Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!apple.com!wrs From: wrs@apple.com (Walter Smith) Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk Subject: Re: Anonymous postings Message-ID: <11705@goofy.Apple.COM> Date: 13 Jan 91 00:28:58 GMT Sender: usenet@Apple.COM Organization: Apple Computer, Inc. Lines: 26 References:<1991Jan7.190403.9267@alphalpha.com> <1991Jan09.175609.6303@looking.on.ca> <40305@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <10129@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> In article <10129@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> jbuck@galileo.berkeley.edu (Joe Buck) writes: > ...getting the attention of Congress to the > legal status of Usenet is likely to backfire... > > There was only one semi-serious threat of a suit that I recall -- > the idea was that harrassment of women on the net was so severe that > companies that carry the net in the US could be sued under the > equal employment opportunity/affirmative action rules, for providing > conditions that discriminate against women. Interesting anecdote: The entire alt.sex hierarchy was removed from internal machines here at Apple because of fear of lawsuits under California's sexual harassment law. Several of the messages in the ensuing uproar said that attempts to change this policy by calling Usenet to the attention of the Apple legal department were likely to backfire. (See, even *we're* scared of our legal department! :-) Getting the "Establishment" to understand the potential of computer networks will have to be a gentle, gradual process to avoid reflexive panic reactions. - Walt -- Walter Smith wrs@apple.com, apple!wrs Apple Computer, Inc. (408) 974-5892 My corporation disavows any knowledge of my activities on the network.