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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/23/ron-paul-cispa-cyberterrorism-bill

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Ron Paul says Cispa cyberterrorism bill would create 'Big Brother' culture Ron Paul says Cispa cyberterrorism bill would create 'Big Brother' culture
(6 months later)
Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has slammed a controversial cyberterrorism bill, calling it "Big Brother writ large" and saying it would make "government spies" of Facebook and Google.Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has slammed a controversial cyberterrorism bill, calling it "Big Brother writ large" and saying it would make "government spies" of Facebook and Google.
The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (Cispa) is due to be heard in the House of Representatives this week and now has the backing of 112 members of Congress.The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (Cispa) is due to be heard in the House of Representatives this week and now has the backing of 112 members of Congress.
The bill aims to make it easier for US companies and authorities to share information as they tackle online crime. But it has been attacked by civil liberties groups as too broadly written and a threat to the privacy of ordinary citizens.The bill aims to make it easier for US companies and authorities to share information as they tackle online crime. But it has been attacked by civil liberties groups as too broadly written and a threat to the privacy of ordinary citizens.
Paul urged his supporters to protest against the bill, pointing to the successful campaign against the Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) earlier this year.Paul urged his supporters to protest against the bill, pointing to the successful campaign against the Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) earlier this year.
"We should never underestimate the federal government's insatiable desire to control the internet," said Paul in an address released Monday."We should never underestimate the federal government's insatiable desire to control the internet," said Paul in an address released Monday.
"Cispa permits both the federal government and private companies to view your private online communications without judicial oversight provided that they do so of course in the name of cyber-security," he said."Cispa permits both the federal government and private companies to view your private online communications without judicial oversight provided that they do so of course in the name of cyber-security," he said.
The bill was too broadly written and allows the government to use people's information "far beyond any reasonable definition of fighting cyberterrorism," he said.The bill was too broadly written and allows the government to use people's information "far beyond any reasonable definition of fighting cyberterrorism," he said.
Paul said Cispa was an "alarming form of corporatism" that "further intertwines government with companies like Google and Facebook. It permits them to hand over your private communication to government officials without a warrant. Circumventing the well-known established federal laws like the wiretap act and the electronic communications privacy act."Paul said Cispa was an "alarming form of corporatism" that "further intertwines government with companies like Google and Facebook. It permits them to hand over your private communication to government officials without a warrant. Circumventing the well-known established federal laws like the wiretap act and the electronic communications privacy act."
"Simply put, Cispa encourages some of our most successful internet companies to act as government spies, sowing distrust of social media and chilling communications in one segment of the world economy where Americans still lead," said Paul."Simply put, Cispa encourages some of our most successful internet companies to act as government spies, sowing distrust of social media and chilling communications in one segment of the world economy where Americans still lead," said Paul.
"Imagine having government-approved employees embedded at Facebook, complete with federal security clearances serving as conduits for secret information about their American customers," he said."Imagine having government-approved employees embedded at Facebook, complete with federal security clearances serving as conduits for secret information about their American customers," he said.
Paul joins a chorus of critics including the White House as well the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Electronic Frontier Foundation and other civil rights groups that have been campaigning against the bill.Paul joins a chorus of critics including the White House as well the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Electronic Frontier Foundation and other civil rights groups that have been campaigning against the bill.
The bill's primary sponsor, Mike Rogers, told Talking Points Memo that there was a "strong chance" the bill would be passed by the House this week.The bill's primary sponsor, Mike Rogers, told Talking Points Memo that there was a "strong chance" the bill would be passed by the House this week.
Comments
36 comments, displaying first
23 April 2012 9:37PM
"Former republican presidential candidate.."
I'm glad you assume he's not in the race anymore, you'd think he'd be getting hundreds of delagates behind the scenes while the media completely ignores him or something. Bravo on A++ research and journalism!
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23 April 2012 9:53PM
Former Republican presidential candidate? I wasn't aware that he'd dropped out. Jeez, why not go ahead and start calling him "the late Ron Paul"?
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23 April 2012 9:58PM
Listen to him.
