I am sure most of you know this by now but on Tuesday, the Senate voted 215-205 in favor of SJ. Res.34. SJR34 was written to repeal the rule put into place during the Obama Administration that forbids telecommunications providers from selling its subscribers’ personal information. The argument made by those who voted for this was that because Google can track the internet sites we visit, it’s unfair to the other providers to be restricted. The issue with SJR34 passing is that the now repealed restrictions protected our information beyond just browsing history. So now both the spring fashion trend that caught your eye AND your phone number are available to the highest bidder. And we, the voting public, get no say in or knowledge of its sale. I’m over simplifying it, you can read the bill here.
So what do we do? I haven’t a clue, beyond getting furious. Fortunately, actor Misha Collins, thinks on his feet better than I do – he has started a GoFundMe page to raise enough cash to buy the SJR34 ‘Yea’ voters’ internet information:
Congress votes on whether to sell your personal data without permission today. I say we buy Congress' personal data: https://t.co/t8pq3p470f
— Misha Collins (@mishacollins) March 28, 2017
Thanks, Congress, for voting to put all of our private data up for sale! We can’t wait to buy yours. https://t.co/t8pq3p470f
— Misha Collins (@mishacollins) March 28, 2017
All’s fair in love and cyber-transparency, yes? Since the senators who voted for this were just looking out for American people’s best interest (that is their job, right?) then surely, they would have no problem with their constituents having their addresses. After all, it’s getting harder and harder to reach them by phone, now we’ll be able to pop round at dinner to discuss the fact that the air quality is killing our pets.
Unfortunately, Max Temkin, who created Cards Against Humanity, says it’s not that simple. On Monday, Temkin tweeted this:
If this shit passes I will buy the browser history of every congressman and congressional aide and publish it. cc @SpeakerRyan https://t.co/cOL3mx6JuG
— Max Temkin (@MaxTemkin) March 27, 2017
When the vote went through, everyone wanted to see Temkin’s receipts (literally) but he explained that until this is signed by #45, nobody can move on it. He also admitted he doesn’t know what will be available but whatever they can get their hands on, he and the rest of his team are ready to pounce. Temkin and team do have experience with this kind of thing so I think they mean to see it through if they can.
Both Temkin and Collins agree that the act of buying the information is symbolic. Neither intends to publish the data. The real message being sent is: We, the People of the United States of America, are cleverer than you think. That and there are a bunch of p*ssed off billionaires who want to embarrass the idiots in charge and have the means to do it. You can donate to Collins’s GoFundMe here (all money raised will go to the ACLU if he can’t purchase the data) or to the Temkin-backed Electronic Frontier Foundation here.
Sorry to sound like a broken record, but it matters who you vote for. Know you representatives on local, state and federal level. Check their backgrounds and check their voting record. Here is how each senator voted on SJR34. They can mouth off to the press about #45 all they want but which of the rabble-rousers are putting their money where their mouths are on the Congressional floor?
In other news, Collins SN costar Jared Padelecki and his wife Genevieve just had another baby. Collins’ welcome tweet was adorable:
Welcome to Planet Earth, Odette! Let us know if there's anything we can do to make ur stay here more enjoyable!Congrats, @jarpad & @realGpad https://t.co/Yu154D5VbO
— Misha Collins (@mishacollins) March 27, 2017
Photo credit: Twitter, Getty Images and WENN Photos
Ugh, Misha is a gift to us all.
I just love Misha 😍
Oh and it’s Jared’s third child actually.
Thanks for the catch. I was trying to go off memory. Clearly, at my age, one should not rely on memory.
Thanks for posting this, @Hecate. I wish you wrote more on here-I really like your style. Misha also worked in Washington DC during the Clinton presidency. He’s a great human. Wouldn’t mind seeing more “Supernatural” coverage here..anyone with me?
I’m not sure, but with the GoFundMe site, is it possible to keep the money if you don’t hit your target amount?
And are you able to use the money for something other than it’s stated purpose? (in this case, can Collins legally use $ from a GoFundMe campaign for an ACLU or Temkin-backed Electronic Frontier Foundation donation if there is no data to purchase?)
I think, if the money doesn’t go to its intended target, the fans get their money back (considered as fraudulent).
Yes, GoFundMe, unlike Kickstarter, they do allow the fundraiser to keep any funds even if they fall short of the goal. Misha does say on his page that if they do not meet the goal, are not allowed to purchase or if there is any surplus, all money will be donated to the ACLU so I assume that is statement enough(?).
Thanks for asking, I meant to have this in the post but the Temkin thing came up…
Odette is actually their third baby, they have two older boys.
To be fair, I heard youtubers suggesting this well before Misha. Misha does have more visibility though, so there’s that.
I’m SHOCKED, SHOCKED! that both of my senators voted for this. Jk I live in Texas.
Haha, ditto – I live in Kansas and I’m not even surprised that my d-bag Rep and Senators voted for this. Big-money lobbyists bought them off a long time ago and virtually no one in my state gives a crap. They’re too busy being scared of brown people.
Two words for those of us who want to protect our own privacy: Tor and VPN.
Love this idea. I’m all for trying to get person info from those who voted for this!
As for my personal online information, if anyone buys it they will find approx. 95% of that info will be hits to and refreshes of http://www.celebitchy.com!!!
Oh, don’t just stop at Congress. Get Ivanka’s history too and publish it
I love Misha-he lives it. But I think that info is out there for whoever can get it. Of course, this bill is symbolic of the 1% and their efforts to control the masses (us), simply because they are greedy,weak, and fear us.
it was disappointing that only one place i regularly read reported on the Senate vote before it happened while other news sources (the guardian, WaPo) did not have any articles before the lead up to the house vote, basically reporting on it after it was too late. smh so much FAIL on the media’s part. who knows what else they dropping the ball on.
the intercept for the win. highly recommend.
also, resistbot.io is awesome!
it will fax to your senators and you house rep via text you send to the bot whatever you want to tell them since many aren’t answering their phones now. faster than snail mail for sure.