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Intel Chip Ban to be Introduced in Arizona

Threat of Privacy Rights Invasion Under Fire

Gay Representative Pushing for Company Talks

Compiled by GayToday

nointel.gif - 4.72 K Phoenix, Arizona--Openly gay State Representative Steve May (R-Phoenix) fired a salvo in favor of privacy rights by announcing January 27 that he is preparing to introduce legislation in the Arizona House of Representatives that will ban the sale and manufacture of "processor serial numbers," which could threaten the individual privacy of millions of internet visitors worldwide.

May took the controversial step in light of the announcement by the Intel Corporation that its new chip -- Pentium III -- would use PSN technology, which acts as a permanent and invisible "global user indentification number" that internet corporations, marketing firms and government agencies could use to secretly track individual internet activity.

"Consumers deserve basic privacy rights -- even on the internet," May said. "This technology will launch a new era of information mining and allow anyone to build detailed profiles on individuals."

May's announcement forced Intel to seek a meeting to discuss the issue. Intel claims that after protests from privacy rights groups over the plan to use PSN technology, Pentium III will be modified to make the technology "optional" through a manual disabling command, however they will still imbed each chip with a PSN.

May cited plans by Microsoft and other Intel partners to incorporate PSN technology into their software products as a sign that the single modification is not sufficient to protect individual privacy rights. Intel operates a major manufacturing unit in Chandler, Arizona.

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
Warning: New Computer Chip Could 'Out' Gays

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"It is a testament to Steve's vision and core values that he has taken such a strong stand in support of individual rights," said Richard Tafel, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans.

"Privacy and individual rights are a core concern of the gay and lesbian community, and it is clearly something that many Americans from all walks of life share. Neither big government or big corporations should have a free hand in trampling our fundamental rights as individuals in society. I know that Steve will not waver on his principles, and in the end he will lead the way for a resolution of this matter that protects the public good."

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