Netflix Facebook App Would Be Legal In US

Netflix’s top lawyer tries to convince a US Senate committee that laws need to be changed so it can offer a video sharing app on Facebook. Netflix General Counsel David Hyman told the Senate judiciary subcommittee on privacy that the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) had “ambiguities” preventing it from offering a Facebook video sharing act.

“We have been offering our members outside the United States the opportunity to share and discover movies with their friends on the Facebook platform.” Hyman says there are more than a half-million Netflix subscribers outside of the United States that use their Facebook app.

Committee chair Senator Al Franken (DFL- Minnesota) asked University of Minnesota Law Professor William McGeveran if current US law prevents Netflix from having a Facebook app in the U.S. McGeveran said no.

“The statute requires (consumer) consent every time….that can be done simply by saying here’s a button to press when you play the movie, because presumably you have to press a button to play the movie, and right next to it here’s a button to both play and share. You can post, you just have to be asked every time you see a movie. Online that seems relatively easy to effectuate.”

Simpler for corporations not better for consumers says Senator Leahy … Continue Reading

Start Looking at Cell Phones as Political Devices

At the National Conference for Media Reform in Boston last weekend, Tim Karr of Free Speech told The UpTake’s Sam Mayfield that we should start looking at cell phones as political devices. “You need look no further than what’s happening in North Africa and the Middle East, where people are using cell phones to document atrocities by autocratic regimes in the streets,” explained Karr. “There is so much power in that ability. And that problem exists to some degree here in the United States, where we have cell phones that are blocked, and we have networks that are blocking certain applications and devices.”

“Increasingly, we see that as an area to do a lot of good organizing around — to get people really engaged in defending this notion that my cell phone is political. Not only is it a device for me to call my parents or to check in with friends, but it’s something that empowers me within this democracy. It’s fundamental for us to start defending our rights to access and share information via these new devices.”

Corporate America Has Co-opted Weak and Complicit Fourth Estate

Speaking at his last National Conference for Media Reform as CEO, Josh Silver said that “after 40 years of methodical and well-organized organizing and financing, the largest corporations and wealthiest Americans have achieved near complete control of political discourse and policy-making in America.”

“Their maize of think tanks, PR groups, attack groups, fake grassroots organizations, lobbyists, campaign contributions to corrupted politicians are obscured by a weak and often complicit fourth estate. Together these forces block meaningful progress on nearly every issue we care about, from the environment, to education, to economic and social justice.”

Free and Open Internet a Non-partisan Issue

At the National Conference for Media Reform, the UpTake’s Sam Mayfield spoke with Craig Aaron, the new CEO of Free Press, who says he entered this line of work because he cares deeply about journalism and the free and open Internet. “If we don’t fix media, then we won’t be able to fix any issue that we care about,” says Aaron.

During the conference in Boston, House Republicans voted to throw out the FCC’s Net Neutrality rules. Ironically, Free Press also opposed those rules because, they opine, the rules weren’t strong enough. Aaron laments that “we’ve taken an issue like the free and open Internet — which isn’t partisan at all — and it’s being framed in Washington as a government takeover, when that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Rep. Markey To GOP: HANDS OFF THE INTERNET

Representative Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) delivers a fiery speech to journalists gathered at the National Conference For Media Reform in Boston. He says Republicans in Congress are trying to shut down the internet at the same time they are trying to shut down the government. Repealing the Internet protections the FCC has put into place would allow corporations to take us back 20 years with higher rates and less innovation. He says the message from people to Republicans in Congress needs to be simple: HANDS OFF THE INTERNET.

Key quote from Representative Markey:

“On Wednesday, they brought to the House Floor a bill to repeal the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases. Then yesterday, they passed a resolution to repeal the FCC’s ability to ensure the openness of the Internet.

“So as time ticked down Friday afternoon, Republicans in Congress were trying to shut down the Internet and the federal government – simultaneously.

“They didn’t shut down the government, and we’re all going to make sure they don’t shut down the Internet either!

“We’re going to need to organize, mobilize and get energized to fend off all these assaults.

“That’s because GOP used to stand for Grand Old Party. But now it stands for Gang of Polluters. Now it stands for Greed Over Principle. Now it stands for Gas and Oil Party.”

