There Ought to Be a Law

Posted3 months agoActive3 months ago

amelius

36 points

3 comments

stallman.orgOtherstory

calmmixed

Debate

20/100

LawEthicsFree Speech

Key topics

Law

Ethics

Free Speech

The article by Richard Stallman discusses various issues that he believes should be addressed through legislation, sparking a discussion on the role of law in society and the limits of free speech.

Snapshot generated from the HN discussion

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3-4h

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Key moments

01Story posted
Oct 5, 2025 at 7:08 PM EDT
3 months ago
Step 01
02First comment
Oct 5, 2025 at 10:13 PM EDT
3h after posting
Step 02
03Peak activity
1 comments in 3-4h
Hottest window of the conversation
Step 03
04Latest activity
Oct 6, 2025 at 11:04 AM EDT
3 months ago
Step 04

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Analyzing up to 500 comments to identify key contributors and discussion patterns

Discussion (3 comments)

Showing 3 comments

dbg31415

3 months ago

1 reply

It’s strange that we don’t require police officers, soldiers, or anyone paid by the government to provide a DNA sample before serving. We already fingerprint, drug test, and run background checks. A DNA record would make it easier to solve crimes, clear the innocent, and hold people accountable—especially those who carry weapons or authority on the public’s behalf. If we trust them with that kind of power, we should also expect that level of transparency.

Bender

3 months ago

The military in the United States of America has been collecting DNA since the 90's. With the advice of my commanding officer I was able to stall them long enough using the FOIA process to just finish my time in the military. My suspicions were correct in that the cheif medical officer of the DoD can determine the use, storage, protection, privacy, handling, who has access, etc... of that DNA data of which there was at the time zero protection. I have no idea if they have added any legal protection around that data as of 2025. That process was in conflict with the very oath I swore to upon joining the armed forces.

Hospitals in California and possibly a few other states have been collecting DNA data from babies right after child-birth since the early 2000's.

asacrowflies

3 months ago

A national treasure.

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ID: 45486062Type: storyLast synced: 11/20/2025, 3:53:09 PM

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