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Just when you thought the Federal Election Commission had it out for the blogosphere, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors took it up a notch and announced yesterday that it will soon vote on a city ordinance (PDF link) that would require local bloggers to register with the city Ethics Commission and report all blog-related costs that exceed $1,000 in the aggregate.
Blogs that mention candidates for local office that receive more than 500 hits will be forced to pay a registration fee and will be subject to website traffic audits, according to Chad Jacobs, a San Francisco City Attorney. The entire Board is set to vote on the measure on April 5th, 2005. I wonder if they’ll be forced to register their own blogs! The legislation was written by Supervisor Sophie Maxwell [via Daily Kos and Personal Democracy]
The government is sure running scared of bloggers, at least in America where true blood intimidation a la Times of India doesn’t work. But reading through the ordinance can give you plenty of things to smile about and clearly smacks of attempts to nip the “threat” in the bud. Susan Crawford has some strong words at the recently concluded Freedom to Connect gathering in Washington. The more paranoid the government gets about the blogosphere, the worse it is going to get for them, for bloggers can be a vindictive lot.
by Patrix | on Monday, April 4th, 2005 at 7:19 pm | 
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April 4th, 2005 at 7:44 pm reply
What the hell? What next? Laws and regulations to the thoughts that you think?
April 4th, 2005 at 7:59 pm reply
Queer - If we don’t raise our voices in protest, that is not a unlikely possibility. Reminds you of Orwell’s Big Brother, eh?
April 5th, 2005 at 2:11 am reply
It sure does! Only difference we are not farm animals!
April 5th, 2005 at 8:40 am reply
Queer - I was talking about 1984
April 5th, 2005 at 3:01 pm reply
Something on mediaah
April 5th, 2005 at 5:25 pm reply
Atul - Thanks.