The Ron Paul Map = ronpaulitic.com
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23 April 2012 10:04PM
I want to live in a country where my vote actually contributes to changing the country, rather than continuing the puppet show. I know Ron Paul had no chance against the machine, but reading stuff like 'former' is very disheartening. Reality bites and so does this shitty two-party system.
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23 April 2012 10:08PM
Re: The actual article -- it's obvious the bill is being moronically written but it is nice to see this getting as much attention as possible.
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23 April 2012 10:11PM
Former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul
Hmm, Ron Paul was given more air time on Russia Today news than by any of the US newscasters. I wonder, whether it was exactly because of his opposition to the Big Brother state imposed on us.
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23 April 2012 10:19PM
Yep, you're dead right – our apologies. This has now been changed.
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23 April 2012 10:32PM
well, most people aged above 45 don't give a damn about your online liberty.
tough question... who elected bill's sponsor Bill Rogers? The culprit is there!!
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23 April 2012 11:02PM
Wow, an article that actually speaks the truth in light of Dr. Ron Paul.
The machine might melt down; operators have actually used his status to inform.
This election process is far from over.
This is not wishful thinking: we can win. We can win!
Sincerely, Joseph C. Carbone III; 23 April 2012

★"˜¨¯¯¨˜"ª¤(¯`*•.¸(¯`*•.. The Hon. Dr. Ron Paul for 2012 ..•*´¯)¸.•*´¯)¤ª"˜¨¯¯¨˜"★
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23 April 2012 11:17PM
Mike Rogers appears to be a carbon copy of Mitt Romney--vice versa--and, both, not far removed from Pres. Obama.
Sincerely, Joseph C. Carbone III; 23 April 2012
★"˜¨¯¯¨˜"ª¤(¯`*•.¸(¯`*•.. The Hon. Dr. Ron Paul for 2012 ..•*´¯)¸.•*´¯)¤ª"˜¨¯¯¨˜"★
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23 April 2012 11:52PM
HR 3523 / CISPA = YOUR FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXPOSED TO FRAUD
This bill allows all websites to freely send your private data to local police, such as your E*trade or any other online bank records, emails, etc... and makes websites NOT accountable for the fraud as a result.
Also, the fact that Mr. Obama is signing all these bills that violate the U.S. Constitution - Bill Of Rights (1st, 4th,5th & 14th so far) which millions of people DIED for us to have, makes Mr. Obama a MURDERER.
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24 April 2012 12:23AM
My god I wish we had someone like Ron Paul in UK politics.
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24 April 2012 1:01AM
Ron Paul has got all the guts they ever made in the US. Obama might like quoting Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird, the hypocritical schmoozing of his likes, but it's Ron Paul who captures the spirit of Atticus Finch. You start it, knowing that you're beaten, and you see it through because that's what real bravery is about, not men with guns shooting the crap out of others.
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24 April 2012 2:42AM
Oh, the irony of an article where Ron Paul warns of the dangers of controls of the internet having a 'mistake' calling him the 'former' republican presidential candidate. It's really not so surprising this 'mistake' was made; when a lie is told enough people can be made to believe it.
BBC's alleged 'politics' show This Week discussed presidential candidates and mentioned almost everyone but Ron Paul.
http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17784488
The agenda was set and scripted from the beginning to stop Ron Paul:
http://http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/1113439496001/whos-ignoring-ron-paul/
...the facade is barely upheld anymore.
Be sure to know Ron Paul has huge support and could win if it were a level playing field...he may just do it anyway if the people are determined enough, despite the voting irregularities:
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cBx__69pkpY
Ron Paul is needed not only for the US but the whole world...a genuine hope to end the fruitless destructive wars and restore some sanity to the debt-based ponzi-scheme criminally corrupt banking system.
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24 April 2012 3:21AM
When I am sleeping,or too tired to pay attention,Ron Paul is there,tirelessly watching out for my freedom and the goodwill of the world.He had me at end the Fed.A true American hero.
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24 April 2012 3:32AM
A great man. I would love to have seen his effect on the world as President of USA. Alas, it was not to be!
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24 April 2012 4:51AM
Ron Paul is the only politician worth listening to. Google this man!
