112 HR 1981 RH: Protecting Children From Internet Pornographers Act of 2011
Introduced December 16, 2011
H.R. 1981 is officially called the “Protecting Children From Internet Pornographers Act of 2011.” Sounds good, right? Who wouldn’t want to protect our children from online trash? But, as is the case with most things the government does for “our own good,” the title doesn’t make clear exactly what it will do.
H.R. 1981 is just a cleverly disguised way to force online service providers to spy on your online activities and provide that information to the government. The Electronic Frontier Foundation rightfully calls it the “Data Retention Bill.”
It requires providers to keep DETAILED RECORDS OF ·
Your internet activity for 12 months ·
Your name ·
Your address ·
Your bank account numbers ·
Your credit card numbers ·
Any IP addresses assigned to you
If someone were suspected of wrongdoing on the internet—for instance, of downloading child pornography—this information could be gathered by subpoena process. We expect law enforcement to gain access to this information. But, H.R. 1981 mandates that these records be kept ON EVERY CITIZEN IN AMERICA and will be accessible by the government regardless of whether or not you have been accused of a crime!
S. 1308 is the Senate companion bill -- view here.
Sign the petition and send letters to OPPOSE this bill -- select here!