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The FBI's Approved Reading List

You better watch what you read, because Uncle Ashcroft has a database with your name in it. I wonder how many different databases this poor guy's reading list will show up in...

Then they ask if I carried anything into the shop -- and we're back to me.

My mind races. I think: a bomb? A knife? A balloon filled with narcotics? But no. I don't own any of those things. "Sunglasses," I say. "Maybe my cell phone?"

Not the right answer. I'm nervous now, wondering how I must look: average, mid-20s, unassuming retail employee. What could I have possibly been carrying?

Trippi's partner speaks up: "Any reading material? Papers?" I don't think so. Then Trippi decides to level with me: "I'll tell you what, Marc. Someone in the shop that day saw you reading something, and thought it looked suspicious enough to call us about. So that's why we're here, just checking it out. Like I said, there's no problem. We'd just like to get to the bottom of this. Now if we can't, then you may have a problem. And you don't want that."

What was the young man above reading? Why, it was this terribly dangerous article. Combine two parts bad legislature with one part paranoia, mix in some technology, and everyone can enjoy the same freedoms as David Nelson.

What next, RIAA building a database of people on file trading networks so they can tie up our legal system with frivolous lawsuits based on misuse of the DMCA?

Posted by Mark Friday, July 18, 2003 11:46:00 PM | permalink |