Wombat Attack

Sen. Issa’s Digital Citizen’s Bill of Rights to stop PIPA and SOPA

Congressman Darrell Issa is proposing a digital Bill of Rights to stop PIPA and SOPA and he wants (and quite frankly needs) the communities help. Here is his open letter as it reads on keepthewebopen.com…

“A Digital Citizen’s Bill of Rights”

I believe that individuals possess certain fundamental rights. Government should exist to protect those rights against those who would violate them. That is the revolutionary principle at the heart of the American Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution. No one should trample our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That’s why the Bill of Rights is an American citizen’s first line of defense against all forms of tyranny.

But where can a digital citizen turn for protection against the powerful? This question lay at the heart of the fight to stop SOPA and PIPA and keep the web open. While I do not have all the answers, the remarkable cooperation we witnessed in defense of an open Internet showed me three things. First, government is flying blind, interfering and regulating without understanding even the basics. Second, we have a rare opportunity to give government marching orders on how to treat the Internet, those who use it and the innovation it supports. And third, we must get to work immediately because our opponents are not giving up.

We need to frame a digital Bill of Rights. This is my first draft. I need your help to get this right, so I published it here in Madison for everyone to comment, criticize and collaborate. I look forward to hearing from you and continuing to work together to keep the web open.  -Congressman Darrell Issa

KEEP THE WEB OPEN

On Sen. Dan Issa’s Keep the Web Open home page is an outline to this proposed Bill of Rights via 10 proclamations. Personally I’d like to see #10 eliminated, or at least greatly modified, as its too broadly worded. Will be interesting to see where this goes ultimately.