Re: Should Online Scofflaws Be Denied Web Access? - NYTimes.com

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "David P. Reed" <dpreed () reed com>
Date: April 13, 2009 4:08:47 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Cc: ip <ip () v2 listbox com>
Subject: Re: [IP] Should Online Scofflaws Be Denied Web Access? -  
NYTimes.com

I just love the way people set up false dichotomies based on false  
premises: "commit crime on net, disconnect from net"

Let's paraphrase that:  is speaking a fundamental human right, or is  
it a privilege, carrying with it a responsiblity for good behavior?  
Therefore, people who express disagreeable opinions should have their  
larynxes, lungs, mouthparts or brains removed?

Most modern justice systems do not punish bad behavior by eliminating  
the means usable for productive behavior, but instead by punishments  
such as prison time, fines, etc.  There is a reason for that choice of  
consequences, and it has nothing to do with "fundamental rights"  
issues.  We punish assault with prison time, not removal of hands/ 
feet.  We punish spying in people's bedroom windows with prison time,  
not with the removal of eyeballs from sockets.  This is not because of  
"fundamental rights" arguments, and in fact, people have rights not to  
be held in prisons, though we use prisons despite that argument.

I presume the NYTimes reporter and editor were not thinking clearly  
when they wrote what they wrote.


David Farber wrote:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/technology/internet/13iht-piracy13.html?hpw
>
> PARIS — Is Internet access a fundamental human right? Or is it a  
> privilege, carrying with it a responsibility for good behavior?
>
> That is the question confronting policy makers as they try to bring  
> Internet access to the masses while seeking to curb illegal copying  
> of digital music, movies and video games.
>
> The United States Congress held hearings last week on the growing  
> problem of piracy, which the American entertainment industry says  
> accounts for the loss of $20 billion a year in sales. Several  
> lawmakers vowed to increase scrutiny of international markets where  
> piracy is widespread.
>
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