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Feds Hold Hearing On Whether They Should ‘Regulate’ Sites Like Zero Hedge

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Submitted by Michael Snyder via The Economic Collapse blog,

The control freaks that run our government always seem to want to “regulate” things that they do not like.  And so it should be no surprise that there is a renewed push to regulate independent news websites.  Sites like the Drudge ReportThe Economic Collapse Blog , and Zero Hedge have been a thorn in the side of the establishment for years.  You see, the truth is that approximately 90 percent of all news and entertainment in this country is controlled by just six giant media corporationsThat is why the news seems to be so similar no matter where you turn.  But in recent years the alternative media has exploded in popularity. 

People are hungry for the truth, and an increasing number of Americans are waking up to the fact that they are not getting the truth from the corporate-controlled media.  But as the alternative media has grown, it was only going to be a matter of time before the establishment started cracking down on it.  At the moment it is just the FEC and the FCC, but surely this is just the beginning.  Our “Big Brother” government ultimately wants to control every area of our lives – and this especially applies to our ability to communicate freely with one another.

The Federal Election Commission is an example of a federal rule making body that has gotten wildly out of control.  Since just about anything that anyone says or does could potentially “influence an election”, it is not difficult for them to come up with excuses to regulate things that they do not like.

And on Wednesday, the FEC held a hearing on whether or not they should regulate political speech on blogs, websites and YouTube videos…

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is holding a hearing today to receive public feedback on whether it should create new rules regulating political speech, including political speech on the Internet that one commissioner warned could affect blogs, YouTube videos and even websites like the Drudge Report.

If you do not think that this could ever happen, you should consider what almost happened at the FEC last October

In October, then FEC Vice Chairwoman Ann M. Ravel promised that she would renew a push to regulate online political speech following a deadlocked commission vote that would have subjected political videos and blog posts to the reporting and disclosure requirements placed on political advertisers who broadcast on television. On Wednesday, she will begin to make good on that promise.

 

“Some of my colleagues seem to believe that the same political message that would require disclosure if run on television should be categorically exempt from the same requirements when placed in the Internet alone,” Ravel said in an October statement. “As a matter of policy, this simply does not make sense.”

 

“In the past, the Commission has specifically exempted certain types of Internet communications from campaign finance regulations,” she lamented. “In doing so, the Commission turned a blind eye to the Internet’s growing force in the political arena.”

As our nation continues to drift toward totalitarianism, it is only a matter of time before political speech on the Internet is regulated.  It is already happening in other countries all around the globe, and control freak politicians such as Ravel will just keep pushing until they get what they want.

The way that they are spinning it this time around is that they desperately need to do something “about money in politics”

Noting the 32,000 public comments that came into the FEC in advance of the hearing, Democratic Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub said, “75 percent thought that we need to do more about money in politics, particularly in the area of disclosure. And I think that’s something that we can’t ignore.”

And it isn’t just a few control freak Democrats that want these changes.

The Brennan Center for Justice, the Campaign Legal Center, the League of Women Voters and Public Citizen were all expected to testify in favor of more government regulation on the Internet at the hearing.

Fortunately, other organizations are doing what they can to warn the general population.  For example, the following comes from the Electronic Frontier Foundation

Increased regulation of online speech is not only likely to chill participation in the public debate, but it may also threaten individual speakers’ privacy and right to post anonymously.  In so doing, it may undermine two goals of campaign finance reform: protecting freedom of political speech and expanding political participation.

 

As we stated in our joint comments to the FEC back in 2005 [pdf], “the Internet provides a counter-balance to the undue dominance that ‘big money’ has increasingly wielded over the political process in the past half-century.” We believe that heightened regulation of online political speech will hamper the Internet’s ability to level the playing field.

Meanwhile, Barack Obama and the FCC are using net neutrality as an excuse to impose lots of new regulations on Internet activity.

Ajit Pai is an FCC commissioner who is opposed to this plan.  He recently sent out a tweet holding what he calls “President Obama’s 332-page plan to regulate the Internet“…

Ajit Pai’s description of “President Obama’s 332-page plan to regulate the Internet” sounds Orwellian. He tweeted a picture of himself holding the 332-page plan just below a picture of a smiling Barack Obama with a comment, “I wish the public could see what’s inside.” The implication depicted Obama as George Orwell’s “Big Brother.”

 

Pai also released a statement: “President Obama’s plan marks a monumental shift toward government control of the Internet. It gives the FCC the power to micromanage virtually every aspect of how the Internet works,” he said. “The plan explicitly opens the door to billions of dollars in new taxes on broadband… These new taxes will mean higher prices for consumers and more hidden fees that they have to pay.”

Here is the photo that he posted with his tweet…

President Obama's 332-page plan to regulate the Internet

After what we went through with Obamacare, one can only imagine what is inside that monstrosity of a document.

Regulation of the Internet is here, and it is only going to get worse.

But at least we are not like Saudi Arabia just yet.  Recently, a Saudi blogger was sentenced to 1,000 lashes for “insulting Islam“.

So we should be thankful for the freedoms that we still have.  But without a doubt, governments all over the world are slowly but surely cracking down on Internet freedom.

