From: jamesd@echeque.com
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 15:48:04 +0800
To: Tim Philp <frissell@panix.com>
Subject: Re: Fair Credit Reporting Act and Privacy Act
Message-ID: <199602090726.XAA27422@blob.best.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



On Mon, 5 Feb 1996, Duncan Frissell wrote:
>> Unfortunately, [a privacy act] would also:
>> 
>> *  Require government registration of computers and databases containing
>> information about people (whether these computers are used by business or
>> individuals).  This eases regulation of computers and future confiscation.

At 07:04 PM 2/5/96 -0500, Tim Philp wrote:
>I don't believe that this follows at all. All that would be required 
>would be a statutory obligation to comply with the legislation.

And how can you enforce this statutory obligation?  Privacy laws 
against private citizens run into the same problem as drug laws:  
You need intrusive means to enforce them.

A law "protecting" privacy would require government supervision 
of what is on my computer and your computer.  

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
              				|  
We have the right to defend ourselves	|   http://www.jim.com/jamesd/
and our property, because of the kind	|  
of animals that we are. True law	|   James A. Donald
derives from this right, not from the	|  
arbitrary power of the state.		|   jamesd@echeque.com