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24 April 2012 5:59AM
It's pretty amazing, the media hate... from the guardian? to what purpose? Apparently they changed it, perhaps after reading the comments, to "Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul" He is such a transformative figure, it's a shame he won't be appreciated in his time.
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24 April 2012 8:02AM
Quoting
"Cispa permits both the federal government and private companies to view your private online communications without judicial oversight provided that they do so of course in the name of cyber-security," he said.
Amazing that this article in Guardian attracted only a handfull responces and not millions.
Really shows how much people care about their freedom. Makes you wonder if governments polluting the air with amnesia chemicals as I am lost for words.
Cannot explained the people's behavior anymore
Cheers to Ron Paul and all other great men and women in this world who dare to speak out
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24 April 2012 8:08AM
Paul only looks so good because the other 'Republicrat' candidates are so woeful. Still, one suspects that the powers that be are scared of him. On quite a few issues he's absolutely correct, certainly better than that snake oil salesman in the White House at the moment. He's a right-wing loon but a right-wing loon who should be listened to sometimes.
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24 April 2012 10:04AM
The Guardian has hardly mentioned Ron paul unless it absolutely had to during the US primaries. I remember one article where the guardian talked about 1st 3rd and 4th place, but not 2nd. You know who 2nd was.
I'd love to think, "About time, Guardian, finally you're getting your shit together." however, the truth is, I know your media outlet sold out a while back. So the real question remains. Why do the Guardian's backers not like this particular version of the draconian global web censorship bill that the (shit scared now) elites are trying so desperately to foist upon us?
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24 April 2012 11:11AM
Another step towards fascism by Obama and the Democrats. No, wait... the bill was introduced by a Republican and Congress is Republican controlled.
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24 April 2012 12:27PM
How ironic to find a story about Ron Paul in the lefty Guardian.
He is never mentioned in the Telegraph's election coverage unless it is to ridicule him.
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24 April 2012 4:00PM
Dickcheneyonskis,
if you are going to call someone "a right-wing loon" do back the charge up with some substantiated facts, else you just look like someone making an ad hominem attack. As you've alluded to in your 'Republicrat' comment, this false left-right paradigm really has been sold well, as they'd say in the US, lots of people have been drinking the mainstream media's kool-aid. On many important issues Ron Paul could be seen as more left-wing than most democrats, such as his policy towards military interventions. In US politics he's seen as having much common ground with Dennis Kucinich & Ralph Nader who are traditionally seen as being on the left. If you want to try to pigeonhole him try calling him a 'libertarian', that's probably as close to the mark you're going to get in a word. Study his policies, you may not agree with all of them, but it would be grossly unfair to call him a right-wing loon.
After watching this(better still read 'Liberty Defined' or 'End The Fed') please do reassess your comments:
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=E4LBd7Mp2ss
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24 April 2012 4:33PM
Remember Iowa??
Well Ron Paul has officially half of the delegates, meaning he can do no worse than tie for 1st place. The same applies to Minnesota. He has WON these two states at least and there are so many more to play for. The media coverage is one big sham. We were told that Romney won Iowa, then Santorum, but neither had won. Why were we told this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfS1x5RnZZQ
Why does the Guardian co-operate with this black out/smear campaign against Ron Paul? Please dismiss your US election reporters, they have failed to tell the truth and have actively done the opposite.
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24 April 2012 4:35PM
Try Daniel Hannan, he is a rare and very sensible voice in opposition of these attacks on liberty. Tory MEP. he has a youtube channel.
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24 April 2012 7:06PM
You make a number of truly excellent points.
Firstly, my mistake. I meant to say "...a right wing 'loon' " rather than "...a right-wing loon....". I was at work and was posting when I should have been working. Sometimes one's concentration is more on not getting caught rather than on what one's writing. My failed subtle point was going to be that the man gets labelled as 'loony' or 'wacky' (and I was trying to refer to him on that specious level) but even if he believes in some outlandish things (his views on health care in that recent debate or his notion that victims of sexual harassment should merely up and move to another job, come to mind) it shouldn't blind people to the fact - it seems to me, anyway - that on many issues, he seems to be the only Republican or Democrat who seems to live in the real world.