If we do not stand up for our rights now, one day we may wake up and find that our freedom to communicate with one another over the Internet is totally gone.

 

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Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:34 | 5778064 Bollixed
Bollixed's picture

You bring up a good point...

When people are on a crusade, such as that poster, it shows an inherently myopic view of the subject which in turn leads to the lack of objectiveness needed to discuss such topics openly.

Creating a pure 'black and white' picture of anything leads to automatic suspicion by many of what is offered. In a large sense, this poster is doing a huge disservice to the cause he/she seeks to bring to light.

And since that poster probably isn't cognizant of the damage done by posting in such fashion the reality, as the poster has already admitted, is to keep blindly on the same path even if the need for other aliases is required.

You can't cram information down people's throats, it's far better to engage them by building up credibility first which that poster has failed to do. Hence the collective reaction here.

As far as the information coming out of the hose is concerned I doubt most people here will bother with the investment of time needed to study it. And after all, without any prior credibility built up one has no way of knowing if the investment in time required will show a return or just lead down another path of misinformation.

Fri, 02/13/2015 - 05:03 | 5779678 Lore
Lore's picture

Welcome to Fight Club, where people have a pretty good nose for bullshit.  If you're a bullshitter, you'll be told to fuck off. It's how free markets work. 

"Putin regime tanks in Ukraine that are not in any country army but only in Russia" <-- You mean those resold T-72s from HUNGARY?  Or how about those satellite images that were taken from a fucking VIDEO GAME?  How quickly those news items disappeared down the Memory Hole.  And now this: 

Senator "Duped" Into Using Old Photos to Promote New War With Russia

You know what you can do?

Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:00 | 5777869 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

No, it's because he's a Latvian communist that is being paid one potato daily by the Kiev Yatzi junta for his anti-Russia trolling.

Thu, 02/12/2015 - 22:15 | 5778819 buyingsterling
buyingsterling's picture

AS they did in Ukraine, Obama's pukes are spending billions on 'democracy' projects in Russia, actively trying to destablize the country. Strange that these internet rules in Russia are coming just as the west is starting to talk openly about 'regime change' in Russia. Probably not coincidence.

Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:33 | 5777707 Lumberjack
Lumberjack's picture

  • Freedom123.net freedom123.net/
     

    for anyone looking to earn extra cash or who look for a new career clear explanations.

  • Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:07 | 5777898 rwe2late
    rwe2late's picture

      Freedom123

    Are you a Russian citizen?

    If so, direct your complaints to your fellow citizens.

    Sorry if you don't like some of your government's policies.

    I am sure there are plenty of things about many governments that their own citizens do not like, from India to Bahrain to France etc.

    But US citizens, beliefs of being "exceptional" notwithstanding, should not be in the business of  attempting to "fix" the governments of other nations,

    no more than should citizens of other nations "fix" the US government to their liking.

    If the US is to benefit anyone by example, it must demonstrate exemplary conduct,

    a bar set qualitatively higher than that set by hubristic comparisons

    and self-righteous claims

    to be the least worst.

     

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:07 | 5777568 surf0766
    surf0766's picture

    Communist/socialist/nazi/progressive assholes

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:18 | 5777617 falak pema
    falak pema's picture

    you've just reinvented the political dictionary as an area of sodomite love fest. 

    Who loves the front entrance? The luddites and Robinson Crusoe? 

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:09 | 5777573 czarangelus
    czarangelus's picture

    These people misunderstand the nature of humans to such an extent that it's actually sort of funny. They honestly believe this will protect them rather than making things worse.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:10 | 5777575 Hubbs
    Hubbs's picture

    Which is why I bought an Elecraft  High Frequency ham radio and got all three HAM certifications last year.

    Remember the resistance in WWII?

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:08 | 5777907 Bob
    Bob's picture

    US ranks 43rd in Press Freedom:

    https://firstlook.org/theintercept/greenwald/

    And dropping like a rock.  What did those items cost, if you don't mind me asking?

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:25 | 5778264 Hubbs
    Hubbs's picture

    By the time you get the KX3 radio with the autotuner, passband filters, a PX3 panadaptor, 100 watt KPA100amplifier, Buddipole antennas, etc, $3,500

    http://www.elecraft.com/

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 22:15 | 5778821 Bob
    Bob's picture

    Thanks, Hubbs.  Lately I've been giving it some thought in the realm of "what if's."

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:10 | 5777577 whatthecurtains
    whatthecurtains's picture

    You'd think since they are watching your phone and email they'd have enough dirt on you to just blackmail you into shutting up.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:12 | 5777587 Utah_Get_Me_2
    Utah_Get_Me_2's picture

    Pretty sure it said Drudgereport.com, Infowars.com and TheEconomicCollapseblog.com... ZeroHedge.com wasn't mentioned in the article.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:13 | 5777592 will ling
    will ling's picture

    if we're not willing to bleed, they'll continue to feed.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:16 | 5777610 freedom123
    freedom123's picture

    The number of restrictions placed on the Internet in Russia since Vladimir Putin returned to the Kremlin in 2012 is daunting. What’s been outlawed and what’s still legal on the RuNet? To help people keep track of what’s what in Russian cyberspace, RuNet Echo has compiled a chronological list of the most important laws to hit the Russian Internet in the past two years. For each law, readers can find links to the legislation’s full text in Russian, as well as RuNet Echo articles in English describing the details and significance of each initiative.

