gnu@hoptoad.uucp (John Gilmore) (08/18/86)
Many people probably missed lll-crg!well!tenney's offer to email a copy of
the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.
Listen up! This is no joke!
It appears to put legal liability on Usenet hosts which forward mail or
news for other hosts, and could alter or destroy the current structure
of Usenet (and/or Stargate). It was written by people who DON'T UNDERSTAND
EMAIL and networking, and was lobbied for by the commercial email companies
(telemail, compuserve, etc).
Read <1632@well.UUCP> (vnews/readnews users type 'p').
Post discussion to net.mail (keep it out of the other groups).
This bill, S.2575, is now pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee. It
purports to extend constitutional protection against unreasonable
search to electronic storage. However, it also does many other
things. It loosens the existing wiretap authorization laws and also
allows wiretaps and "tracking devices" (bugs) to be placed on people
for up to 48 hours without a court order. It also makes it illegal to
tune in cellular phone calls on your TV (channels 80-83). And it makes
you legally responsible for the carriage of email unless you run a "public
access" system.
Note that the current version of the bill (introduced last week with
no debate) may be better or worse than the above; my copy has not arrived
yet.
To get an up to date, official copy of the bill, contact the staff
below. If you object to it, tell them why, and tell them that you want
action on the bill delayed for further review (e.g. until your views
can be heard in written comments). Tell your home state Senators and
Congressmen the same thing.
Congressional staff:
Ann Harkin, John Podesta 202 224 4242
Steve Metalitz, Ken Mannella 202 224 5617
Judiciary Committee 202 224 5225
ACLU:
Jerry Berman, technology/privacy 202 544 1681
Hit them now on it, before they get back to session and try to pass it!
--
John Gilmore {sun,ptsfa,lll-crg,ihnp4}!hoptoad!gnu jgilmore@lll-crg.arpa
May the Source be with you!