Firewalls set to become illegal in many American states

Mar 30, 2003, 06:01 PM

AN INTERESTING PIECE of news has surfaced that will have sys admins fainting in disbelief. Eight states have put forward bills that would have a devastating effect on network security and even networks themselves if they come to pass. The wording in the bills is dumb enough that firewalls could become illegal.

The news about the bills was brought to our attention by Edward Felten, more famous for having a go at a different Bill. The states in question are Texas, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alaska, Tennessee and Colorado. The proposed legislation is intended to extend the much loathed Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Felten is definitely used to legal issues, having presented evidence against Microsoft in the antitrust trial. According to his news article on Freedom to Tinker, the various states bills all require the banning the use of any technology that conceals "the existence or place of origin or destination of any communication." It doesn't take much to think that firewalls, routers, network address translators and many other pieces of standard kit all do exactly that. Unless the bills are radically changed, the Internet could effectively become useless in those states.

Full Story

~~Sourcer_2002~~ · Mar 31, 2003, 06:33 AM

Theres no way and if it was passed i dont wanna think about it would be a huge Geek rioit!

ToshiroOC · Mar 31, 2003, 07:09 AM

Keep in mind that The Inquirer is really very sensationalistic... I wouldn't trust their analysis of this bill... if the EFF came forward and said something, though, I'd listen.

JavaFox · Mar 31, 2003, 07:10 AM

TheInquirer pieces should all be taken with this:

WyreTheWolf · Mar 31, 2003, 07:22 AM

If it is true or not... that is not the point.

They can have my firewall when they pry it from my COLD DEAD HAND!

~~Sourcer_2002~~ · Mar 31, 2003, 03:28 PM

There no way in hell there gettin my firewall. Inless they wanna pay me for all the reinstall and formatting and......trouble i would have go trough consently!

NaumoJR · Mar 31, 2003, 04:07 PM

WooT, my home state isn't on the list.

BTW - That's pretty [edited] stupid. Banning firewalls?

EDIT by staff:

please watch language

Mar 30, 2003, 06:01 PM	#1
generalstupid Guest Posts: n/a	Firewalls set to become illegal in many American states AN INTERESTING PIECE of news has surfaced that will have sys admins fainting in disbelief. Eight states have put forward bills that would have a devastating effect on network security and even networks themselves if they come to pass. The wording in the bills is dumb enough that firewalls could become illegal. The news about the bills was brought to our attention by Edward Felten, more famous for having a go at a different Bill. The states in question are Texas, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alaska, Tennessee and Colorado. The proposed legislation is intended to extend the much loathed Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Felten is definitely used to legal issues, having presented evidence against Microsoft in the antitrust trial. According to his news article on Freedom to Tinker, the various states bills all require the banning the use of any technology that conceals "the existence or place of origin or destination of any communication." It doesn't take much to think that firewalls, routers, network address translators and many other pieces of standard kit all do exactly that. Unless the bills are radically changed, the Internet could effectively become useless in those states. Full Story

Mar 31, 2003, 07:09 AM	#3
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Keep in mind that The Inquirer is really very sensationalistic... I wouldn't trust their analysis of this bill... if the EFF came forward and said something, though, I'd listen. __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Mar 31, 2003, 06:33 AM	#2
~~Sourcer_2002~~ BANNED Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Indiana , USA Posts: 2,677 Rep Power: 0	Theres no way and if it was passed i dont wanna think about it would be a huge Geek rioit!

Mar 31, 2003, 07:10 AM	#4
JavaFox E Pluribus Unum Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,203 Rep Power: 0	TheInquirer pieces should all be taken with this:

Mar 31, 2003, 07:22 AM	#5
WyreTheWolf Wolfish Bastard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Cave; Ozark Mountains Posts: 2,110 Rep Power: 0	If it is true or not... that is not the point. They can have my firewall when they pry it from my COLD DEAD HAND!

Mar 31, 2003, 03:28 PM	#6
~~Sourcer_2002~~ BANNED Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Indiana , USA Posts: 2,677 Rep Power: 0	There no way in hell there gettin my firewall. Inless they wanna pay me for all the reinstall and formatting and......trouble i would have go trough consently!

Mar 31, 2003, 04:07 PM	#7
NaumoJR Paranoid Android Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Planet Telex Posts: 1,029 Rep Power: 0	WooT, my home state isn't on the list. BTW - That's pretty [edited] stupid. Banning firewalls? EDIT by staff: please watch language