FWIW I've run into a lot of regulatory people who have pretty clear views that Bitcoin mining should be regulated such that addresses are blacklisted or even whitelisted. Obviously that's a goal, not necessarily what they'll succeed in making happen, but that's what the long-term intent is. For instance, one regulator I talked to a few months ago at a conference was *very* clear in her view that the Bitcoin protocol simply must be changed to add verified digital identities to the protocol itself, and mining blocks with transactions without valid identities and/or extending blockchains with non-compliant transactions should be an illegal activity that's prosecuted.
Very sad but not altogether unexpected. We need to resist allowing Bitcoin to become just another surveillance tool for big brother or decide to abandon the project and let corporate America have it to use as just another payment system. Giving up is easy, people need to fight very hard to keep their civil rights. I would never use it again if they passed that law.
The U.S. government is stepping on personal freedom and civil rights so much now that we are quickly becoming the very thing we fought against in WWII.
WASHINGTON (AP) The FBI is operating a small air force with scores of low-flying planes across the country carrying video and, at times, cellphone surveillance technology all hidden behind fictitious companies that are fronts for the government, The Associated Press has learned.
The planes' surveillance equipment is generally used without a judge's approval, and the FBI said the flights are used for specific, ongoing investigations. The FBI said it uses front companies to protect the safety of the pilots and aircraft. It also shields the identity of the aircraft so that observers on the ground don't know they're being watched by the FBI.
In a recent 30-day period, the agency flew above more than 72 cities in 38 states across the country, an AP review found.