Yes, it really is bound to happen. Bureaucracies have a way of wanting to
find a use for themselves. What's more, like lawyers, they like to work by
precedent - when one state/country decides it needs to regulate the
Internet the others will just have to follow suit. It is interesting, for
example, that the Council of Europe is now apparently wanting to outlaw
strong encryption (as it is already in France): maybe they'll suggest a
Clipper chip next.
Check out the Economy article in October Fortune magazine for a good
example: how the CIA is justifying its existence as an economic espionage
agency now the Cold War has ended.
Having just sent a colleague in US his (licenced) copy of some software by
email, it seems clear that the crunch will come when governments realize
their loss in customs control/revenue. Fully domestic Net transactions can
be accounted for by extra-Net controls, but it is the international
free-for-all that they will not take kindly to.
Enjoy the freedom while we can!
Jason Creak
London
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