Also, even if one doesn't agree with Paul on some issue, there's something truly admirable about the way he doesn't bend; Paul doesn't and won't 'finesse' things in the fashion that's so beloved by other politicians. In other words, you know what you're dealing with at all times. People forget that even a politician that they like is still a politician and they seemingly always sell you out if you don't hold their feet to the fire. (As a sidebar, I've been amazed to read of poll after poll of progressives who still tell pollsters they'll vote for Obama despite him being a corporatist robot. Why flag up that you're going to vote for him again no matter what new right-wing nonsense he comes up with next? How does that try to push him leftwards? They might as well hold up a huge sign saying: "Progressives are irrelevant!". He knows that he doesn't need to worry about progressives so why bother doing anything progressive?).
"...this false left-right paradigm really has been sold well, as they'd say in the US, lots of people have been drinking the mainstream media's kool-aid...."
This is a total bullseye of a comment, I reckon.
I saw some video of that George Will bloke a few weeks ago saying that he believes that Paul might run third party and would, therefore, give the election to Obama but I think that your ideas put Will's notion straight down the toilet.
Paul outflanks Obama on a number of important issues, one's that Oblahblah said were important to him as he ran for election but now he pays them some nevermind: the utter, global disgrace that is Guantanamo Bay; the just as disgraceful 'War on Drugs'; actual wars in other countries, for example. And then there's Obubya signing the NDAA when no one was looking at the turn of the year. Obama could be in serious trouble if Paul ran and the Doctor hammered him on his bullshitting.
Looking on from Europe, it seems Paul is the only hope, and a thin one at that. My suspicion is that, at some point, the left-wing (or what passes for a left wing) in the USA and right-wing libertarians are going to have to try to hammer out some kind of platform on which they can work in tandem. The was some talk in years gone by of Ralph working with Pat Buchanan or, as you allude to, maybe Paul putting his friend Dennis Kucinich on his third party ticket.
If I was an American, I'd have to vote my conscious every time, so I would put my Presidential 'X' for one of the left-wing/Green third parties but, as I said, Paul seems to be the only Republican or Democrat this year who is a serious candidate for thinking people and yet his marginalisation goes on.
I could say a lot more but I've gone on too long anyway. Kind regards.
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24 April 2012 7:09PM
Jesus Christ, people. Ron Paul has gotten his fair share of time in the limelight. You can check this for yourself. The only "blackouts" going on are the ones you all employ toward media coverage to support their persecutory complexes. And he's called a "former" candidate because he has no chance whatsoever of winning. In fact, he never did.

No doubt, when Ron Paul loses, you will say it is the fault of the media, not that perhaps the candidate's ideology is a square peg and reality a round hole because you lack the wisdom to be self reflective. Of COURSE he doesn't support CISPA, because he doesn't favor anything governmental... at all. He'd turn us into Somalia if he had the chance, and quite frankly, I like living in a civilized society.
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24 April 2012 8:31PM
Ron Paul is the only tonic left in the US medicine cabinet. Apply liberally.
The Ron Paul Map = ronpaulitic.com.
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24 April 2012 8:32PM
Somalia is a bit of an extreme example, if you're trying to be civilized.
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24 April 2012 9:46PM
Thanks for clarifying that for me...your subtlety went way over my head...my bad.
Very interesting comments.
It is sad how his every word is scrutinised with a fine tooth comb and blown out of proportion at the expense of his central messages. His views on health care deserve more than a cursory glance; sure, prima facie, they may appear out there, but maybe, just maybe, we've been so brainwashed into believing ways of doing things it's difficult to entertain a different approach; the fact he was a practising doctor should add some weight. He himself never took medicaid/medicaire & never turned anyone away. Let him speak briefly in his own defence:
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vy7hIVGxgQU
The sexual harassment comments I believe were brought up questioning something he'd originally written in a 1987 book. He was talking in terms of what we as individuals can do in the real world and also that the federal government do not need to bring in new legislation to deal with problems existing laws, if well applied, should deal with. In trying to solve a problem, we might end up with a worse one through state-creep. It's a deeper debate, but the term swallow a camel and strain at a gnat, comes to mind.