    The law that launched a thousand ships: creating the RuNet Blacklist

    [The full text in Russian. RuNet Echo’s commentary in English.]

    Signed by Putin on July 28, 2012. This is law that launched the crackdown on Internet freedom in Russia. The law created a government registry for websites found to contain materials deemed harmful to children. Illegal content under this law includes child pornography, drug paraphernalia, and instructions about self-harm. Without a court order, Russia’s federal communications agency is able to add to the registry any website hosting such material. Later laws have allowed police to blacklist other kinds of websites, too, using the infrastructure created here.

    The ‘Russian SOPA’

    [The full text of the original law in Russian. The text of the updated draft legislation. RuNet Echo’s commentary in English.]

    Signed on July 2, 2013. Often referred to as the “Russian SOPA,” this is an anti-piracy law that allows courts to block websites accused of hosting stolen intellectual property. What ultimately reached Putin’s desk in July 2013 was a somewhat watered-down version of the initial legislation, which called for applying the law to a wide variety of content. (The law’s final text addressed only stolen films.) The Russian Parliament is poised, however, to pass a new bill later this year that will expand the law’s application to music, e-books, and software.

    Blacklisting the news

    [The full text in Russian. RuNet Echo’s commentary in English.]

    Signed on December 28, 2013. This law gives Russia’s Attorney General the extrajudicial power to add to the RuNet Blacklist any websites containing “calls to riots, extremist activities, the incitement of ethnic and (or) sectarian hatred, terrorist activity, or participation in public events held in breach of appropriate procedures.” In March 2014, police used this law to block four major opposition websites, including three news portals and the blog of Russia’s most prominent anti-corruption activist. Since the law passed last year, the Attorney General as blacklisted 191 different Web addresses.

    The law that got away: policing news-aggregators

    In April 2014, Putin revealed at a public forum that the government was investigating the legal status of online news-aggregation services like Yandex News. In May, a Duma deputy asked the Russian Attorney General to issue a ruling about the status of Yandex News, to determine if the state should regulate such websites as mass media outlets. In early June, Yandex’s CEO joined Putin onstage at a forum on Internet entrepreneurship, where the two chatted amicably about the RuNet’s economic potential. On July 1, Russian newspapers reported that the Attorney General does not consider news-aggregation to qualify as mass media, aborting the Duma’s effort to impose new regulations on Yandex News and similar websites.

    The anti-terrorism package, aka “the Bloggers Law”

    [The full text in Russian. RuNet Echo’s commentary in English.]

    Signed on May 5, 2014. This package consisted of three separate laws, hurried through the Duma after terrorist attacks in the city of Volgograd in December 2013. Two of the laws added new Internet regulations, creating restrictions on electronic money transfers (banning all foreign financial transactions involving anonymous parties) and extensive requirements for governing the activity of “popular bloggers” and the data retention of certain websites and online networks. The “law on bloggers” takes effect on August 1, 2014, creating a new registry especially for citizen-media outlets with daily audiences bigger than three thousand people. Bloggers added to this registry face a series of new regulations (against obscene language, libel, and so on), increasing their vulnerability to criminal prosecution.

    Hard time for retweets

    [The full text in Russian. RuNet Echo’s commentary in English.]

    Signed on June 28, 2014. This law allows the government to hand down five-year prison sentences to people who re-disseminate extremist materials online. The “law against retweets” codifies an existing police practice, but making the policy official could increase the number of such prosecutions in the future.

    A digital Gulag

    [The full text in Russian. RuNet Echo’s commentary in English.]

    Passed by the Duma on July 4, 2014. This legislation still awaits the Senate’s approval and Putin’s signature. The law, if passed, will require all websites that store user data about Russian citizens to house that data on servers located inside Russia. According to the legislation’s logic, websites will be barred from storing Russian users’ personal data anywhere outside of Russia (though the law’s actual text is somewhat vague on this point, perhaps because of jurisdictional limitations on what Russia can mandate outside its borders). The law applies to a wide variety of websites, ranging from e-booking services to Facebook, affecting any website or online service operating on the concept of “users.”

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:24 | 5777650 SickDollar
    SickDollar's picture

    YOU SAID YOU DO NOT LIKE ZH IS SOME OF YOUR   COMMENTS

    THAN PLEASE DO US ALL A FAVOR AND FUCK OFF

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:26 | 5777669 freedom123
    freedom123's picture

    Ha ha ha :D You loved that... no darling... I will stay here forever to expose putin regime crimes :) and as more ruskie payd trolls will line up after me I will more encoraged to post more materials here. With this user or if it will be blocked than with other. But I will be here till putin regime collapses and people in Russia regain their freedom.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:35 | 5777717 SickDollar
    SickDollar's picture

    IT SO FUNNY , ALL THE TROLLS   HAVE THE SAME RESPONSE  WITH THAT THREAT OF MULTI ACCOUNTS

    (YOU ALWAYS FEEL THREATEN SO YOU CREATE MULTI ACCOUNTS WHY IS THAT ?????? THAT IS NOT A NORMAL BEHAVIOR ?

