Bill would require ISPs to track users

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) has proposed a bill requiring ISPs to track the identities and online activities of their users. This ill-conceived bill would put yet more personal information in the hands of private corporations all for the supposed purpose of fighting child porn. Unfortunately, this bill will do little to nothing to stop it. This bill will put undue burden on ISPs and expose most people to even more risk of identity theft, to say nothing of the privacy issues.

Personal Tech – New York Mulls iPod Ban on City Streets

A New York state senator has proposed the idea of making it a crime to use electronic gadgets like iPods and Blackberry phones while crossing the street. He seems to think that fining people will somehow stop them from doing stupid things like walking in front of a bus. While the intention of protecting the public is commendable, I doubt this will work. There’s a reason pedestrians have the right of way…