SOPA author wants to arrest journalists over leaks

4.5
Texas Representative Lamar Smith, the angry old man who doesn't understand the internet and is the author of popular bills like SOPA, thinks that it's about time for the Justice Department to bring down “the full force of the law” against journalists who leak sensitive information. That includes journalists who have been talking about US involvement in Stuxnet a little bit too much.

The only problem is that the Justice Department really can't bring “the full force of the law” against leakers, since the law itself doesn't actually let them do that. No worries – the House Judiciary Committee will fix that, according to Wisconsin Representative James Sensenbrenner.

The committee, Sensenbrenner says, is looking at revamping the Espionage Act to allow the prosecution of journalists who leak state secrets. “We've got the Constitutional issue about the First Amendment,” Sensenbrenner said, adding that “there has to be a balance.” In other words, freedom of the press is fine, so long as it doesn't get in the government's way.

Obviously, journalists (especially us poor tech journalists) are a bit worried about the whole deal: the executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press says that there is “no need for a new law, and certainly not [one] that was rushed through Congress without careful consideration.” But isn't that how most laws involving technology (and anything, really) are passed?

Posted:

Source: http://www.neowin.net/news/sopa-author-wants-to-arrest-journalists-over-leaks

Comments

"SOPA author wants to arrest journalists over leaks" :: Login/Create an Account :: 41 comments

If you would like to post a comment please signin to your account or register for an account.

BritishColumbiaPosted:

i though this was over

AlbericiPosted:

He is mad that this got out be for it got passed so he is being a b***h about it and thinks turning a computer on makes him feel good about his self so if he can not do it, it shouldn't be done in his word. He will never understand us due to him not keeping up to date with us witch is very hard even with us.

SovietRussiaPosted:

theartftw The fact that people like this get in power, are the exact reason I don't vote. Then again, thinking about it they probably get in power because people like myself don't vote. Very vicious cycle.


You should vote to get people like this out of power.

theartftwPosted:

The fact that people like this get in power, are the exact reason I don't vote. Then again, thinking about it they probably get in power because people like myself don't vote. Very vicious cycle.

FrogPosted:

Fuko They really don't understand that people will get around anything they do to the internet and they can't stop journalists either. as if people obey laws on the internet.


Yeah that's true...



Kex Go away SOPA!


xD

ResoPosted:

They really don't understand that people will get around anything they do to the internet and they can't stop journalists either. as if people obey laws on the internet.

MawderzPosted:

Go away SOPA!

SovietRussiaPosted:

Are whole political system is corrupt

OG-Posted:

I think Lamar Smith(Sopa Author) just should be put in jail, because he is a a**hole >:(

MazurPosted:

SaintedRaymar so your free to say what you want as long as it is what they want you to say


Exactly, I think America is starting to head toward Communism