    I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU, CUZ FOR ME THATS A LOT OF WORK FOR  NOTHING UNLESS YOU ARE GETTING PAID ,,,,, HHHHMMMM ME THINK THE PAY IS VERY GOOD

     

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:44 | 5777794 freedom123
    freedom123's picture

    Well, I create account after ZH blocks one. No problem to change IP adresses and emails... you know.

    I have never posted swearing or other unethical words. I don't create content  - I repost it with references.

    For known reason ZH doesn't like view that reveals putin regime crimes and blocks my account.

    But as I said - no problem to create new one if they like to block accounts who spread facts with references.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:55 | 5778374 smacker
    smacker's picture

    "I create account after ZH blocks one. No problem to change IP adresses and emails... you know."

    Standard troll MO.

    If you like trolling, try Usenet newsgroups.

    Latvian Potato Soup recipe to follow.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:35 | 5777718 WhackoWarner
    WhackoWarner's picture

    I personally appreciate your links. Thanks

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:41 | 5777761 freedom123
    freedom123's picture

    You are welcome my friend.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:09 | 5777914 UselessEater
    UselessEater's picture

    I'm also getting tired of the few posters here that can recognise a west-east pivot by design. For example, China's preferred status over recent decades. The west is being forced into decline... we are not supposed to recognise this, but cheer the on the rise of the BRICS  as the alternative -once again we're arguing within a pre-defined two party system.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:26 | 5778018 freedom123
    freedom123's picture

    Indeed. That is what I'm saying.

    There must be alternatives in principles. So far people cheer for their PIMP not principles.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 23:24 | 5779098 Unix
    Unix's picture

    hey stooge-ing, we need you in the caught on tape thread, stat

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:02 | 5777880 stvitus
    stvitus's picture

    "I will stay here forever to expose putin regime crimes"

    Oh, brother. 

    Before you waste any more of your diminishing hours and minutes on this planet, please google "clicktavism" and why it is so fantastically lame. Even if you're dead on about your spam, think about where you are and what you are doing before you're on your deathbed, telling the phantom of the son or daughter you never had how you wish you'd never spent so much time on the internet.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:52 | 5778365 smacker
    smacker's picture

    "I will stay here forever to expose putin regime crimes"

    Only until you get barred for disruption.

    Latvian Potato Soup recipe to follow.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:55 | 5777846 Niall Of The Ni...
    Niall Of The Nine Hostages's picture

    If Russia's fifth column want to go to an anglophone MSM website outside Russia to be told whatever they want to hear, they're free to do so. You just can't base a website peddling child porn, recruiting children for sex, spreading libel about the Russian government or any of its officials, or advocating the violent overthrow of the government of the Russian Federation on a Russian server.

    Putin can handle the truth. Pity the banksters can't.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:23 | 5777993 freedom123
    freedom123's picture

    "Putin can handle the truth"

    Ou he is "handling" it... in a way alright ;)

    http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2012/mar/11/journalist-safet...

     

     

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:51 | 5778363 smacker
    smacker's picture

    Latvian Potato Soup recipe to follow.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:58 | 5778385 Niall Of The Ni...
    Niall Of The Nine Hostages's picture

    Those weren't journalists. They were propagandists and disinformation agents in the  pay of Russia's enemies. Big fucking difference.

    Anna Politkovskaya was an agent of the CIA and House of Saud whose role was to spread disinfo about the terror campaign in Chechnya, which the House of Saud hoped to transform into an Islamic state, and to slander Putin. By 2006, with the military phase of the Chechen conflict at an end and the terrorists on the run, Anna had outlived her usefulness, and she was liquidated, possibly with the assistance of Boris Berezovsky, an emigré and enemy of Putin able to recommend hitmen in the motherland who knew how to make it look like the work of the FSB. 

    Not that it matters. Russian journalists have learned that whatever the CIA offer them or threaten them with, betraying their country isn't worth it.

    Scream louder, Anna. The demons finish faster that way.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 20:29 | 5778482 chindit13
    chindit13's picture

    Well aren't you a wingnut asshole.  I know your love muffin Puti is a little guy, but it's still amazing he can climb so far up your ass and move your mouth.

    Perhaps you have definite proof---not "internet research"---that Politkovskaya was what you say?  Didn't think so.  You don't know shit.

    May her ghost come to your room tonight, and every night, as soon as you turn off the lights.

     

    BOOO!

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:44 | 5778111 besnook
    besnook's picture

    you miss the point. who cares what putin does to russians? all .govs are only interested in power, even if at first under the naive guise of some principle. putin can shoot all the russians he wants as far as i am concerned. i wouldn't like it, but, it is a russian problem after all.

    if pago pago stood up to the usa i woul;d cheer for them. as long as putin stands firm against the usa he has my support as an american. i have no delusion that the next system will turn out any better but this system has to end and the sooner the better.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:50 | 5778359 smacker
    smacker's picture

    Latvian Potato Soup recipe to follow.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:17 | 5777614 Son of Captain Nemo
    Son of Captain Nemo's picture

    Cass Sunstein's methane at the "Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs" lives on!...

