USA - membership in sources forums just made illegal?

[bravedog]

An unreferenced post on another forum claims that among the flurry of last minute regulations being set in place in the US by Bush before he leaves, he has posted a regulation declaring all memberships in drug source forums illegal as promoting illegal drug use. I'm unable to confirm this and have heard nothing about it elsewhere. Is this a rumor/urban legend? Or if true, I'd be interested in references. Google searches came up empty. Thanks

[bman1]

swib doubts it is true. Freedom of speech kind of exists. Rather or not they watch what one says and acts on it is a different story, posting about illegal activities is never a good idea legal or not.
Good thing this place only talks about legal things and does not promote illegal drug use, so know harm here

[chillinwill]

Red Rock does know that several sources forums server's have ceased to work for a couple of days now....He does not know if or when they will be back up but it would be a shame if this law were to go into effect. He doesn't see how it could happen either especially since it's regarding free speech on the internet

[Alfa]

Can anyone find this new law or regulation? More information would be welcome to evaluate it.

[old hippie 56]

Only thing I could find is this that pertains to illegal activities:
http://www.propublica.org/special/mi...tions#reg-5826

The purpose of this regulation is to assure that all criminal intelligence systems operating through support under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 are used as authorized by law. This revision of 28 CFR part 23 updates the regulation for modern technological advances, and extends the use of criminal intelligence systems for public safety purposes.

There is way more on the link.

[bravedog]

Originally Posted by old hippie 56

Only thing I could find is this that pertains to illegal activities:
http://www.propublica.org/special/mi...tions#reg-5826

This referenced regulation doesn't seem to criminalize membership on forums but rather seems to give LE more surveillance lattitude.

As for the possible regulation heading this thread affecting this forum - mostly not much - but as I understand it there is a hidden sources forum for Gold menbers here. Anyway this forum isn't based in US but if there is such a new regulation - which seems increasingly doubtful - it could affect US members of that subforum.

As for freedom of speech, I do know of someone who was jailed for promotion of dangerous drugs in the US for giving someone the phone number of a dealer, though he was not involved in any sale and didn't profit in any way from the ensuing sale. So certainly the US government can consider the sharing of information which can be considered to facilitate ilegal activity, itself illegal. [I've never heard of this applied to posts on source forums]. I agree not all members of source forums necessarily do this and it seems a stretch to consider mere membership illegal. But the Bush administration is not renowned for its adherence to laws regarding civil liberties.

[humdroid]

Paranoia, or anti-rose coloured specs?
Sources forums contain respectful people who do not promote abuse of substances.