‘Super-DMCA’ fears suppress security research

Having your country’s legislation driven by big business is a very bad thing:
‘Super-DMCA’ fears suppress security research

“A University of Michigan graduate student noted for his research into steganography and honeypots — techniques for concealing messages and detecting hackers, respectively — says he’s been forced to move his research papers and software offshore and prohibit U.S. residents from accessing it, in response to a controversial new state law that makes it a felony to possess software capable of concealing the existence or source of any electronic communication.”

“Taken literally, the law is bad news for businesses like Anonymizer.com and Hushmail — both services cater to privacy-conscious Internet users determined to conceal their place of origin from marketers, or to communicate anonymously. Critics say it would also ban firewalls and NAT boxes, dealing a blow to Internet security. “This statute essentially criminalizes the mere possession of technology,” says Fred von Lohmann, senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which opposes the legislation. “

“”It’s very difficult, reading the law, it makes basically everything that I do illegal,” says Provos.”

Link from slashdot