Internet Bill of Rights
Legislators in US have planned a bipartisan bill to secure the freedom of the internet from the recent outbreak of legislation. They are fighting to save the Internet from being suffocated under various restrictive laws which are going to be implemented in future.
The ‘Digital Bill of rights’ authored by Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore) speaks strongly for ‘a free, uncensored Internet’ which supports the ‘rights of equality, privacy, sharing and property.’
The language of the bill is to some extend unclear and excludes the opportunity for enforcement. But as it is the first bipartisan effort of this kind the most important sentiment of this proposal may have a chance to gain extensive attention for the following reasons on Capitol Hill:
Stop CISPA, PIPA and SOPA
According to Wyden and Issa, the lawmakers, the bill will be able to stop Congress from passing the laws such as controversial protect Intellectual Property Act and Stop Online Piracy Act. Both these authors strongly oppose PIPA and SOPA which can give the power to the federal authorities to shut down any website that has been accused of copyright violation.
The bills were set to make their way in this January after a lots of hue and cry during which the Wikipedia along with a number of other Internet companies blacked out their sites to protest.
The lawmakers, Wyden and Issa are also fighting to prevent bills like Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. Once the bill is passed it will allow the Government to secretly spy on the people and the companies in the pretention of protecting them from cyber crimes.
Stop Restrictive Legislation
In order to block future editions of CISPA, PIPA and SOPA, the ‘ digital bill of rights’ intends to prevent states and other dictatorial bodies from passing the laws which can be harmful for the freedom of the Internet.
Bill drafted by Wyden and Issa also needs Government agencies to defend the freedom of the internet, in order to stop them from neglecting the privacy in favor of proficiency.
Violation of Privacy
According to CISPA, if a company in any way violates your online privacy or you have to prove that serve the wrongful purpose intentionally and knowingly. Then only you can prove them guilty.
Uphold Human Rights
Bill drafted by Wyden and Issa may be unclear when come to enforcement and implementation. But the sentiment echoes the historical declaration of United Nations. The United nations announced unrestricted access to the Internet as human right after watching how the countries like Egypt, Libya and other countries in the Middle East dominates their citizens by not giving the online freedom.
In order to follow the declaration of United nations and keep away from imitating Pakistan, Iran or Syria, the U.S may require a bill similar to Wyden and Issa’s to remind how important the internet freedom is to the democracy.
Other Issues
If the efforts of Wyden and Issa become successful the United States has minimum chance to pass CISPA or draft further laws that will ban obscene texts and images. Even if the bill fails to pass Wyden and Issa perhaps will be able to draw the attention of the lawmakers regarding the Internet Freedom issue successfully.
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