    So what will happen Tyler when they shut this site down for doing nothing more than exercising your right to free speech in telling the truth about the lack of sound money running this government?...

    Is there a plan in the event they make good on this threat???

     

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:17 | 5777615 Seasmoke
    Seasmoke's picture

    Send me smoke signals. I read them. 

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:39 | 5777747 WhackoWarner
    WhackoWarner's picture

    Donate/support TOR and use it. Become a bridge relay.

    Censored users have done so for years in very restricted areas

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:20 | 5777635 Seasmoke
    Seasmoke's picture

    Did you hear the one about Israel ???............

    Those who you can't criticize, rule over you. 

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:50 | 5777827 f16hoser
    f16hoser's picture

    Fuck those Zionist Pigs!!! Bang a Jewish Princess: https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KIo9QgIN1UvRoAyar7w8QF;...

     

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:23 | 5777649 Truffle_Shuffle
    Truffle_Shuffle's picture

    WTF...seriously?  Just going to substitute Zero Hedge for Infowars like that?  

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:29 | 5777657 a common man
    a common man's picture

    No response.

     

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:25 | 5777660 juggalo1
    juggalo1's picture

    I think the article is interpretting this the dead opposite of what it means.  As the context of the article stated the regulation is mostly about political speech and advertising by politicians.  For example if a politician was paying for endorsements on Zerohedge, or if staffers were being paid to write supportive or attacking comments that would need to be disclosed.  That is my charitable interpretation.  Someone hostile to government would probably have another opinion.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:32 | 5777702 will ling
    will ling's picture

    naive view.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:44 | 5777787 Bollixed
    Bollixed's picture

    Someone who historically understands government enchroachment would probably have another opinion.

    fify

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:41 | 5778092 Bastiat
    Bastiat's picture

    So the government paid trolls would have to disclose?  Good one.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:42 | 5777765 Everybodys All ...
    Everybodys All American's picture

    You are living in the past my friend.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:42 | 5777774 Catullus
    Catullus's picture

    But I can't prove a negative. So there's that.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:47 | 5777804 samsara
    samsara's picture

    Never naively look at the first inception of a bill,  but what it will be morphed into.

    Income tax originally was only 1% on the very rich.... BUT over time.....

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:27 | 5777673 The Shape
    The Shape's picture

    This is the reason I turn off adblockers on alternative sites and blogs and click ads.

    Every dollar I take out of an ad budget and redirect from the msm means they die a quicker death.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:30 | 5777690 Lumberjack
    Lumberjack's picture

    Is this why NBC AND BRIAN WILLIAMS DUMPED HIMSELF? Fair question. 

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:31 | 5777697 blazinrabbit
    blazinrabbit's picture

    ZH readers will need to create a new Dickensian language.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:32 | 5777700 Tarshatha
    Tarshatha's picture

    Truth is the new terrorist.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:14 | 5777943 Duc888
    Duc888's picture

     

     

    Tarshatha: Truth is the new terrorist.

     

    You have no idea.

     

    http://www.veteranstoday.com/2015/02/12/putin911bomb/

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:32 | 5777701 WhackoWarner
    WhackoWarner's picture

    Everyone can use and support TOR.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:01 | 5777873 Duc888
    Duc888's picture

     

     

    Dude, ferreal, look into who funded and created TOR

     

    Just sayin'

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:32 | 5777704 Wahooo
    Wahooo's picture

    A well regulated internet ....

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:35 | 5777713 heywood2
    heywood2's picture

    Oh so what. It doesn't prevent commercial sites from saying whatever they want. It just requires them to disclose who's paying them to say it.

     

    In the case of ZH, I would guess it's the Russian state.

     

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:40 | 5777752 Niall Of The Ni...
    Niall Of The Nine Hostages's picture

    Tyler, if you're in the Kremlin's pocket, where do the rest of us sign up? I know I could really use the money.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:55 | 5777845 Bob
    Bob's picture

    Still waiting on the oligarchs' Elected Politician-prostitute uniforms modeled after NASCAR drivers, with sponsor patches on all visible fabric and metal surfaces. 

    I'm sure that's next on their list. 

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:36 | 5777726 NoWayJose
    NoWayJose's picture

    "Zero Hedge, I Hardly Knew Ye" -- it would make a great Irish drinking song...

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:55 | 5777728 22winmag
    22winmag's picture

    Too late. The cat is out of the bag.

     

    When I overhear average Joes at the pizza shop, gas station, and gun store griping about the FED, 9/11, endless war, and so forth, I know the beginning is near.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:37 | 5777732 Conax
    Conax's picture

    Regulating political speech (the very thing the founders were trying to protect) is totally unconstitutional.

    /sarc

     

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:37 | 5777735 NoWayJose
    NoWayJose's picture

    Wouldn't it make MOAR sense for the government to allow such sites to exist, and just have NSA spy on everyone that hits these sites...  Oh, wait...

