ralphw@ius3.ius.cs.cmu.edu (Ralph Hyre) (09/11/88)
[discussion about anti-virus bill, which will probably be another misguided technical attack] >As usual the politicians focus on narrow specific issues rather >than upholding general principles. The reasons for this are >historical and I don't want to get into that now, but I will >say that attacking symptoms is no way to really solve a problem. I agree that the key is violation of right (property and otherwise). Most of 'Computer law' can be derived from general principles and precedents already existing. Treating properly authenticated bits just like paper (expect for legal documents like contracts) might be a good start. The worst example of such a law recently is the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of '87, which a BBS operator was recently charged with violation. How would you propose to advise Congress on things like this? -- - Ralph W. Hyre, Jr. Internet: ralphw@ius2.cs.cmu.edu Phone:(412)268-{2847,3275} CMU-{BUGS,DARK} Amateur Packet Radio: N3FGW@W2XO, or c/o W3VC, CMU Radio Club, Pittsburgh, PA
bsherm@umbio.MIAMI.EDU (Bob Sherman) (09/12/88)
in article <2946@pt.cs.cmu.edu>, ralphw@ius3.ius.cs.cmu.edu (Ralph Hyre) says: > [discussion about anti-virus bill, which will probably be another > misguided technical attack] > The worst example of such a law recently is the Electronic Communications > Privacy Act of '87, which a BBS operator was recently charged with violation. Can you please advise the details of the incident you mention of a bbs operator being charged under the privacy act? If you don't feel it belongs on the net, then pls reply via e-mail. -- Internet -- bsherm%umbio@umigw.miami.edu UUCP -- {uunet!gould}!umbio!bsherm Miami's Big Apple 305-948-8000 1200 baud 24 hours 8 years online