Constitutional Rights Or Kitty Litter

Constitutional Rights Or Kitty Litter

I mentioned in a blog post that I believe our constitutional rights are under assault. I thought I would provide some links for people who would like more information on intellectual freedom and freedom of speech.

As a librarian and a member of the American Library Association (ALA), when I have a question regarding a freedom of speech issue I turn to the Intellectual Freedom page for information.

I also refer to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Enter the letters ”EFF” into Google and you will get to their website.

SOPA  - Stop Online Piracy [not privacy] Act (House)          PIPA – Protect IP Act (Senate)

Piracy of copyrighted material is a huge issue. US copyright laws are hopelessly outdated. Instead of addressing outdated copyright laws, our congress attempted to pass these two bills that would severely limit our use of the Internet. In effect making all Internet users guilty of copyright infringement until proven innocent.  These bills were defeated. Excellent video on copyright math will explain the losses incurred by the motion picture and recording industry.

Then along came CISPA – Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. Placing the word “protection” into the title of the act. I feel safer already. Kind of like Homeland Security and the TSA. I feel so much safer with the TSA. I’m sure the government would never infringe on my privacy in cyber space unless it were really, really necessary; as in a matter of national security. CISPA is a no holds barred data grab for all electronic communications under the guise of “protecting” you.

In library land another issue is e-books. As more and more information is only available electronically, problems arise. When you purchase an e-book, you are not purchasing a physical book. You are purchasing access to the book’s content electronically. When your device breaks, you “own” a whole lot of nothing. E-books have many excellent advantages over print books. They are lighter, usually cost less and are really easy to update. Downside, you really don’t “own” anything, and the publisher can take that access away remotely with the flip of a switch. See NYT article  1984 . (I know! 1984 of all books!)

Be careful out there. Big Brother is watching you!

Julie Farrell