Just a week ago, on May 16th of 2017, a Bill was introduced to the House of Representatives; The Homeland Security Assessment of Terrorists Use of Virtual Currencies Act.
Let's examine the context of this act in order to determine what is being said...
Section 2:
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121), shall, in coordination with appropriate Federal partners, develop and disseminate a threat assessment regarding the actual and potential threat posed by individuals using virtual currency to carry out activities in furtherance of an act of terrorism...
I'm no rocket scientist, but it seems to me they are associating people like you and me with terrorist groups like ISIS.
Everyone reading this is a supporter of crypto-currency, just being on Steemit makes you one. According to the this bill, you pose a potential threat by using crypto-currency, because you are probably using it to carry out those terrorist acts you have been so dastardly committing! SHAME ON YOU!
This act would give the U.S. government the right to collect data on US citizens who are using crypto-currencies, violating their privacy, and persecuting them if they so chose... wouldn't be the first time the U.S. violated the privacy rights of their citizens...
Consistent with the protection of classified and confidential unclassified information, the Under Secretary shall share the threat assessment developed under this section with State, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, including officials that operate within State, local, and regional fusion centers through the Department of Homeland Security State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative established in section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002
Lets give a hypothetical example of what they could do with the passing of this act...
The U.S. government can collect information about me, and "develop and disseminate" a threat assessment on me. I don't even have to commit a crime, they can persecute me just off POTENTIAL risk of being a threat. Can we get some clarity on what a potential threat means please?
Am I a potential terrorist threat because I invest in crypto-currency in order to make money to pay for college?
What grounds would I have to defend myself? I have no money for a lawyer. I have no expert knowledge of the U.S. justice system. I'd be fucked. All off the basis that I own some bitcoins, which I could be using for terrorist-like activities.
I don't know what to think, other than this act is very shady and very dangerous for those of us who live in the United States. Lets hope and pray that this bill doesn't get passed
Heres a link to the Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2433/text
All our history hidden, ain't no liberty given"
-Joey Bada$$
It might be worthwhile to create a cryptocurrency fund to lobby against passage of this bill.
If I had any fundraising skills or lobbying knowledge, I would definitely look into it.
Unfortunately, I don't have either :(
But definitely worth while for someone who has the ability.
Someone with lawyer connections, get your butt out there and set up a crypto fund for this as well as a USD fund xD
but seriously this is an issue
i will invest my steem in this given the option to
I find it highly disconcerting that anyone thinks cryptocurrency is a threat. It's one of the best investment markets out there, and it's grown hella large.
Don't go spying on people just cuz they like a decentralized currency, US! It's stable throughout government fluctuations and won't collapse when you do!
and trust me we all know that's gonna happen one day or another.
Sharing this to Twitter and Facebook. Get the word out about this shitty proposal.
I agree man, this stuff really is worrying.
But, I'm sure this will not pass and if it does, I'm more sure we will be fine.
As long as you aren't sending money off to ISIS I don't think they will bother us haha.
Thanks for the share man, I really appreciate your continued support!
No problem - cryptocurrency isn't grounds for surveillance and it shouldn't ever become one.