House Bill Won't Criminalize Free Wi-Fi Operators

Velcroman98 sends word of a bill that passed the US House of Representatives by a lopsided vote of 409 to 2. It would require everyone who runs an open Wi-Fi connection to report illegal images, including "obscene" cartoons and drawings, or be fined up to $300,000. The Securing Adolescents From Exploitation-Online (SAFE) Act was rushed through the House without any hearings or committee votes, and the version that passed on a voice vote reportedly differs substantially from the last publicly available version. CNET reports that sentiment in favor of such a bill is strong in the Senate as well. Update: 12/07 06:22 GMT by Z : As clarified in an Ars writeup, this summary is a bit off-base. The bill doesn't require WiFi owners to police anything, merely 'stiffening the penalties' for those who make no effort to report obvious child pornography.

Re:Sad, but predictable

[Cpt_Kirks]

Fucking Republicans! ...oh, wait. Never mind...

WTH Hentai?

[Anonymous Coward]

From TFA:

But it also includes photographs of fully clothed minors in overly "lascivious" poses, and certain obscene visual depictions including a "drawing, cartoon, sculpture, or painting." (Yes, that covers the subset of anime called hentai).

Since when did *hentai* ever harm children?

Oh, please think of the E-children, please!!

Re:Bombs won't do it

[Ihlosi]

America will *legislate* itself into the Stone Age.

No, terrorists could use rocks as weapons.

Time to celebrate...

[lpangelrob]

Sounds like it's time to celebrate Obscene Images Over Open Wireless Networks Day!

A link to goatse and the best wardriving software on the web... stat!

Re:Sad, but predictable

[jav1231]

"I'm no longer a New York State resident, but Hillary Clinton has done more for New York in the few years she's had than most New York senators do in a lifetime. She can name the top issues for every county in the state and what she's done to try to address them. You can make a lot of arguments against her (I personally want her to stay out of my and my family's videogame-buying experience), but asserting that she hasn't done anything for New York is so untrue as to completely discredit you from and valid political opinion in my mind. My family in New York are all Republicans, but they all voted for her because of her ability to get things done for New Yorkers."
My name's Hillary Clinton and I approve of this message!

Let's Elect 9/11!

[spun]

I mean Rudy, jeez, why do I always think "9/11" when I think Rudy Guiliani? He's done so much for 9/11. I mean New York. If he's elected president, I know he'll 9/11 the whole 9/11 into a brand new bright and shiny 9/11.

9/11!

Re:Oblig. Ron Paul

[Anonymous Coward]

And "Rep. Paul Broun" is an anagram for "Repub. Ron Paul"... hmmm...

Re:Sad, but predictable

[Darby]

Sleeping with a sitting president qualifies her above such as Obama, etc?

Hillary/Monica 08?

Re:Ron Paul

[Darby]

Many people would be open to the ideas talked about by Michael Moore if giving them a fair hearing didn't involve standing on the same side of the room as, say, Michael Moore.

Oh come on, that's a pretty bad example.
Who would fit on the same side of the room as Michael Moore?