Re. Fen's proposal to utilise "broadcatch." We still have the problems of slander/libel and breaches of legitimate secrecy. At risk of sounding naive/idealistic, it would seem that since there is no way to block information passing through the net (aside from screening at source, impractical at least!), the solution rests with education of the net-using population. Power carries responsibility in equal measure. We are giving ourselves the power which comes with privacy; we can begin to take responsibility for promoting a sense of ethics in the use of the net. One possible place to start would be at highschool-level computer courses; perhaps with accomplished hackers coming in and giving guest lectures or something... the culture of computer-literate youth can begin to include strong ethical positions regarding respect for the privacy of others, respect for truthfulness, and a position of personal conscience regarding law and authority. Re the latter, this isn't the same thing as blind obedience, but rather the idea that if there is to be disobedience it needs to be grounded in deeply held personal ethics, as for example in the case of civil disobedience. A strong set of cultural values in these areas might set a tone which discourages mindless negativity and wrecking. Now there will always be those who wreck for thrills.... I don't know how to address that problem except to note that such individuals are hardly stopped today by the threat of prosecution. -gg@well.sf.ca.us