FC: House panel bravely thwarts terrorists -- by banning Net-gambling

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

Text of the "Financial Anti-Terrorism Act":
http://www.house.gov/financialservices/101101tc.htm

---

http://www.wired.com/news/conflict/0,2100,47518,00.html

   Terror Bill Limits Gambling, Too
   By Declan McCullagh (declan () wired com)
   2:00 a.m. Oct. 12, 2001 PDT
   
   WASHINGTON -- Osama bin Laden is not, according to news reports, a
   terribly big fan of Western vices.
   
   Nor has there been any reliable confirmation that last month's
   suicide-hijackers, who completed the bloodiest terrorist attack in
   American history, were habitual gamblers.
   
   But that didn't stop the House Financial Services committee from
   voting 62-1 on Thursday for an "anti-terrorism" bill that limits
   Internet gambling.

   In the words of Rep. Marge Roukema (R-New Jersey): "We've heard
   testimony from the FBI, the Department of Justice, and law enforcement
   that there is a clean nexus, a connection, between Internet gambling
   and money laundering of terrorism activities."
   
   The measure has been dubbed the "Financial Anti-Terrorism Act" (PDF),
   and it prohibits financial institutions from accepting credit cards,
   electronic transfers and checks used in online gambling. Another part
   of the 121-page bill gives the Customs Service more power to inspect
   packages sent through the mail.

   [...]



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