SJ Res 34

You guys know I don’t usually post stuff that isn’t art related here, but this affects our life on the internet.  So here I am.

Yesterday, March 23, 2017 the Senate voted in favor of SJ Res 34, a measure that will allow your internet service providers (ISPs) to sell your private personal data to anyone who wants it.  Without your consent, or even a notification.

Advertising companies, legal teams, private individuals.  If they have the money they could buy your data for whatever purposes they want.  And you will never know.

There are measures you can take, like investing in VPNs.  But that’s not an option for everyone, and doesn’t provide complete protection from this resolution.

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Here’s what’s important.

The bill is not yet law.  It has to go through the House next.  And if what we’re seeing with the AHCA is any indication, Congressmen/women can be made to buckle under overwhelming opposition.

BUT WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK.

Here is where you can find your Representative: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

YOU HAVE TO CALL, EMAIL, OR FAX THEM.

TWITTER IS ESSENTIALLY USELESS WHEN CONTACTING YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.

Airing your grievances on twitter is fine as a catharsis, but to actually get your voice heard and tallied, phoning is best, emailing is okay, faxing is so-so.

This measure was passed along party lines, which means without overwhelming pressure House Republicans are likely to pass the measure with their complete majority of the House.

IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL DATA AND PRIVACY, YOU MUST CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND TELL THEM TO OPPOSE SJ RES 34.

SJ Res 34 does have a sister bill: HJ Res 86, which is basically a back up, and we should oppose that as well.  But at the moment SJ Res 34 is the one that stands the most chance of becoming law.

PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE. TELL THEM TO REPRESENT YOU AS A CONSTITUENT AND OPPOSE SJ RES 34.

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And if you can stand it, call your Senator as well if they voted for the measure and tell them off for it.  Their vote might be cast already, but letting them know you don’t appreciate how they’ve represented you can discourage future behavior like this.

This is the voting tally for the measure if you’d like to see how your Senator voted:

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I apologize for this interruption of my normal posting routine.  But this is a measure that truly bothers me, and I suspect I am not the only one.  Please send this message as far and wide as you can.

We CAN show a massive resistance to the measure, but not without effort.

Thank you.