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James_Miller comments on Now is the time to eliminate mosquitoes - Less Wrong Discussion

21 Post author: James_Miller 06 August 2016 07:10PM

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Comment author: James_Miller 19 August 2016 07:16:08PM *  0 points [-]

I don't think what I'm advocating can by any reasonable or standard definition be classified as terrorism. I'm not seeking to harm or scare anyone.

Comment author: gwern 19 August 2016 08:40:42PM 4 points [-]

You would, at the very least, be in violation of several acts regarding approval of GMOs: https://www.loc.gov/law/help/restrictions-on-gmos/usa.php https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_of_the_release_of_genetically_modified_organisms#United_States Specifically, you'd be violating FDA requirements by releasing '“new animal drugs” (NADs)' without approval. Depending on whether mosquitoes are considered plant pests, it looks like you'd also be violating Department of Agriculture laws. I assume you'd probably also be violating a number of EPA laws but didn't see anything specifically about that.

Comment author: James_Miller 19 August 2016 08:54:18PM 1 point [-]

Couldn't you get around these laws by either (a) releasing the mosquitoes outside of the U.S. or (b) creating and releasing them outside of the U.S.?

Comment author: gwern 19 August 2016 09:02:02PM 2 points [-]

Maybe not. At least one bioterrorism provision has extraterritoriality.

Comment author: Lumifer 21 August 2016 12:40:54AM 2 points [-]

by any reasonable or standard definition

Do you know that a pipe bomb is legally classified as a weapon of mass destruction?