iMEGA Files Objections to UIGEA Regulations with
US Treasury
iMEGA announced today that it has filed its objections
with the Department of Treasury over the agency’s
proposed regulations regarding the Unlawful Internet
Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The new law, attached
in the waning minutes of the 109th Congress to the
unrelated Safe Ports Act with very little input from
Members of Congress, is a misguided and potential
harmful attempt to regulate Internet content.
iMEGA
believes
UIGEA and
its proposed
regulations
establish
a dangerous
precedent
for denying
Americans’
First Amendment
rights;
that it
will stifle
online
innovation
and commerce;
that it
will inadequately
protect
children
by eliminating
the established
safeguards
offered
by banks
and credit
card companies;
and that
it will
have a
chilling
effect
on the
privacy
rights
of Internet
users.
iMEGA has
made asserting
and safeguarding
Americans’
civil liberties
in the
online
world part
of their
core mission.
“These
proposed
regulations
will limit
Americans’
freedom
to use
the Internet
as they
see fit
in the
privacy
of their
own homes,”
said Edward
Leyden,
President
of iMEGA.
“While
UIGEA is
intended
to protect
minors
and problem
gamblers,
the law
ironically
makes these
groups
more vulnerable
by targeting
US banks
and credit
card companies,
whose identity
verification,
fraud prevention
and credit
profiling
systems
protect
online
consumers
every day.”
“How
does this
make children
and problem
gamblers
safer?”
Leyden
asked.
“The fact
is, it
does not,
and is
certainly
not worth
the trade-off
in our
First Amendment
rights
the law
demands.
This is
a dangerous
precedent
that must
be corrected
to preserve
our digital
civil rights.”
iMEGA
noted in
its filing
that it was
alarmed by
the agency’s
refusal to
define exactly
what an “unlawful
gambling
transaction”
is, and was
equally alarmed
that the
required
determination
would be
delegated
on an ad
hoc basis
to the entity
or person
having a
“customer
relationship”
with an Internet
gaming concern.
In
addition,
the regulations
would,
if implemented,
exert a
chilling
effect
on Internet
innovation
by imposing
unprecedented
burdens
on the
financial
system,
and risk
stifling
the growth
of electronic
commerce.
“The
Internet
is indispensable
to our
economy
and our
freedom,”
said Leyden.
“We implore
the Congress
to join
in a bipartisan
effort
to preserve
Americans
“Digital
Civil Rights”
and to
enact legislation
that will
guaranty
these rights
and prevent
future
abuse.”
Read
the full iMEGA statement
(PDF file)
here. ----
Gambling911.com Newswire
Originally published
December 13, 2007
