November 20, 2007

"Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act" (Jane Harman, Hillary Clinton)

The House recently passed Jane Harman's "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act" (HR 1955, link), and it's currently in the Senate. I scanned it after seeing some anti-HR1955 videos (example link), but I didn't see any bright red flags. Now comes the guest editorial "Here come the thought police" (link):

...Not since the "Patriot Act" of 2001 has any bill so threatened our constitutionally guaranteed rights.

...[Harman's] bill tramples constitutional rights by creating a commission with sweeping investigative power and a mandate to propose laws prohibiting whatever the commission labels "homegrown terrorism."

...Ms. Harman's proposal includes an absurd attack on the Internet, criticizing it for providing Americans with "access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda," and legalizes an insidious infiltration of targeted organizations. The misnamed "Center of Excellence," which would function after the commission is disbanded in 18 months, gives the semblance of intellectual research to what is otherwise the suppression of dissent...

Although they only mention the current administration, perhaps we should play the inevitable, "would we trust Hillary Clinton with these powers?" game.

And, from this we learn that a related Harman panel ("Terrorism and the Internet") had testimony conflating 9/11 Truthers with terrorists.

It would seem that we're starting down the slippery slope towards criminalizing those who disagree with the official interpretation of events, and I suggest contacting your Senators and/or those in the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (hsgac.senate.gov).

Posted to Privacy at November 20, 2007 11:07 AM