McCain's war on bloggers! This affects all MyLot members too.
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
June 12, 2008 7:06pm CST
Did you read this article? I was doing a search online for that NBC interview where McCain was talking about his policy on war in Iraq and couldn't find it. But, instead, I came across an alarming article that claims McCain is going to introduce legislation that could cost bloggers up to $300,000 per offense!
If you have a profile section or comments section and anyone uploads an offensive video or image (or comment, I suppose) with or without your permission, you could face serious penalties for not reporting it, deleting that image or deleting the user.
Bloggers with comment sections may face “even stiffer penalties” than ISPs (Internet service providers)
Of course, I don't agree that people should upload offensive images to the Internet. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about being held responsible for something that may not be the bloggers fault.
Do you think an individual blogger (i.e. average mom or working business person) should be held liable for huge money fines if someone uploads a bad image or video onto their blog without their knowledge?
I am not sure if he could actually do such a thing. Wouldn't that kind of be violation of free speech, to treat a blogger like that? What's your thoughts on this.
Oh, by the way, here's the link.
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/13/mccain-war-on-blogs/
6 people like this
12 responses
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
13 Jun 08
McCain annoys me. I don't like him at all. He just doesn't know what he's talking about and contradicts himself during every interview. I've even see videos where he's contradicted himself within seconds. If you vote for him you are surely an idiot. That being said.
I think it's crazy that bloggers would get in trouble for something they did not post. I don't know about you or anyone else, I can't be on the net every hour of the day and night so I can't control what is posted on my blogs or websites. I just can't. And really, there is absolutely no way he could fine everyone. It's just not plausible. Just sounds like some crazy scare tactic to get people that hate certain things on the net interested in his campaign and make those nervous that may post questionable content. Last time I checked we had free speech within reason.
2 people like this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
13 Jun 08
This is funny as I was just listening to a discussion on the radio about this. Because he was attacked by rumors in the past, he is trying to put a halt to it on this campaign. From what I was hearing, youtube was his biggest concern but as you said....all of them, really seems to be what he is after. I do think that if someone posts or prints something completely false and harmful as fact, then they should be held accountable. Here as with most blogs, people are stating opinions and I don't see how he can stop that....it is freedom of speech. I haven't read your link yet but will check it out now. Little by little they are managing to suppress our freedom. I think he'd be a fool to go forth with this. As much as negative publicity can hurt, if it isn't true, there will always be a bunch of supporters that come forth to clear it up not only for the person responsible but also for many others who may have heard the same rumors.
1 person likes this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I completely agree with you on this!
It's amazing how much fewer liberties Americans enjoy now than twenty years ago.
We all have to watch what we're saying now, more closely. I've heard of average US citizens who've stated things online and had the FBI show up at their house.
That could happen to anyone! It happened to a second grader, who was doing a social studies project and contacted a foreign (Arab) embassy for more information or literature. Afterwards, the FBI visited his home and questioned him and his mom. They wanted to know if the family had terrorist ties. How ridiculous is that! It was a very disheartening situation.
@sanell (2112)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I think that in most blogger sites, although I know that BLOGGER itself has preferences in which you can set up your settings so that no one can add comments or anything to your site. You can have people give you comments but I prefer no comments or at least to monitor them. So that is one way to keep yourself from getting fined. IF there is a blog site that does not have these types of settings I would probably get out of them.
@RebeccaLynn (2256)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I really don't think it would fly. It is a violation of free speech. Who does McCain think he is? The internet police?
The internet is too big to be policed like that. Why do some people think they have to control everyone else?
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
13 Jun 08
Just when I thought I'd heard of all the reasons to be afraid of a McBush Presidency, here comes another one! The Constitution? What's the Constitution? Most likely most people have forgotten that piece of paper - the go**amned piece of paper according to Bush - ever existed. I'd have sworn McCain wouldn't know what a blog was, but I guess I was wrong. Let's make sure we don't have to worry about this ever happening by writing our Senators and NOT voting for McCain!
Annie
1 person likes this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
13 Jun 08
McCain needs to stick to things he knows about... like mashed potatoes for lunch at the Senior Center. Something like that wouldn't pass, like it or not "bad" images are freedom of expression and not just that but you can't hold someone liable for things others do. Then again, after the last president I think we all learned that anything goes when you're sitting in the big chair. As far as bloggers go, you always have the option of approving messages and not allowing them to automatically post. I do that not because of offensive material but to keep spamers off my blog.
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
13 Jun 08
Yes you're right about comment moderation.
Many newbies don't know about that aspect.
It takes a while to learn one's way around
a blog.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I think before he can do that, he will have to find a way to make it foolproof. I am not sure he can do that.
@Dreamweaverr (131)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I think a lot of people are not responsible in their blog and chat postings. There have been a lot of people hurt, lives damaged, careers affected and lives even ruined. Obviosuly you can't be repsonsible for someone elses postings but I think we all should be accountable for our own. Free speech is not free. All freedoms come with responsibilities. Just because it is online does not mean it is anonymous.
@paid2write (5201)
•
13 Jun 08
The internet belongs to the world not to the US government. As long as people don't break international laws by posting things which are illegal or which incite illegal acts, there is no way an American law can stop people of the world posting their ideas and opinions.
It is up to individual bloggers and webmasters to check the comments posted on their blogs, to ensure nothing offensive is posted and to check that no links to illegal websites are placed there.
That is why all websites have their own terms and conditions which restrict certain things. MyLot does not allow the use of explicit words or images and anything offensive is reported and removed. As members we all monitor the discussions and report any violations.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I think that is incredibly silly, who is going to monitor all of this anyways. Besides doesn't freedom of speech include offensiive material. I think if you have a blog that is marked for adult content, and can only be viewed by those who wish to view adult content, anything should be allowed. It should be up to that individual blogger weather they want to remove that content or not, but it does have to be marked for mature viewing only if they are going to leave something like that up. If they are looking to find information that might be terrorist related that is different, but the person leaving the comment should be investigated not the blogger.
@Gargoyle0134 (1257)
• United States
21 Jun 08
This is ot going to effect me. I would not Blog online..nor would I say anything offensive? I am not dumb. I know the government monitors what we say online.
"Snail mail" is great! I WRITE letters and mail them to friends when I want to be blunt and totally honest? (And if I am going to be politically incorrect.) And my friends love getting real mail!
Everything is not appropriate for internet. It is sad, but true!
@WATARIKENJI (1534)
• Philippines
13 Jun 08
Information flows in the web faster than anyone could imagine. Having this kind of legislation can be tedious, mind boggling, and may have lots of repercussions.
