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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!ihuxi!snafu
From: snafu@ihuxi.UUCP (Dave Wallis)
Newsgroups: net.followup,net.micro,net.legal
Subject: Re: Computer Bulletin Board Confiscated
Message-ID: <898@ihuxi.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 31-May-84 14:52:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxi.898
Posted: Thu May 31 14:52:28 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Jun-84 10:08:15 EDT
References: <806@sdcsvax.UUCP> <5815@mcvax.UUCP> <1941@mit-eddie.UUCP> <1151@qubix.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Technologies, Inc., Naperville Il.
Lines: 30

I suspect that the reason the cbb was confiscated was not that
information such as phone credit card numbers were posted, but rather
that the sa knew that the questionable data was being posted and
blessed its existence. The fact that there was a newsgroup titled
"underground" indicates that the sa condoned the newsgroup and the
information contained in it. 

I seriously doubt that a system would be confiscated in the event that
similar data appeared and the sa made every effort to
delete that type of posting and remove newsgroups created for that
purpose. Obviously the Post Office and US Mail service have a similar
problem, but have never been the subject of siezure.  By allowing the
"underground" newsgroup to exist, the sa is probably guilty of
conspiracy to commit any crimes discussed in the newsgroup, just as
anyone who fails to report knowledge of a crime can be prosecuted for
conspiracy in the crime.

I don't really like the idea that an sa is responsible for anything
done with the computer, but he should be responsible enough to prevent
the computer from being used for questionable activities when the
intent is clear.


-- 


                              Dave Wallis
                           ihnp4!ihuxi!snafu
                         AT&T Technologies, Inc.
                            (312) 979-5894