Quite agree with you, Paul appears to be a rare breed...a principled politician.
Yes, those progressives, who support Obama have a warped worldview. I went to a lecture by Clive Stafford Smith, the human rights lawyer and advocate against drone attacks, who as a dual national still said he'd probably vote for Obama. For me, these people don't comprehend, as you've rightly pointed out, the corporatism of his administration, believing that 'but he's a good man' is good enough without looking to the actions of his administration.
Agree again, the so-called left and right, or, as I see it, those statesmen/women who have integrity and want the best for the people should support each other against the corrupt sell-outs of whatever political colour.
I'm also looking on from Europe and it does appear that Paul is a slim hope, but the current trajectory of world politics is not heading in a good direction otherwise.
I have much sympathy with environmental issues, but sadly, for me, the Green parties have been co-opted by a more sinister Club of Rome agenda, but that's a whole new topic.
Respect to you and for the informative reply.
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24 April 2012 10:00PM
'And he's called "former" candidate because he has no chance whatsoever of winning."
Seems you put the cart before the horse, but please do explain the logic of this statement. While you're accusing others of lacking wisdom to be self-reflective maybe you can untie the knots in your own cerebral convolutions?
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24 April 2012 10:43PM
Here's how we can resolve this. Ladbrokes has a website where you can bet on the election odds. I believe you can even do VP candidates right now. You put your money on Ron and I'll put my money on Mitt. Then, at the end of the election, we can compare results. How does that sound?
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24 April 2012 11:56PM
Yes ...".Paul said Cispa was an "alarming form of corporatism" that "further intertwines government with companies like Google and Facebook"...and also the fact that fascism has been described of when Government and corporations merge. This plays right into the theory that fascism = corporatism, which is exactly where we are now descending to in this country. It really is eerie how naive and gullible Americans are especially, going about on FaceBook, with out a care in the world while their government intrudes more and more into their private lives.....it make you wonder....
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25 April 2012 12:33AM
Good point.
Aaron Russo, a wonderful freedom fighter, in his movie 'Freedom to Fascism' educates us all:
http://http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173
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25 April 2012 1:02AM
non sequitur...I'm not a betting man, but I wish you all the best, my friend. Someone else might as well get something out of this corrupt system apart from the robber barons.
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Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act is expected to pass the House despite objections from civil liberties groups
Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has slammed a controversial cyberterrorism bill, calling it "Big Brother writ large" and saying it would make "government spies" of Facebook and Google.
The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (Cispa) is due to be heard in the House of Representatives this week and now has the backing of 112 members of Congress.
The bill aims to make it easier for US companies and authorities to share information as they tackle online crime. But it has been attacked by civil liberties groups as too broadly written and a threat to the privacy of ordinary citizens.
Paul urged his supporters to protest against the bill, pointing to the successful campaign against the Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) earlier this year.
"We should never underestimate the federal government's insatiable desire to control the internet," said Paul in an address released Monday.
"Cispa permits both the federal government and private companies to view your private online communications without judicial oversight provided that they do so of course in the name of cyber-security," he said.
The bill was too broadly written and allows the government to use people's information "far beyond any reasonable definition of fighting cyberterrorism," he said.
Paul said Cispa was an "alarming form of corporatism" that "further intertwines government with companies like Google and Facebook. It permits them to hand over your private communication to government officials without a warrant. Circumventing the well-known established federal laws like the wiretap act and the electronic communications privacy act."
"Simply put, Cispa encourages some of our most successful internet companies to act as government spies, sowing distrust of social media and chilling communications in one segment of the world economy where Americans still lead," said Paul.
"Imagine having government-approved employees embedded at Facebook, complete with federal security clearances serving as conduits for secret information about their American customers," he said.
Paul joins a chorus of critics including the White House as well the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Electronic Frontier Foundation and other civil rights groups that have been campaigning against the bill.
The bill's primary sponsor, Mike Rogers, told Talking Points Memo that there was a "strong chance" the bill would be passed by the House this week.