online merchants—to anyone, without notice, without consent. Republicans, the perennial defenders of states’ rights, are doubly hypocritical, since they take away the right of states to give stronger protection to their citizens.
This is a contemptible giveaway to corporations, entirely at your expense. Embarrass your Representative about it.
