RobertB-DC's Journal: Ghost Article: Microsoft Helps Write OK Anti-Spyware Law

Ghosts of Slashdot: 04/11/2006
[How strange -- this is the second "States Gone Wild!" story by ScuttleMonkey to be terminated prematurely, in just the past week. Was it judged too "local", or too paranoid? Update: It's back on the front page after all. Timing is everything, I suppose.]

Microsoft Helps Write Oklahoma's Anti-Spyware Law
Posted by ScuttleMonkey in The Mysterious Future!
from the things-not-to-farm-out dept.

groovy.ambuj writes "The Inquirer reports that Microsoft has developed Oklahoma's 'Computer Spyware protection Act'. The law will supposedly protect people from unwarranted hackers or virus attacks and can fine individuals up to $1M who are found guilty of breaking into a computer without the owners knowledge. At the same time, it also allows some of the better known capable companies to 'look' into your computer for possible virus/spyware and fix the problem without informing you. And, while these friends are doing their job, they can also take the moment to do other things. "

What are the Ghosts of Slashdot?
As a Slashdot Subscriber, I get to see stories before they're posted to the general public. This means that I get to see the mistakes -- the articles that almost made it, but got sent to the cutting room floor at the last minute. They become the Ghosts of Slashdot, a URL that points to nothing.

Note that this is NOT the same as whining about article submissions that didn't get accepted! These stories were accepted, posted for subscribers, and then pulled from the site. Their brief existence gives us a glimpse into the Slashdot post-submission process, for those who are interested in what's going on behind the curtain.