Topic: POLL : Oklahoma "Computer Spyware Protection Act House" Bill 2083

[Nemesis]

Link to full article

THE GOOD people of Oklahoma asked Microsoft to help the State write a new law banning spyware, and the results are amazing.

In other words if you install Vista, Microsoft can come in, snoop around your computer see if you are doing anything illegal and delete it.

Vole can also read your email.

Is it wise to ask a convict to help you write the laws that will govern their behaviour in the future?  I don't think so.

[Just plain old Punisher]

Allright, who voted to blame me?!?! I'll call up microsoft and ask them if I have to you bastards!

[Nemesis]

Link to Oklahoma Gazette article

Which means, when a user accepts Microsoft’s Windows operating system on that new computer, or Norton AntiVirus, or Apple’s operating system or a host of other online-upgradable programs, that user agrees to being watched by the company.

Linux is about the only way to avoid this law if you are within Oklahoma.  (Hear that Stephen? ).

Allright, who voted to blame me?!?! I'll call up microsoft and ask them if I have to you bastards!

But I'm posting from Firefox on Linux and NOT from Oklahoma.

[Just plain old Punisher]

When you're talking about technical matters, it is a good idea to invite people who are knowledgeable about the subject to help you write the law. However, I tend to think creating a working group of several industry experts would be a much better idea than only inviting microsoft.

Advice is different from actually sitting down and writing the law tho.

[Nemesis]

When you're talking about technical matters, it is a good idea to invite people who are knowledgeable about the subject to help you write the law. However, I tend to think creating a working group of several industry experts would be a much better idea than only inviting microsoft.

Advice is different from actually sitting down and writing the law tho.

Agreed.  I don't object to Microsft being consulted but as you say others should have been given input.  Others like the EFF and the FSF just to name two who have more the end users rights in mind to counterbalance the mercenary views of companies.

Something to consider.  Can a company afford to let their software suppliers have unfettered access to their machines?  How about the government? 

Remember you don't get to negotiate the details of your Windows license.  You are stuck with what Microsoft says the license is.  Even if you are big enough (the U.S. Federal Government or Military or the EU) to get a custom license can you really be sure that Microsoft will be able to tell that a given machine is covered by the custom license rather than the default license?