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:38 | 5777743 QE49er
    QE49er's picture

    They are trying desperately to start a civil war so that they can blame that on the failing economy.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:40 | 5777757 TrustbutVerify
    TrustbutVerify's picture

    The young hipster dupes that voted in Obama and like-minded fascist democrats are slowly waking up and realizing the damage their ignorant votes have wrought.  

    The battle for Freedom is always an uphill battle.  Obama and fascist/communist democrats just make it a steeper haul.  

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:50 | 5777820 Everybodys All ...
    Everybodys All American's picture

    Very well said.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:32 | 5778053 besnook
    besnook's picture

    and what? jeb or paul or cruz or the fat boy or billary or warren is going to save us all?

    that party stuff is simple ignorance.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:41 | 5777760 kchrisc
    kchrisc's picture

    "Only lies fear the truth."

    The banksters need to repay us.

     

    At the end of their rainbow of lies awaits a guillotine.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:41 | 5777763 T-NUTZ
    T-NUTZ's picture

    I'll not feel safe from terror until there is a government controlled kill switch on the internet.  just in case we need it.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:42 | 5777766 Shhh dont wake ...
    Shhh dont wake the VIX's picture

    So the worst government money can buy is worried about the Internet influencing elections.

    We don't have THAT kind of money so rest easy you fools!!!

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:42 | 5777769 besnook
    besnook's picture

    3 hots and a cot. the ultimate welfare state.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:43 | 5777779 Duc888
    Duc888's picture

     

     

    The "Feds" can tongue my asshole.  Gimme the rim job assholes, toss my salad.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:45 | 5777797 f16hoser
    f16hoser's picture

    Too late Mother Fuckers! The horses have left the barn. We know Who you are and What you’re up to. When this shit goes down there’s no where to hide where we can’t find you… So Bring It!

     

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:53 | 5777840 rsnoble
    rsnoble's picture

    "I support net neutrality".....President fuckhead.

    Should've known something that sounds so 'honest' is so evil.  Who are these assholes that keep sending me emails that this is good news?

    We need to Greece these motherfuckers.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:55 | 5777844 f16hoser
    f16hoser's picture

    Watch this: http://www.silverbearcafe.com/private/01.15/trick.html

     

    All is made clear...

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:55 | 5777847 henry chucho
    henry chucho's picture

    The Bastards can pry my ZH account from my cold dead hands

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:58 | 5777858 franciscopendergrass
    franciscopendergrass's picture

    Great, zerohedgers are the 1st to get FEMA camped, executed, or drone bombed

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 17:58 | 5777860 q99x2
    q99x2's picture

    Fuck them. Put your server on Namecoin today.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:00 | 5777870 WTFUD
    WTFUD's picture

    First THEY came for the . . .

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:04 | 5777889 TalkToLind
    TalkToLind's picture

    Regulate this.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:10 | 5777917 pcrs
    pcrs's picture

    I think I hear hate speech.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:12 | 5777928 Ward cleaver
    Ward cleaver's picture

    I keep remembering a documentary during the Nazi regime where some poor old bastard is brought in front of a judge for some violation of the "state" and he is asked questions by the judge. As he starts to speak the judge and rest of panel start screaming at him. He bows his head and then is taken outside and executed. I think all of us on this site are already on the "List". RIP USA

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:31 | 5778052 Monty Burns
    Monty Burns's picture

    Yeah, these Germans are terrible.  MOAR REPARATIONS!

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:16 | 5777953 Falling Down
    Falling Down's picture

    If you like your ZH, you can keep your ZH.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 23:19 | 5779081 Unix
    Unix's picture

    shit now i am worried

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:17 | 5777957 WTFisThat
    WTFisThat's picture

    Check this out :)

     

    Pravda: Putin Threatens to Release Satellite Evidence of 9/11

     

    http://stateofthenation2012.com/?p=11327

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:30 | 5778046 Monty Burns
    Monty Burns's picture

    Will make no difference what evidence Putin produces, it'll be dismissed by the MSM talking heads as Russian propaganda and accepted as such by the lardasses watching the lobotomy tube.  Fact is there is way more than enough evidence already available that proves 9/11 was an inside job with major 'technical assistance' from the Israelis and funding from the Saudis.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:42 | 5778104 Robert of Ottawa
    Robert of Ottawa's picture

    Utter crap

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:18 | 5777960 Anunnaki
    Anunnaki's picture

    This law will be called the RT and Al Jazeera Fairness and Equity Act

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:20 | 5777973 WTFUD
    WTFUD's picture

    Commissioner EEjit Pai looks like one of Barry's Offspring, a right CUNT.

    If i promise to watch CNN once a day can i spend an hour on Z/H?

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:42 | 5778097 RichardENixon
    RichardENixon's picture

    "Ajit Pai is an FCC commissioner who is opposed to this plan.  He recently sent out a tweet holding what he calls “President Obama’s 332-page plan to regulate the Internet“…

     

    It would be helpful if you would read the articles before you comment

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:22 | 5777989 Anunnaki
    Anunnaki's picture

    Emperor Obama can hire Pol Pot Shenko to set up an American Ministry of Truth and Acceptable Dissent

     

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-04/ukraine-goes-full-orwell-unleas...

