A few points: * I wrote about this in my Netly piece on Friday: http://cgi.pathfinder.com/netly/opinion/0,1042,997,00.html * The state attorney declined to prosecute, saying the law was unconstitutional. He was talking primarily about the "defamation" law, not the gang law, but I think he realized both are. * Cypherpunks should pay attention to laws like this, not because of the threat of indictment, but because of the implications for anonymity. Read my article. The Florida law criminalizes truthful anonymous speech; it also required a True Name and True Mailing Address. -Declan On Sat, 31 May 1997, Tim May wrote:
Someone forwarded this item to me. As he didn't cc: the list on it, I'll protect his identity. Could be he's understandably worried about who's reading the list.
This item indicates that the same team that busted this "gang" could indict several of us as "co-conspirators" (isn't this a redundancy?) along with Bell.
Lock and load.
--Tim
Date: Sat, 31 May 1997 21:23:20 -0700 To: tcmay@got.net From: xxxxx Subject: You've got to be kidding....
Tim --
For your grist of stupid, selectively enforced laws: (from comp.risks 19.20)
Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 03:45:10 -0400 From: David Kennedy <76702.3557@compuserve.com> Subject: Florida "Computer Gang" Members Arrested
Courtesy of United Press International via CompuServe's Executive News Service:
Florida computer gang members arrested
LECANTO, Fla., 22 May 1997 (UPI) -- Florida authorities have arrested two alleged leaders of a so-called computer "gang" they say set up a Web site that accused a teacher of having a homosexual affair with a student. The Web site displayed a photograph of the student's prom picture with the teacher's head superimposed onto the head of the boy's female date.
:: Two 19 year olds were charged with "publication of material that exposes a person to hatred, contempt or ridicule." Because they worked together, anti-gang laws apply upgrading the charges from misdemeanors to felonies.
:: The victim-teacher has been the target of harassment before, another former student was sentenced to 6 months' probation last December.
Dave Kennedy [CISSP] Research Team Chief, National Computer Security Assoc.
There's something wrong when I'm a felon under an increasing number of laws. Only one response to the key grabbers is warranted: "Death to Tyrants!" ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@got.net 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Higher Power: 2^1398269 | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."