New proposed legislation would make it a crime, punishable by four years in jail, to anonymously send email, join a chat forum, download content, or write a blog.

The bill states that every user must fully identify herself before using the Net, with full name, current address, phone number and… Social Security Number. To access the Net without providing this information, or to give false information, will also be a crime.

Senator Eduardo Azeredo wants to legally recommend every Internet user to buy [a] government approved certificate, and use it on every connection to the Net.

This is the situation today in one of the largest democracies in the world. A country which has been praised for its tech leadership.

It’s Brazil, not the United States.

Does anyone still believe in “it couldn’t happen here”? Ever hear of tubes [safe for work, but not for our country]?

Posted by Antony in: Blogs, Internet Governance