Florida bans Bitcoin mining

[Ytterbium]

I think I know what this was about, I remember seeing a report somewhere about these "internet cafés" that were basically casinos.  They were setup like a normal computer lab, you could use the machines like a normal computer if you wanted, but the whole thing was geared towards gambling.

Additionally the places would sell and exchange credits to use with the games directly.

The only difference between these places and a 'normal' internet café is the marketing. Kind of like the difference between Dropbox and MegaUpload - they both do the same thing, but one is "marketed" toward people who want to share files, so the government shuts it down.

This law basically allows the state to shut down any internet café (and I depending on the complete text of the law, arrest anyone for owning a computer!??)

This is how government over-reach starts.  The government wants to clamp down on one thing, so they write overbroad laws which are only "meant" to clamp down on the "obvious" examples, but is so broad it could be used to do anything.

Look at the Aaron Swartz case - the was written to be ban obvious hacking, but was used to prosecute someone for violating terms of service.

And yeah this would definitely make Chuck e Cheese illegal in FL. That's not the point, but if the government ever has a beef with them, they could use it.

As far as bitcoin mining, even if it was theoretically a problem it wouldn't affect pure PPS pools like 50btc

[bitbryan]

No Computers? No SmartPhones? No Bitcoin???
Didn't know that Florida was a Taliban-affiliate

duhhh

[QuestionAuthority]

I wouldn't spend much time worrying about what Florida makes illegal. Drugs are illegal in Florida. Making drugs illegal in Florida is kind of like making beer illegal in Milwaukee.

[gdpone]

You would make a fine reporter being able to twist an article that has nothing to do with bitcoins, into an article that has something to do with bitcoins.  And I wouldnt take that as a compliment.