While I was away from the computer for the past several days, there has been considerable discussion over the ''anti-piracy' legislation, namely the 'Stop Online Piracy Act' or SOPA, and the 'Protect IP Act' or PIPA. It appears that the proposed legislation is now in limbo, but it undoubtedly will not go away.
The one thing I've noticed when reading around the Internet about this issue is that it has been covered mainly by leftist bloggers, especially those with non-political blogs (blogs about popular culture, the arts, and so on). I've seen very little conservative commentary about this issue, and yet does it not seem that conservatives should be just as concerned about this? After all, it may be on the surface about 'piracy' such as file-sharing involving copyrighted material, but it ultimately concerns freedom of expression for bloggers as well as others on the Internet.
This piece notes that there are some conservatives working with the liberal opponents of SOPA and PIPA, but this is one of the few mentions that I've found of any conservative involvement.
I know that many conservatives see this issue strictly in terms of people 'stealing' someone's so-called 'intellectual property' or artistic output (as in music or other copyrighted material) but it is really not as cut-and-dried as these pro-business 'conservatives' like to make it.
For instance, there is some dispute over whether those (such as bloggers or possibly people posting Internet comments) are liable for linking to copyrighted material, including embedding videos and linking to written materials under copyright. That kind of thing would apply to most bloggers, including this blogger.
And there is the ever-present possibility that all these kinds of proposals to regulate content will lead inevitably toward the imposition of controls over free speech and free expression on the Internet. The idea of a universal ''internet ID'' for individuals is troubling. And yet few of us, probably, would doubt that the powers that be would love to impose such controls.
Why, then, are conservatives and others on the politically incorrect right not more vocal in opposing these measures? I read blogs by many libertarians and yet even they have been pretty quiet about the proposed legislation. Why? Why is it only the leftists and liberals who are speaking up?
As for the more obvious examples of so-called 'piracy' on the Internet, it seems that the RIAA and others have been excessively harsh in targeting a few offenders, with one person being fined $1.5 million for downloading and sharing a couple of dozen songs. If the guilty party is unable to pay the fine, jail time will be imposed. Call their acts 'theft' if you like, but the punishment does not fit the crime. And those who care about any sort of principles of justice should question why the music moguls should have such clout in getting harsh laws enacted and excessive fines imposed.
With all the outrage among some on the right about the evils of the 'State' or 'big government', what about the excesses of 'big business', which are very real? And why should the government be in the pockets of business, which they undoubtedly are? Conservatives often err in seeing 'business' and capitalism as an unqualified good, which it is not, necessarily. Business which is too big and too powerful politically is just as onerous as 'big government.'
But in the case of Internet free speech, the government and business are working together as an unholy combination to try to control thoughts and ideas which are not permitted, sometimes under the guise of trying to protect business interests.
