Politics & Current Affairs — December 13, 2011

Proposed Online Protection & Digital Trade Laws “Salvageable”

America's anti-piracy bill, "OPEN", is at least a useful starting point, unlike an earlier alternative, SOPA/PROTECT-IP, which was "blatant rent-seeking," says Eric Goldman.

bigthinkeditor

What’s the Latest Development?

In the U.S., Eric Goldman dissects the a draft of OPEN, the Online Protection & Enforcement of Digital Trade Act, intended as an alternative to an earlier proposal, SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act)/PROTECT-IP. “Unlike SOPA’s disgustingly blatant rent-seeking…OPEN provides a useful starting point for a sensible conversation that could actually lead to acceptable compromises.”

What’s the Big Idea?

Whereas SOPA treated piracy as more of a criminal issue, OPEN instead moves the process away from the courts and “situates the discussion about ‘rogue websites’ in foreign trade policy,” which Goldman likes. But among the things he doesn’t like are that OPEN still contemplates reestablishing a ‘fortress USA,’ “which makes zero sense for digital bits zinging around the borderless network.”

A woman climbing up the side of a mountain.

Thinking

Surrogate activities and why we crave adventure in a comfortable world

A part of human nature needs to be challenged and feel strong. Today, we fulfill that need with “surrogate activities.”

a man's head with a blue and orange background.

The Well

The biggest myths about emotions, debunked

No, emotions don’t happen TO you. Here’s what happens instead.

▸

9 min

—

with

Lisa Feldman Barrett

Photo of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion

Starts With A Bang

Remembering the fallen heroes of spaceflight

Memorial day is a time to remember veterans killed in the line of service. These spaceflight heroes deserve to be remembered, too.

a group of people standing in the shape of a world map.

The Present

The case for “coöperism”: How we can solve global problems together

If we took the values and principles of cooperation to the next level, we could effectively tackle many crises.

a close up of a robot head on a white background.

High Culture

The 4 most terrifying AI systems in science fiction

From forgotten Hollywood movies to Frank Herbert’s “Dune,” science fiction illustrates some of our deepest fears about technology.

Up Next

Politics & Current Affairs

A 2011 Technology Review

Assessing a momentous year for new technology, John Naughton says Twitter rules and BlackBerry crumbles, and warns politicians that silicone start-ups generate few local jobs.