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Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!grkermit!masscomp!clyde!ihnp4!houxm!mhuxi!eagle!allegra!alice!rabbit!jj
From: jj@rabbit.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Re: A "snooper" is caught!
Message-ID: <2104@rabbit.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Oct-83 13:51:31 EDT
Article-I.D.: rabbit.2104
Posted: Fri Oct 21 13:51:31 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 22-Oct-83 13:38:01 EDT
References: <679@ritcv.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 21


I've seen a couple of articles about snoopers/crashers/what-have-you
being caught.  It seems that the FBI's method is to confiscate the
computers that these people are using.  

A question:
	What is the justification for confiscating someone's computer?
It seems to me that, if a person was found not guilty, then the
act of confiscation would be in fact an act of grand larceny, so
that the FBI would be on thin ice.   I am aware that there is precident
for confiscating equipment used in the commission of a crime, but
I do not see how equipment can be confiscated before conviction, as
the crime is not, strictly speaking, a crime, until the person is 
convicted.

Comments?
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