So a few days a go I blogged about security expert Bruce Schneier's glib response in the NYTimes to a question about the efficacy of password-protecting your home Wi-Fi network.  Well apparently, the US House of Representatives read the reply too and was unimpressed.  Last Wednesday -- the same day that Schneier's Times piece was published -- The House passed a bill that would require anyone that provides an open internet connection to report any transmission of an "illegal image" over that connection to a federal tipline.  "Illegal image" is defined quite broadly in the bill to include not only obvious child pornography, but also "obscene" depictions in the "drawing, cartoon, sculpture, or painting" media.  The cnet article about this bill points out that this definition includes Hentai.  Penalties for not reporting this behavior are fines up to $300,000.

No Democrat voted against the bill.  Only two libertarian-leaning Republicans voted against it (including Presidential candidate Ron Paul). 

The media podcast, This Week in Media, adds that this bill is quite a boon to big telecom.  If cities, libraries and local network operators are afraid to provide open internet access (including my open WiFi network at home) to others for fear of criminal liability for obscene images, then anyone who wants internet access will be forced to purchase it for themselves.

Now that the bill has passed the House it will go to the Senate for approval before getting to the President's desk for a signature.