California Congressman Howard Berman (D-North Hollywood) is busy showing that it isn't just Republicans who can be bought by big business. Berman previewed a bill tha, if enacted into law, would allow copyright holders to use a variety of electronic jamming methods to disrupt file-sharing services on the Internet. Not only is this the first step toward the dreaded "Black ICE" of cyberpunk literature, but it gives business a right that the government doesn't have: to disrupt the use of computers without having actual evidence or court orders. This is a big step toward business further cracking down on what you can or can't see on your computer, or other media.
If this bill becomes law, what's to stop Big Business from going one step further to disrupt websites, mailing lists, or even private emails of indivduals or groups critical of them. This is definitely a slippery slope issue, especially considering that there are plenty of legal options for copyright holders to pursue against violaters.
The whole business reminds me of a Benito Mussolini quote that went something along the lines of, "Fascism is the marriage of government and business". I'm paraphrasing, of course, but the concept is obvious. When the main client of government becomes business, the people suffer.