TCPA: The end of internet freedom? Thread

It looks long, but it's worth the read, really.

AgainstTCPA.com wrote: The technology:
TCPA stands for Trusted Computing Platform Alliance. For the technology we will speak from TCP (The trusted computing platform). This plans that every computer will have a TPM (Trusted Platform Module), also known as Fritz-Chip, built-in. At later development stages, these functions will be directly included into CPUs, graphiccards, harddisks, soundcards, bios and so on. This will secure that the computer is in a TCPA-conform state and that he checks that it's always in this state. This means: On the first level comes the hardware, on the second comes TCPA and then comes the user. The complete communication works with a 2048 bit strong encryption, so it's also secure enough to make it impossible to decrypt this in realtime for a longer time. This secures that the TCPA can prevent any unwanted software and hardware. The long term result will be that it will be impossible to use hardware and software that's not approved by the TCPA. Presumably there will be high costs to get this certification and that these would be too much for little and mid-range companies. Therefore open-source and freeware would be condemned to die, because without such a certification the software will simply not work. In the long term only the big companies would survive and could control the market as they would like.
Some could think that it should be possible to get around this security. But probably they would be proved they're wrong. Until now there're no such hardware-implemented security systems and actual security systems have to work offline. This would be changed with TCP. The rights and licenses would be central managed by the TCPA (USA?). And as soon a violation is noticed, they will get notified. Read the chapter "The bills" to get an overview about the possible resulting consequences.

The companies:
The TCPA was founded 1999 by Compaq, HP, IBM, Intel and Microsoft. But in the meantime around 200 companies joined them. You will find Adobe, AMD, Fujitsu-Siemens, Gateway, Motorola, Samsung, Toshiba and many other well known companies. IBM already sells first desktops and notebooks with integrated TPM.

The bills:
In the USA there's a planed bill, the so called CBDPTA (Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act). First it was callen SSSCA (Security Systems Standards and Certification Act). The new name reads much more harmless. Looks like the first name made it too easy to discover the purpose of this bill.
This bill plans to legally force secure (TCPA-conform) systems. So in the USA it would then not be allowed to buy or sell systems that are not TCPA-conform. Passing this law would be punished with up to 5 years of prision and up to $500.000 fine. The same would apply for development of "open" software. Open means that it would work on systems that're not TCPA-conform.
Even if this bill would only valid in the USA it would have catastrophically effects worldwide. Because US companies are not allowed to develop and sell "unsecure" software, others would have to jump onto the TCP-train, so they would give total control over themself to the TCPA (USA?), or they would have to live completely without software and harware from US-companies. No Windows, Solaris, MacOS, Photoshop, Winamp or to say it short: The largest part of all software that's used on this planet would not be usable.

The consequences:
Thus you're able to determine the consequences for your own situation, we kept this section very generell. But it should be easy to determine the resulting restrictions that would apply for you.
# The informational self-determination isn't existing anymore, it's not possible to save, copy, create, program, ..., the data like you want. This applies for privates as for companies
# The free access to the IT/Software market is completely prevented for anyone except the big companies, the market as we know it today will get completely destroyed
# Restrictions in the usage of owned hardware would apply
# The liberty of opinion and the free speech on the internet would finally be eliminated
# The own rights while using IT-technologies are history.
# The national self-determination of the der particular countries would be fully in the hands of the USA
# Probably the world would break into two digital parts (Countries that express against TCPA)

After reading that, you should check out their FAQ here. It explains it all further.

is this a US thing? cause i don't see russia adopting this anytime soon. also, there has to be MAJOR ani-trust legality issues with this.

I've read about this before, and its a load of crap. I'm totally against it.

Obsydian it wouldn't be just US, because the internet is international.

I personally think they're trying to scare people, because there's no way it would work guaranteed. I mean, Windows is the #1 operating system in the world, and if Microsoft requires this then yes, they will get a lot of people, but there's always Linux, and I'm sure some other O/S would come up that's just as good and everyone would switch to it.

Besides, 2048 bit? On a hardware level!? MY ASS! That's not even fathomable. I don't see this ever coming to light, but it does exist and they're gonna try their damnest.

simply put, it's a load of BS. There is no need for trusted platform, and it would reduce effectiveness of systems worldwide. For example, my PC (windows) runs several pieces of open source (and self-coded) software and macros which keep it ticking over, maintained, up to date etc. Add TCPA, they won't work. My PC suddenly becomes shit, I can no longer use the net, it ain't gonna happen. If it does I can guarantee that computer professionals will find ways around it, regardless of breaking laws.

Yeah, besides they'd need to update every single piece of software released before it comes out and back to make it compatible, that would be IMPOSSIBLE. They would force the ENTIRE WORLD to replace their computers, all of them. That's bullshit.

You know they can't do this, the law will never pass. And I mean never This is because of one reason...

IT IS AN INVASION OF PEOPLE'S PRIVACY, WHOEVER WANTS TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS WILL NOT SUCCEED, I CAN ASSURE YOU. THIS IS AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!

*me takes a big breath

srry for wastin' your time if I did...

This is old, and complete bull, it's been what 2 years since I've heard of this, and yet no action or even steps were taken

aea wrote: This is old, and complete bull, it's been what 2 years since I've heard of this, and yet no action or even steps were taken

Good. Lets keep it this way.

thank god. that is total bullshit. what the hell will microsoft dream up next? god i hate corporate america.

Indeed, none of us want this to happen, but people should know about it.