I think the government if it wanted to regulate the internet in a way that no one should really feel like was something that infringed on their rights but allowed themselves to be protected online from everything that can happen and allow for the policing of the internet reliably.... they should simply require electronic Identification directly linked to the standard state ID system that could be tied into all state government and law enforcement databases and should be required for internet usage....
the FBI, NSA and everyone as well most importantly law enforcement could have a viable tool to fight anything at least well as they do on the street..... doesn't seem to me that they have that tool just right now.... but they puzzle over how to regulate it.... people talk about freedom of speech online but that's not the point.... that wouldn't be taken away at all.... in fact it would protect identity on the one hand from abuse or worse and on the other allow crimes that cannot be proven have taken place to be addressed with proper justice.....
just makes good sense to me....
hell if they wanted to trace Al Queda or terrorism or find jihad or all the fucked up Holy War shit or something.... to fight that.... that would be a start wouldn't it? i mean the internet is so powerful in the right hands its actually no different than a car really.... its been around awhile, they both have cars and the internet is starting to get the same way, they realized that to drive a car should require responsibility, maturity, earned privilege.... with the way the internet is going and the very fact that it cannot be policed to protect people becoming very much a concern among all who think of such things.... what would be so wrong with requiring some kind of ID that authorities could use to do that? it would definitely be a method of creating accountability for criminals who use the internet and provide a means to at least know if there was something going on.....
oh well, what do I kno....
smiles
tc ttyl

First of all, the government can already monitor the internet, and when a crime is committed, or in the case of terrorists plotting, they can easily obtain the identities of the individuals involved.
What you are proposing would merely make it easier to censor the internet, and to limit freedom of speech. I value my freedom way to much to support something of the nature you propose.

just makes good sense to me....
That's a laugh. If I had a nickel for every cockamamie plan to "make the Internet safe," I'd be able to buy the Internet.

I R Teh Rularz Of Teh Internets!! Pheer Meeee!

I think people use this "safety" issue to give the government too much power already. I neither WANT nor NEED them protecting me online as well. I don't want to have to register and pay for that as well, because do you really think this "Internet Permit" or "ID" will be issued for free?
I have virus protection and common sense to protect my identity. I don't need them intruding on my online time any more than they already do.

I don't feel unsafe on the Internet now, so I don't see a need.

Why would I need 'protection' online? Protection from what?

Why would I need 'protection' online? Protection from what?

30+ year old fat ass child molesters?

30+ year old fat ass child molesters?

hehe omg spit out my drink thank Phyrex.. meanie
If you are scared to be on the net get off the net. Do you realize as a moderator they know your IP address and if they want they can find out what server you use and so on so it is not just the government that is watching your back it is every where...BOO

I KNOW that there is a way of making the 'net harder for people to e-mail spam and viruses, too damn bad I've forgotten the details.

To me, the bottom line is that I'd just as soon not be electronically tagged every single time I go to google and start poking around. I'll take the risk of 'net predators rather than have my 'net surfing tagged with my info, dammit.

Wow, you are a scarey, uninformed and potentially dangerous person.

So tell me how dangerous is 'teh net?'

How many people have been killed by others drunkenly surfing 'teh net'?

How many people do you know that have been hurt or killed by 'teh net?'