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:24 | 5778000 Anunnaki
    Anunnaki's picture

    Here is what will happen.

    Blogs will have to regulated. You will have to retain a liablity bond to publish on Gov't defined topics. Anonymous comments wil not be allowed

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:28 | 5778035 Anunnaki
    Anunnaki's picture

    The Nanny State on steroids. Anyone who votes for any fucking Democrat after this is a goddam disgrace. I knew Obama's head fake on supporting Net Neutrality was bogus. He always does the opposite of what he says. He wants a kill switch b/c he is tired of all the buttfucking jokes on 'The Hedge re: Reggie and being married to a tranny

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:30 | 5778044 authorized user
    authorized user's picture

    Let the DC shills control Fox news first

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 18:41 | 5778094 bluskyes
    bluskyes's picture

    Amerika's rulers now think that they need an iron curtain to protect the people from freedom.

    "Blood alone moves the wheels of history." Perhaps it's time to get Amerika rolling again.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:07 | 5778202 Stormtrooper
    Stormtrooper's picture

    Time for an Article V Constitutional Convention of the state legistlatures.

    Question #1: Should the states amend the Constitution to terminate the Federal Republic and return all powers of governance to the 50 sovereign states.  If yes, what to do with the property previously known as Washington, D.C.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 23:38 | 5779162 bluskyes
    bluskyes's picture

    Level it, and let it return to the swamp that it was.

    Fri, 02/13/2015 - 09:04 | 5779951 Buster Cherry
    Buster Cherry's picture

    Make it a penal.colony.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:00 | 5778175 MEFOBILLS
    MEFOBILLS's picture

    I'm glad a couple of people pointed out Bill Clinton's telecommunication's act.  That act allowed media consolidation.  Media in turn is cross-directorates, so effectively they speak with one voice.

    There are many other attacks against media in history.  Banker's, usually from the tribe, acting as an in-group, would buy up ink suppliers.  Simulataneously printed media would be encouraged to take out private credit loans.

    Ink supplies would dry up, revenue to papers would dry up, and yet the debt instrument would demand to be paid.  Then the newspapers would be harvested in order to pay debts.  After harvesting, papers became consolidated into one thought.

    During the Aldrich affair, which was part of conspiracy to shackle Americans with the FED, it was revealed that newpaper editors were bribed.

    Just one editor located properly in a newspaper, will filter and tilt the news.  It took very little bribe money, only $4M as revealed in Congressional Testimony.  This was enough to propagandize Americans for the FED and then for WW1.

    The sheeple are trusting and don't know how the parasite works.  The parasite attacks brain and reproductive centers of its host.  From there it can control society and take rents.

    It's no accident that Clinton was a CFR agent, and a Rhodes scholar to boot.  Cecil Rhodes worked closely with Openheimer (German Jew) as part of the "international" funded with Gold Flows and Diamonds from Africa.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:17 | 5778229 fxpmtrader
    fxpmtrader's picture

    Political advertising should be forbidden in general.

    Realitiy and truth should count.

    Poeple should not elect because of advertising - but because of the facts of the last few years.

    But that of course is not of interest for the ruling elite.

    So advertising and manipulation is/has to be the name of the rigging game.

    With the media the first and ugliest prostitutes.

    This system stinks from the core. We all know it.

    And still 99.99% accept it.

    Since Stonage.

    So - dumb ignorant sheeple get what they deserve.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 20:25 | 5778467 dsty
    dsty's picture

    ZH "German Jew" alert!

     

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:04 | 5778190 thismarketisrigged
    thismarketisrigged's picture

    hey u fucking bastard obama, try to fucking regulate this site, i fucking dare u fucking muslim bastard.

     

    this is one of the few sites on the internet that actually speaks the truth, so i guess we must be silenced over here.

     

    maybe if u fucking corrupt jackasses in washington and on wall st didnt destroy this country and lie to us all the time, maybe we wouldnt need a site like zerohedge,  but when everything in the msm is a total lie, such as the employment numbers to name 1 thing, we need a site like zerohedge to keep it real.

     

    long live the tylers and zerohedge and fuck obama and the fed and the moneychangers!!!

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:08 | 5778210 fxpmtrader
    fxpmtrader's picture

    The sheeple are too lazy, too ignorant and too dumb to stand up. They prefer games, burgers, chips, coke, porn, bucks, sweet dreams and everything else where they don't need to stand up.

    That is true since Stoneage - as nothing ever changed, except maybe the furniture and the glittering and the colors.

    The 0.01% and the 99.99% sheeple are both a failed species, which will finally get what it deserves - being swept away and back into the middle ages by the next financial liquidity tsunami created by the relentless ever greedy ever printing banking aristrocracy.

    Planet would do much much better without these useless greedy dumb and ignorant parasites.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:31 | 5778293 Quantum Darwinism
    Quantum Darwinism's picture

    So you're saying humanity is going back to middle age standards of living? What about extinction? We really are just a blip in our planet Earth's life. Humans, by all standards, are starting to look like some cancer on the face of the Earth.

