An Oregon Democrat, Senator Ron Wyden, believes that COICA can’t be considered the “right medicine” for tackling copyright infringement in the Internet. He therefore argued that the Bill, if not done correctly, can damage US innovation, US jobs, and a secure Internet.
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat, definitely became a today’s hero for many after he had vowed to block the current version of the controversial COICA legislation. While the Bill’s sponsors announce that the new law would provide the Department of Justice with the instruments to trace and close down infringing sites, Senator Wyden believes it is the wrong way to address the problem.
At Senate Subcommittee meeting on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness Senator Wyden said that deploying this bill to fight copyright infringement in the Internet is the same as using a bunker-busting cluster bomb for precision-guided missile. He warned the Senate that if they don’t think the Bill through carefully, it can cause damage to the country’s innovation, jobs, and a secure web.
In fact, an individual Senator is able to place a hold on pending legislation. Besides, he can even block a roll call vote by engaging in debate and rejecting to yield the floor. All these will mean that the Bill is dead until the next Congress convenes at the very least. Meanwhile, Senator Wyden was only recently reelected for a 4th term, so he’ll be around for another 6 years.
President and CEO of the CCIA (Computer and Communications Industry Association), Ed Black, agrees with Ron Wyden, saying at the hearing that he believes the significance of this legislation should be well thought through. Really, it will be hard to persuade other countries to stop “information discrimination” if the US has similar policies of its own. Ed Black says that the Association members report about 40 governments being currently engaged in wide censorship of the Internet. Sometimes the motivation for it is obvious, or is disclosed, but such cases are rare. Usually, the processes and reasons for online censorship are opaque. In fact, only few states try to justify blocking online content or services, with restrictions designed in a transparent manner.
Hopefully, everyone will take a moment and keep their ears open to what Senator Wyden is saying in his opposition to the COICA.
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat, definitely became a today’s hero for many after he had vowed to block the current version of the controversial COICA legislation. While the Bill’s sponsors announce that the new law would provide the Department of Justice with the instruments to trace and close down infringing sites, Senator Wyden believes it is the wrong way to address the problem.
At Senate Subcommittee meeting on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness Senator Wyden said that deploying this bill to fight copyright infringement in the Internet is the same as using a bunker-busting cluster bomb for precision-guided missile. He warned the Senate that if they don’t think the Bill through carefully, it can cause damage to the country’s innovation, jobs, and a secure web.
In fact, an individual Senator is able to place a hold on pending legislation. Besides, he can even block a roll call vote by engaging in debate and rejecting to yield the floor. All these will mean that the Bill is dead until the next Congress convenes at the very least. Meanwhile, Senator Wyden was only recently reelected for a 4th term, so he’ll be around for another 6 years.
President and CEO of the CCIA (Computer and Communications Industry Association), Ed Black, agrees with Ron Wyden, saying at the hearing that he believes the significance of this legislation should be well thought through. Really, it will be hard to persuade other countries to stop “information discrimination” if the US has similar policies of its own. Ed Black says that the Association members report about 40 governments being currently engaged in wide censorship of the Internet. Sometimes the motivation for it is obvious, or is disclosed, but such cases are rare. Usually, the processes and reasons for online censorship are opaque. In fact, only few states try to justify blocking online content or services, with restrictions designed in a transparent manner.
Hopefully, everyone will take a moment and keep their ears open to what Senator Wyden is saying in his opposition to the COICA.
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