The Technology Liberation Front - Latest Comments in McCain’s Tech Policy a Mixed Bag at Best

Re: McCain’s Tech Policy a Mixed Bag at Best

Adam_Thierer — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:45:52 -0000

Of course, despite being right on free speech issue, the rest if Obama's tech plan reads like a Big Government laundry list. Net neutrality is priority #1 and increased media regulation is a close second.

Re: McCain’s Tech Policy a Mixed Bag at Best

Adam_Thierer — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:44:20 -0000

Here's what Obama has said on content / First Amendment issues. He's struck the right balance by promoting parental empowerment over censorship.

Re: McCain’s Tech Policy a Mixed Bag at Best

BubbaDude — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:54:30 -0000

Obama's all-socialist tech policy cheerleading squad is jumping all over the McCain policy on CircleID today. The general argument seems to be: "Obama loves gadgets so you can trust him to regulate the Internet in a really cool, new-age kinda way."

I'd like to work for the McCain campaign just to knock these ruffians around.

Re: McCain’s Tech Policy a Mixed Bag at Best

DB — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:28:45 -0000

This is really Adam's domain of expertise, but here's an Amicus brief submitted by Sen. McCain in support of COPA:

http://supreme.lp.findlaw.com/Supreme_Court/bri...

Re: McCain’s Tech Policy a Mixed Bag at Best

bszoka — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:04:34 -0000

Oh, I don't disagree with you, DB, that Obama's got McCain beat hands down when it comes to the First Amendment. And of course you're right that even where McCain is at his rhetorical best--"fighting "to Keep the Internet Free From Government Regulation," he gives himself an out with the "except for necessary regulation caveat. I can only say that I was trying to balance what most people would take as a fairly negative review of McCain's tech policy with a recognition that he's at least talking the talk on some level--however inconsistently.

Incidentally, I'd be curious to hear more from the crowd about McCain's record on Internet issues. I know he introduced CIPA, the Children’s Internet Protection Act, which ties Federal funding for schools & libraries to blocking pornography. But on COPA, for example, there was no clear vote, since that mockery of the First Amendment was rolled into the omnibus appropriations bill back in 1998.

Re: McCain’s Tech Policy a Mixed Bag at Best

DB — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:40:48 -0000

Thanks for this post. How can McCain oppose net neutrality, but simultaneously embrace wireless net neutrality? Isn't this like saying, "I believe the government should take more money out of people's paychecks, but I categorically oppose tax increases."

Let's be honest here. Do you really think McCain has read Wu's piece on wireless Carterfone? Of course not. It is no coincidence that he is receiving tech advice from Meg Whitman (former CEO of eBay/Skype) and Pablo Chavez (senior Google lobbyist and former McCain chief counsel).

McCain opposes "unnecessary" regulation of the Internet, and you proclaim:

"Even a hardened Ron Paul/Bob Taft/Grover Cleveland/Jack Randolph-survivalist/libertarian-crank like me can rally behind that banner."

Really? As James pointed out last week, the FCC currently "does not regulate the Internet or Internet Service Providers." By including "unnecessary," he commits to begin regulating the Internet...as long as its "necessary." This is a loophole any lobbyist can drive a truck through. Defining "necessary" regulation is like defining "reasonable" network management. As long as Meg Whitman and Pablo Chavez are involved, my guess is that "necessary" will mean any regulation that benefits Skype or Google.

Furthermore, did you notice that McCain also released "Ensuring the Personal Security and Privacy of Americans in the Digital Age." Essentially, you can think of it as the McCain manifesto on protecting the children. It reminds us of his staunch support for COPA, and his sponsorship of COPPA. Obama has him beat by a mile on this issue:

"Obama values our First Amendment freedoms and our right to artistic expression and does not view regulation as the answer to these concerns. Instead, an Obama administration will give parents the tools and information they need to control what their children see on television and the Internet in ways fully consistent with the First Amendment."