    When shit goes exponential all bets are off.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:19 | 5778249 unicorn
    unicorn's picture

    JE SUIS ZEROHEDGE!

     

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:25 | 5778274 Seal
    Seal's picture

    Excess generally causes reaction, and produces a change in the opposite direction, whether it be in the seasons, or in individuals, or in governments.

    Plato

    so we are to be punished for our excess of freedom in the past 300 years!

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:27 | 5778279 justmy2cents
    justmy2cents's picture

    First Amendment. Unconstitutional. End of conversation. Long live ZH!

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:30 | 5778292 Irishcyclist
    Irishcyclist's picture

    ZH is unregulatable!

     

    AND LONG MAY THAT CONTINUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 19:42 | 5778337 cigarEngineer
    cigarEngineer's picture

    Prepare for the regulation tax. Oh you thought regulation is as far is it goes? no! Someone has to pay for you to be reglated. So if you can't afford to pay your regulation tax, well, you'll get regulated out!!

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 22:17 | 5778828 Unix
    Unix's picture

    That would be the internet tax, already in the works!

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 20:08 | 5778415 GreatUncle
    GreatUncle's picture

    It is so fucking amusing ... really it is ...

    They need to regulate this site and others because all the politicial leaders globally and corrupt elites who never tell the truth just lie thieve and steal and hey if it comes down to it murder a few people in the process to maintain their entitled position forever.

    HENCE THE LIKE OF ZH AND OTHERS MUST BE SILENCED TO PREVENT PEOPLE FINDING OUT THEY DO THIS.

    This kind of legislation only ever occurs because of who they are and there totally dishonorable, unprincipled, lying, thieving and murderous position ... stop that and ... ZH has nothing to talk about!

    Rather tihnk sometimes ZH and the like are defusers where a person can express their thoughts, does not thrn go AWOL and start beheading bankers. Remove it and there is nothing to defuse the carnage.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 20:16 | 5778432 Coldfire
    Coldfire's picture

    In a totalitarian regime all speech is political speech...

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 20:22 | 5778448 dsty
    dsty's picture

    I like the very first comment

    "behave and you won't be regulated"

    Some of you don't realize that your "First Ammendment Rights" will disappear.

    Take a look at the trend

    Don't wait till you get hit by the 2x4

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 22:43 | 5778918 Atticus Finch
    Atticus Finch's picture

    The Declaration of Independence is the primary misbehaving document; followed by the Bill of Rights.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 20:39 | 5778521 smacker
    smacker's picture

    If ZeroHedge has not already made plans for hosting itself in another place when the SHTF and the fascists take full control, now would be a good time to start. It may not be subject to some sort of regulation described in this article for some time. But it could be subjected to DdOS attacks at any time.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 21:18 | 5778623 kchrisc
    kchrisc's picture

    "And on Wednesday, the FEC held a hearing on whether or not they should regulate political speech on blogs, websites and Yo...In October, then FEC Vice Chairwoman Ann M. Ravel promised that she would renew a push to regulate online political speech..."

    All pols, and crats, funcs, and banksters, are all criminal thieves, liars, and Zionist tools, and elections are nothing more than sheeple censuses.

    I wonder how they, and especially Ms. Ravel, likes them apples?!

    The banksters need to repay us.

     

    Regardless, the guillotines will still be informed.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 21:41 | 5778695 dexter_morgan
    dexter_morgan's picture

    but....but....I thought this was all about net neutrality...........

    are they going to start banning books also? I can't imagine they won't try, just how will they do it and make it seem like it's for our protection, just like the FED

    Fri, 02/13/2015 - 00:23 | 5779279 kchrisc
    kchrisc's picture

    "...are they going to start banning books also?"

    Only the "doubleplusungood" ones.

    The banksters need to repay us.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 22:36 | 5778822 Unix
    Unix's picture

    LOL, we're famous!!!

    On a more realistic note, this bill could be the end of information as we know it...I think at that point you will see things go underground, with the pen and paper being the medium of exchange from hand to hand. They will at that point have sealed their own fate.

    EDIT: whaaa? which one of you trolls downed me for that one??????? incredible

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 22:30 | 5778871 Incubus
    Incubus's picture

    modern man is domesticated.

     

    incapable. unwilling. helpless. sick. fat. soft.

     

    I've been a rebellious one all my life.  But damn, that steak is starting to look good. 

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 22:40 | 5778909 Dickweed Wang
    Dickweed Wang's picture

    If you can buy drugs and guns over the internet there will always be ways to find sources of unregulated/uncensored information. Their laws will NEVER keep up with technology.

    Thu, 02/12/2015 - 23:25 | 5779104 Secret Weapon
    Secret Weapon's picture

    The purpose of these regulations is to provide a legal framework for the supression of political dissent. All the rest is irrelevant.

    Fri, 02/13/2015 - 02:34 | 5779523 The Darwin Mode
    The Darwin Mode's picture

    I know this is gonna sound antisemitic, but hell with it, here goes:

    I WANT MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

    Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!