...we as consumers need an updated and ironclad consumer protection act, period. These companies have us over a barrel and there is virtually nothing we can do about it. IP tracking, cell phone records, OnStar tracking and marketing of consumer data where will it stop? More importantly, if it doesn't stop which is a very real likelyhood, where will it lead? Technology finally, if it hasn't already, is showing it's ugly face.

...is futile. ROFLMAO. They will eventually fail miserably and the way they value "face" who knows what will happen. It's good comedy though.

I'd comment but I am using my Verizon phone for internet and I'm affraid they will see. ;-)

...you civil liberties are becomeing an endangered species if you question authority, impead the operations of businesses, or criticize your elected officials. I never thought it would come to this in this country. Isn't it sad that the pent up frustration and anti-establishment from the 60's generation (the people now in power) has morphed into this?

Nice. Although I have to say I am not surprised. Software is just an after thought for these guys. They are more interested in the industrial aspects and have to have software to "make it go..."

I am a firm believer that when we came up with the concept of zero tolerance we were in trouble. Life is shades of grey; some more white, some more black never just black nor white. If we lose the ability to take care of ourselves, we lose our ability of self determination a.k.a freedom. We are in trouble...

...are relegated to tethered phones for internet access where we are so rural as to not have a choice other than satellite and they have similar restrictions. I am not on AT&T but I thought about writing my carrier's (the big V) CEO and issuing a challenge. Go a month with your "surfing habits" with only a tethered phone and your data service plan. No cheating now, tell me if you think it is fair, usable, and how far you get while on the web before you hit your limit. It doesn't take long trust me. Even then I cut back on what I do with it. Being a systems professional, it's not unheard of to download a MS Partner ISO, or a linux distro from time to time, but now if I did that it would either kill my data allotment or my pocket book. If you can't handle the data requirements that your product offerings require, don't you think there is a problem there? Oh, and the best that big V will do is 10GB plan at an additional $80 making my monthy bill equivalent to a small car payment. I can drive my phone!

I once told my IT manager, "Just because we can doesn't mean we should." Technology, very unfortunately, has erroded our rights simply because the "government" whether local or not can do these things without accountability or scrutiny. When you do make noises, they justify it by citing public safety, the welfare for women and children, and other politically correct BS. I don't think there is a corner left in life to find some privacy. It won't be log before *everything* you do is logged.

They know exactly what they are doing. It's like throttling internet access. I am now living in an area outside conventional broadband. All I have is my verizon android. I have already discovered that my occasional video watching (news sites, youtube, etc) and my mild surfing habits are too much for my 2 GB tethering service. Sure, I could go up to 5 GB but that would add another $30. I think if I call and complain I would be labled a bandwidth abuser and told to go to... Really I don't abuse the internet, I'm just a systems pro and use it more than grandma. It's all about money, forget service outside trying to take customers away from the competitors.

Now that was a gem of advice. I have been pondering just that for a couple of years now. I'd bet I am just behind you in age so it makes total sense. But I am still concerned and most likely will be for the forseeable future. Thank you.

Respectfully I disagree. Judges have a conscience, they have to or should. If not, we are really screwed. They are certainly lawyers at first, but they also have lasting opinions and judgements. I hope they think carefully in the years to come. I hope some read /.

Exactly! I wish someone in the public eye would just come out and say this. I might have the effect of a no cost stimulus program.

I like to think of it as never too late; it's just harder to recover now I fear. Don't forget something that DID make this country what it was (okay, is) is its resiliency. We need good, honest, straight shooting people in places of power. The problem is if you can't beat them join them mentality on the hill and no actual accountability. These people don't fear us anymore. The elections system is down to a science that the average citizen is basically unable to understand or even influence. The courts are the citizens power base and they have failed too.