Fergie's Tech Blog

Congress' 'Anti-Extremist' Bill Targets Online Thought-Crime

Declan McCullagh writes on the C|Net 'Iconoclast' Blog:

Congress is about to approve the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act [VRAHTPA] of 2007. This is not necessarily a good thing for Internet users.

I say that because VRAHTPA establishes a new federal commission tasked with investigating Americans with "extremist belief systems" and those who may engage in "ideologically based violence." This effort is expected to cost $22 million.

It's possible, of course, that nothing will come of VRAHTPA. Technically no new laws are being proposed except those creating the so-called National Commission on the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism.

But creating a homeland security commission staffed primarily by Washington types with security clearances, which will be run by Washington antiterror types, which meets mostly in secret, and which will present a classified report to the president about "extremist belief systems"--well, that has the potential to turn ugly.

posted by Fergie @ 11/28/2007 04:55:00 PM