Full Transcript of Representative Ed Markey’s speech … Continue Reading

Effect, Cause, White Stripes, Rep Edwards And Indy Media

Representative Donna Edwards (D-Maryland) said she left Republicans scratching their heads last week when she quoted lyrics from a White Stripes song on the House of Representatives floor. She read the lyrics to the White Stripes’ “Effect And Cause” to chide Republicans for their attempt to shut down the Federal government.

This weekend, Edwards told independent journalists gathered in Boston at the National Conference For Media Reform that Washington needs more politicians who aren’t willing to “play the game”. She advocated for keeping the Internet open and railed against corporate influence in politics.

“Corporations can do all the business that they want”, Edwards said, “but they don’t have to control our politics.”

Sen. Franken On Keeping Internet Free

Senator Al Franken (D-MN) says the access to the immense variety of content that we all have on the internet could all come to an end if congress repeals net neutrality provisions. He says claims of the right wing that the government is taking over the internet is an attempt to confuse people. Net neutrality preserves what we have now instead of making the internet a tiered service that could squash innovation. Interview by The UpTake’s Leif Utne at South By Southwest in Austin, TX

Right Wing, Telecoms “Making Things Up” About Net Neutrality Says Sen. Franken

Senator Al Franken takes his advocacy for internet neutrality to South By Southwest (SXSW), a music festival that has also become a meeting spot for technical entrepreneurs from all over the world. Senator Franken talks about how big corporations and Republicans in Congress are trying to undermine “net neutrality” at every turn. Large corporations are pressuring congress to allow some internet websites to have priority on the internet if they pay for it. Doing so could threaten the open exchange of ideas and media that the internet has fostered.

Key quote from Senator Franken:
“The end of net neutrality would benefit no one but these corporate giants. And yet, true to form, telecom lobbyists and their conservative allies in Congress are taking up their cause, persuading your Tea Partier uncle and far too many other Americans by using a rhetorical technique I call “making things up.” (laughter, applause)

“They’ll tell you that putting rules in place to preserve net neutrality as it exists today amounts to a “government takeover” of the Internet, a talking point that deserves a place alongside “death panels” and “Obama’s a Muslim” in the pantheon of lies that aren’t just baldly false, but completely ridiculous. (applause)”

Prepared text from Senator Franken’s speech (with some changes as we were able to catch them on the fly) … Continue Reading

US: “Time Has Come” For Egypt To Make Changes

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs briefs the press on the revolt going on in Egypt. He makes it clear that the Egyptian government must respond to the ongoing problems that have led to the wave of violence. Gibbs says Egypt must allow people to have access to the internet and social media.

Earlier today Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Egypt needs to deal with the underlying issues of the revolt.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Good morning. I am very pleased to be here with Vice President Garzon of Colombia on his first visit to Washington as vice president. Before discussing the important matters that were part of our meeting, I would like to say something about the unfolding events in Egypt.

We continue to monitor the situation very closely. We are deeply concerned about the use of violence by Egyptian police and security forces against protestors, and we call on the Egyptian Government to do everything in its power to restrain the security forces. At the same time, protestors should also refrain from violence and express themselves peacefully.

As we have repeatedly said, we support the universal human rights of the Egyptian people, including the right to freedom of expression, of association and of assembly. We urge the Egyptian authorities to allow peaceful protests and to reverse the unprecedented steps it has taken to cut off communications. These protests underscore that there are deep grievances within Egyptian society, and the Egyptian Government needs to understand that violence will not make these grievances go away.
… Continue Reading

Franken: First Time FCC Has Allowed Discrimination On The Internet

Senator Al Frabken (D-MN) speaks at the second Netroots Nation MN Conference. In his lunchtime speech, he talks about the necessity of net neutrality and the dangers of the NBC-Comcast merger. Speaking on the weak FCC rules supporting Net Neutrality, Franken said that “This is the first time that the FCC has allowed discrimination on the internet.” Franken calls the fight for net neutrality, the First Amendment fight of this generation. Watch his full speech, as well as his responses to some questions from the audience.

Related coverage:
Netroots Nation Minnesota 2011 highlights