Free Flow of Information Act
p2pnet news | freedom:- An amended version of the Free Flow of Information Act sponsored by Rick Boucher and Mike Pence has been approved by tThe US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee.
The bill, “defines the practice of journalism as ‘gathering, preparing, collecting, photographing, recording, writing, editing, reporting or publishing of news or information that concerns local, national or international events or other matters of public interest for dissemination to the public’,” says CNET News going on:
“To extend the shield beyond (those who gain financial benefit) would create an avenue for virtually anyone to avoid compelled testimony by simply creating a blog that contains the information in question,” which is not the bill’s intent, Boucher said.
To answer concerns raised by the Bush administration and others, “the revised bill attempts to exclude the ‘casual blogger’ from reaping those benefits by stipulating the protections apply only to those who derive ‘financial gain or livelihood’ from the journalistic activity, Boucher said Wednesday,” according to the story, which goes on:
“That broad rule could, however, include part-time writers who receive even a trickle of revenue from Google Ads or Blogads.com.”
But anyone could, “start a blog and request advertising on that blog, and whether they get it or not, would be considered a journalist under this bill,” the story has Adam Schiff saying.
Boucher and Pence sympathized and, “planned to work on changing the definition further before the bill goes to a vote in the full House,” says CNET, continuing:
In the approved version, people eligible for the privilege could be forced to reveal their sources when it’s necessary to prevent an “act of terrorism” against the United States or its allies, when it’s clear that crimes have been committed, when “significant specified harm” to national security could occur, or when trade secrets, nonpublic personal information or health records are compromised in violation of existing laws. The person seeking to compel the journalist to turn over the information would also have to exhaust “all reasonable alternative sources.” Some politicians said even more exceptions are needed.
Boucher’s amendment also specified that “foreign powers or agents of foreign powers”–including a government-controlled newspaper–and any “foreign terrorist organization” designated by the Secretary of State cannot receive the protections.
“With Congress scheduled to depart for its summer recess at week’s end and lingering disagreements over the bill’s approach, it’s unclear whether the bill will move ahead anytime soon,” says CNET, adding, “The House bill’s Senate counterpart has not yet gotten any attention this year.”
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Also See:
CNET News – House panel approves legal shield for bloggers, August 1, 2007
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