US mulls stiffer sentences for common Net proxies | Sacramento Bee — The crime is the crime, why hammer people even more for a common practice? The fact is we just want to keep people in prison as long as we can. And I suspect there is some RIAA guy lurking in the background of this idea.

A key vote Wednesday on new federal sentencing guidelines would classify the use of proxies as evidence of “sophistication,” increasing sentences by about 25 percent – which could mean years or even decades longer behind bars, depending on the crime. It’s akin to judges handing down stiffer sentences when a gun is used in a robbery.

Yet digital-rights advocates are worried. Although they aren’t absolving criminals, they complain that the proposal is so broad, it could lead to unnecessarily harsh sentences for tech neophytes who didn’t know they were using proxies in the first place or who were simply engaging in a practice often encouraged as a safer way of using the Internet.

“It sends a bad message about protecting your own privacy,” said John Morris, general counsel for the Center for Democracy and Technology. “This is the government saying, ‘If you take normal steps to protect your privacy, we’re going to view you as a more sophisticated criminal.'”




  1. AKA Ted Stevens says:

    ‘If you take normal steps to protect your privacy, we’re going to view you as a more sophisticated criminal.’”

    yup, thats sums it up

  2. TooManyPuppies says:

    Technically, we’re all on a proxie at some point along the internet chain. Everyone is fucked.

  3. Paddy-O says:

    Nothing to see here, move along. The tech savvy O’Mama administration will be all over this and instructing congress on the correct course of action.

    Hmm, on second thought, run around in circles screaming…

  4. Was NORAD incompetent says:

    Just your usual display of the kind of crap laws you get when Congress sells out the voters.

  5. eaze says:

    Does the proxy server really need two NIC cards? I would assume it could be done with one.

  6. wiglebot says:

    A router as a Gateway with an IP and Cloned MAC address could be a Net Proxy in their definition, so they mean everyone with DSL.

    One or multiple routers connected to a computer acting as a proxy represents just about every business, college campus, and some condos / hotels.

    People will just go to Coffe Shops or other free wireless sites.

  7. Hugh Ripper says:

    #6 If the proxy also routes between different networks, which is often the case, it will probably require more than one NIC.

  8. Greg Allen says:

    Does this have any sort of parallel in the real world?

    Do criminals get more time if they are sneaky?

  9. jalford says:

    Cripes,
    It would appear that if you try to protect yourself from criminals then you also use the same tools designed by said criminals. It also would appear that the people the govt. hire to watch said criminals are lazy and do not want to work to hard to find real criminals. Lets just make anyone who decides to use the internet at all a criminal and then the real work of the govt. can begin. I guess that would start by removing the concept of Freedom.

  10. soundwash says:

    this is crap…they’re pissed off
    because some people answered unsolicited
    spam email and got taken? so the answer is
    yet another vague, easily exploited law?

    wtf?

    blarney.. how about a EULA button on your email session that states if you answer spam and get taken by your own free will TOO F’n BAD!

    -no oppressive laws…billions saved in 11 month long technical investigations by people with the
    I.Q. of a turnip.. everyone wins!

    so what ya think, should i run for office? :s

    -s

  11. Hmeyers says:

    #8 for the win

  12. It always amazes how the old rules die hard
    Old men in power with the old ideas of “we know” “I know something you don’t etc etc postmark etc etc”
    What a bunch of morons living in the past with old paradigms
    Remember Senator Stevens of Alaska later convicted of …
    “I am told that the internet is made of pipes….”

  13. Mr Diesel says:

    #13 soundwash

    Based on your knowledge of the situation I’m sure that having you in the office couldn’t be any worse so yes, run for office.

    Seriously

    I am considering running for a local office just to see what it’s like.

    Maybe I’ll get some bribe money or a new office for free or maybe have a page send me nude pictures of themselves or maybe, just maybe I’ll just go out to the airport and sit in a restroom stall and toe tap a while.

  14. Paddy-O says:

    # 13 soundwash – Go for it. I’m sure you’d do a better job than 99% of those on the Hill.

  15. deowll says:

    Just more evidence that our belovied leaders don’t have a clue what they are doing. However since we elected them…

  16. Cursor_ says:

    Then the government will close down its proxies on all three branches and the military?

    Sweet!

    All those hackers from other countries will have it easier.

    Cursor_

  17. ECA says:

    I love the idea of NON-techies trying to make LAWS for those with enough intelligence to protect themselves.

    HOW long ago was it, that MANY of us techies were Abusing our customers about security after FIXING 300 virus and 500 bots being found on their systems??
    TEACHING them and training them, HOW to protect themselves..
    NOW that protection is available, The gov is going to BEAT you over the head for it..

  18. sargasso says:

    We need an annual Ted Stevens Award, for the most inane government internet initiative.

  19. Rick Cain says:

    Me and my command prompt are gonna rule the world!


0

Bad Behavior has blocked 5084 access attempts in the last 7 days.